123-reg.co.uk

We’re constantly listening to your feedback and trying to improve on the services we offer and in recent months we’ve had our team working hard on making our order process easier for you to use.

It’s taken a lot of time, plenty of effort and much testing (which we are just finalising) but we think they have all been worth it, given the host of new features we have been able to integrate and the existing ones we have tweaked too. Our new improved 123-reg order process is coming soon and we think you will love it.

The first thing you will probably notice is the cleaner, clearer visual look as you go through the order process. There’s also more clarity when you are going through the order process. Now when you add things to your basket a pop-up will confirm your additions and guide you to any other options you may want to consider.

The whole process is now far more integrated too, making it easier for you to add different products, different services and browse through our offerings as you would other online stores. The aim is to make your journey from browsing through to checkout a more enjoyable and efficient one. One particular area this should show a marked improvement in is for those purchasing SSL certificates. Previously this was a little cumbersome and confusing to some, but hopefully now will be more intuitive and easy to understand.

As ever our improvements schedule is an on-going process and your feedback on these changes helps shape future improvements, additions and changes. We aim to make using and managing your account with 123-reg as simple and straightforward as it possibly can be and to achieve that we need your help. So if you do have any ideas and feedback, please let us know.

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While much on the internet is about today and instantaneous matters, its biggest asset is probably the immediate reach and accessibility it offers to expert collections, opinions and thoughts.

This week saw the launch of the virtualisation of cult and sadly missed DJ John Peel’s private record archives. Being released in stages, the project aims to share the knowledge, wealth of understanding of popular music that Peel spent years putting together and that millions paid and continue to pay much creedance to. That’s where the internet is so fantastic. You can show things on the internet that are fragile, or that in reality couldn’t be handled or experienced by thousands of people day after day. Using modern animation and filming techniques  you can bring to life the objects on a laptop screen and also go beyond just the object itself.

The Peel archives is just one of many projects set to launch  over the next few months – thanks to increased cultural funding hinging around the Olympics – as people begin to realise that the internet has so much to offer those wanting to set about recording and preserving the past in a much more interactive way than any real museum could offer.

The John Peel Record Collection lets you pluck album covers straight off of Peel’ very own record shelves and view Peel’s re-created record cards. Yet there is more interaction too. There’s the image of the album cover, the ability to listen via Spotify and the now common place social share buttons. You wouldn’t get that in a dusty traditional museum. Elsewhere beyond the collection you can watch Peel in action via online video clips, photos and even listen to the much beloved John Peel Sessions radio archive.

In many ways traditional museums suffering dwindling visitor figures could probably learn a lot from virtual museums like this. The modern world is all about engagement and interaction and a web archive offers all of that and more, if used correctly. Of course the server space may change over time and that is always the danger that these virtual creations could disappear at a click of a button without proper back ups in place by their owners, yet the virtual museum is set to become an ever more common feature in our lives and in our culture as we seek to preserve but provide a legacy for what we once enjoyed and for those memories to continue.

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Last week the case for email got several boosts across the globe. While the Royal Mail announced a massive rise in the cost of a first-class stamp, highlighting the decline of snail mail thanks mainly to the use of email, the experts and latest surveys suggest that email is still the top dog and likely to be around for a lot longer.

From the Huffington Post we learnt that email connects 85% Of The World compared to social media that connects just 62%. Elsewhere in a presentation at the World Hosting Days summit, Rafael Laguna, gave an informed opinion that 40% of people spend their internet time on their email – possibly a time management issue as well as an indicator of the importance of the format.

Meanwhile in a separate survey – based on German IT decision-makers – 84.1 of respondents confirmed they believe email will still be the most important instrument of business communication in 3 years and less than 5% think that social networks will replace email communication. So getting a decent mail system in place is very important.

Yet email is certainly no longer something to be used as a standalone function. Successful email needs to be fully integrated with everything else you do and 123-reg’s new improved 123-mail offering helps you do just that. Cloud-based management of email, tasks, contact and calendars, gives you features normally only associated with desktop email clients, but now wherever and whenever you need it. Plus upgrade to the Professional package  and you will get document sharing, version control and mobile handset synchronisation too.  All from just £4.99 per month. Find out more here.

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Sometimes even best laid plans hit a hurdle, but there’s always a solution – you probably just need some help and support.

Here at 123-reg we always want you to get the best out of our services and products so we are constantly evolving our support systems to make sure we can provide the help you need and how you need it.

The 123-reg Support Centre

This is the hub of wisdom for everything 123-reg. It is the fount of knowledge for making the most of your domain name, getting the best from your web hosting and designing a gem using your website builder. It is also your first point of call if you want some help, guidance or just inspiration on using your 123-reg products. The 123-reg support centre is the gateway to many of our support tools.

The knowledgebase

Our encyclopaedia of step-by-step articles, organised in topic areas but equally fully searchable so you can find what you want, quickly easily and without too much fuss. We’ve got FAQs, downloadable guides and support videos too, so there is something for everybody and normally an answer to your question here, so make sure you check it first before you contact us.

The troubleshooting tool

Often big issues are simple to solve – maybe a misconfigured setting or a wrong tweak here or there. So if your email is not working or perhaps your website is not showing, it may not be as worrying as you first feared. We’ve designed a our very own step-by-step self-diagnosis tool that is designed to spot possible issues quickly and simply and guide you to a solution to help you resolve the problem.

The support ticket system

Probably the easiest way to reach us and help us to help you. Our Ask a Question tool just needs you to login to the 123-reg Support page and ask away. You can even upload a screenshot. Your request is then automatically sent to a member of the 123-reg team with expertise relating to that issue, so you should get your issue dealt with quicker. Every ticket you raise is stored in your archive too, so should you get a familiar problem crop up again, you have your own personalised solution close to hand.

Live chat

Let your fingers do the talking. Our online live chat support team are here to deal with your queries. When our team are online, just click the Live Chat icon at the top of the Support Centre page and ask your question.

We’re on the end of the line too

Traditionally, if you needed help you pick up the phone and we’re no different. Who you gonna call?? The 123-reg support teams can be reached on the telephone Monday to Friday on 0845 859 0018. Calls are charged at 10p per minute plus network extras.

You can also reach us via post

We know that for some people traditional methods are important, so rest assured we don’t forget them. You can contact us via traditional mail at:

123-reg, Webfusion Ltd,
5 Roundwood Avenue,
Stockley Park,
Uxbridge,
Middlesex,
UB11 1FF

So getting in touch needn’t be such a chore and solving your issues is actually a fairly straight-forward process and it works very well.
Of course, we continue to work hard to improve this and also do all we can to make sure the problems you face are few and far between, but just in case you do need to contact us, we suggest you bookmark this page as it has every link you may need.

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The official 123-reg YouTube channel has arrived offering some funky and informative videos aimed at helping people understand domain names.

Built as a series of 5 short animated presentations, our opening batch of videos have been  designed as the perfect introduction to domain names, how they work and how to get one for beginners and experts alike.

The first five videos are:

1. Understanding domain names
2. What is a domain name?
3. What are domain name extensions?
4. How to choose a domain name?
5. How to register a domain name?

We suggest you watch them in that order too as they have been created to build upon the information and knowledge provided by the other videos in the series.

Have a look and please let us know what you think.

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When Peter Steiner included the phrase “On the internet nobody knows if you are a dog“ in his cartoon that featured in the 5th July 1993 issue of The New Yorker, little did he realise the great fame and fortune it would bring him, nor that nearly 18 years down the line it would be still relevant.

The growth of the internet has only seen the fear’ built into the phrase – the fact that you never really know who you are dealing with over the internet – increase at a similar rate. The more sites that appear on the internet the bigger the risk that the one you pick out to do business with is a dog, and how would you know?

Well now you can. Or at least you can show your customers that you are not a dog and that you are actually a valid business, committed to doing things the right way and one well worth dealing with. With the launch of Website Passport from 123-reg there is now a way of proving the status of your website, your company and the fact that you are not a dog – dogs are not specifically excluded although they would need to be a registered company.

If you have taken the time to set-up and build-up your business the correct way you deserve a bit of recognition and in terms of the internet your Website Passport acknowledges exactly who you are. Available now at a launch special price of £89.99 the Website Passport provides you with a recognisable badge of distinction – a secure fingerprint icon – that is easily embedded into your website with a simple piece of code. Then when customers click on that icon they can view a secure virtual passport powered by industry leaders GlobalSign, confirming you are the registered owner of the website, your registered company details and a host of other essential information designed to re-assure your visitors that they can but trust in your website and your business.

Yet, it is more than just a pretty icon and flashy-pop-up. The information is real-time verified, meaning everything is up-to-date with information pulled directly from assured sources such as Companies House, The European Commission and the Whois database. You can proudly display your business credentials and your potential customers can immediately see that your site and business is one they can trust.

The Website Passport also includes priceless online tools that bought separately would cost your business a considerable sum, but come included in the price of Website Passport. With a built-in Google Malware alert function, Website Passport will notify you of any malware issues within your site, before your customers are confronted by the dreaded malware alert on their Google search. Also included is the Google Map location of your registered address and trading address if different, enabling would-be customers to find you should you also want to promote your real-world activities too.

In the real-world we carry countless forms of ID everyday in the form of driving licences, passports, sports club cards, etc yet until now the online world has been one still shrouded in mystery and potential pitfalls from not being able to identify who is who. Website Passport now offers that identification option to build trust, build custom and build sales.

Have you tried our Website Passport?

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Later this week the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for 2011 begins in Las Vegas, USA. The world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow saw 126,641 attendees pass through its doors last year from more than 130 countries. It is the place where many of the trends for the consumer technology sector begin and 2011 is unlikely to be different.

Among the products unveilved at 2010 CES were a host of tablet PCs including the Dell Streak and 3D TVs. 3D TV is set to dominate again this year but this time with greater integration of other technologies, with TV’s set to become powerful computers to surf the internet with and Blu-ray players boasting a whole host of web-based apps to get the most from them. 4G-enabled mobile handsets will also be on display and possibly a Sony PSP phone too.

We will be monitoring the new unveilings and fanfare launches as we expect we will be hearing a lot more about many of them as the year wears on.

What do you think will be the big tech gadget of 2011?

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The Kommitments are a live 10 piece tribute to The Commitments, the movie. The band’s website is hosted by 123-reg.

As the front of their website says, the “live show is dynamic, visual, authentic and accurate”. They play all the classics, including Mustang Sally, Hard to Handle, and Take me to the River, plus many legendary soul hits .

We spoke to the creator of the band’s website (who also happens to be part of the group).

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Toybox Lane is an online toyshop built using our ecommerce package. The site has gone for a minimalist approach, letting the products do the talking.

And they do have some great toys, from favourite family board games to proper wooden train sets and dolls houses. Makes you wish you were a kid again … who wants a game of Buckaroo?!

We spoke to the creator of Toybox Lane.

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We recently spoke to illustrator and designer David Prosser about his 123-reg hosted site www.daveprosser.co.uk

What is your name?
David Prosser

How old are you?
22

What do you do?
Illustrator and Animator, studying a MA in animation at the Royal College of Art.

What is your favourite movie?
Koyaanisqatsi (also known as Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance, is a 1982 film directed by Godfrey Reggio)

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