by John Eberhard

It often happens that I start working with a new client, and now I need to get their various account logins for things like their hosting account, their domain registrar (where their web address is registered), their social media accounts, their blog login, their Google Analytics account, etc., but the client has no idea where any of that information is.

If this type of information is not available, it’s not just a problem for me, it’s a problem for YOU. It means that no one can make changes to your web site, move your web site from one hosting company to another, make changes or post things to your social media accounts, and so on.

This article is a fervent plea to you as a business owner. Basically you have to have ready access to this type of information, and need to keep it somewhere where you can easily get to it. I think the best way to do this is to keep all account logins for your various Internet accounts in a spreadsheet.

Here is a list of the account logins you need to keep ready for easy access.

1. Your hosting account login information. Also called cpanel login. This is usually a username and password. This is needed to manage email accounts, install WordPress and other functions. Some hosting companies like GoDaddy also have a 4-digit callin PIN that you have to give when calling tech support.

2. If your web site is in WordPress or Joomla format, you need to keep the username and password. If you do not have this password, no changes can be made to your web site.

3. FTP information. Stands for “file transfer protocol.” This allows someone to upload or download files from your web site. Without this, unless your web site is in WordPress or Joomla format, you can’t make any changes to the site. Consists of a host name, user name, and password.

4. Domain registrar account login. This is the company where your web address is registered. If you do not have this information, your web site cannot be moved from one hosting company to another.

5. Google Analytics. This is a free service from Google that tracks statistics for your web site. Usually it is attached to a Gmail account. You need to keep the email address and password.

6. Social Media logins. Includes Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others. You will need the username and password. You can’t post things or interact with others without the logins.

7. Blog login. If you maintain a blog outside of your regular web site, like on Typepad, WordPress.com or other sites, make sure you keep that username and password.

8. Login for online email system like Constant Contact, Aweber, Mailchimp, etc.

9. Logins for online business listings like Google My Business, Yelp, Merchant Circle, Insider Pages, Manta, etc.

10. Logins for email accounts like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, etc.

So the first thing I advise you to do is to create a spreadsheet, and put all your online account login information into that spreadsheet. That way, all that information will be in one place.

But what if you totally cannot find one or more of your account logins? If the business owner or someone else from the business calls the hosting company or online email service company or whatever, they are usually willing to give you the login information or send you an email to reset your password. They will usually not give that information out to an outside party, such as me, a web designer or Internet marketing consultant.

So spend some time and gather all this information together and put it in a spreadsheet. You will save time in the long run.