IMPORTANT CHANGES TO SMTPOUT.1ST4DOMAINS.CO.UK
Jul 12 16
We will shortly be discontinuing the smtpout.1st4domains.co.uk server.
You will still be able to send mail through us but you will need to change
the server address in your email client.
To change this in Outlook, click on Tools, Accounts and go to your account settings for your email address.
Delete smtpout.1st4domains.co.uk in the outgoing mail server field and replace this with:
mail.yourdomain.co.uk
(obviously replace yourdomain.co.uk with your actual domain).
Then click on More Settings
Change the authentication option to ‘Use same settings as incoming mailserver’
SMTPOUT.1ST4DOMAINS.CO.UK will be offline at the end of July so please make the above
changes asap to ensure there is no disruption to your service.
Please contact our support department if you have any queries with the above.
How to set up an email account in Macmail
Jun 12 12
Step 1
In Macmail, go to the File menu and click on ‘Add Account’
We are using your-name-here.co.uk as an example, obviously you need to change this to your own domain name.
Step 2
Fill in the your Full Name, Email address, and your mailbox Password.
Step 3
Deselect “Automatically set up account” if it is enabled. Click Continue to proceed.
Step 4
Choose the correct account type (normally POP)
Step 5
Enter a description for your email account
Step 6
Enter your Incoming Mail Server, User Name and Password.
Step 7
Lease SSL blank and choose ‘Password’ as the authentication.
Step 8
Enter a description for your Outgoing Mailserver
Step 9
Enter your Outgoing mailserver address which is mail.yourdomain.co.uk
Step 10
Tick ‘Use Authentication’ and enter the same username and password as the incoming mailserver.
Step 11
As with the incoming server, lease SSL blank and choose ‘Password’ as the authentication.
Step 12
Check “Take account online”, then click “Create” to complete the process.
Cookies and the new EU Cookie Law
May 12 03
From 26 May, UK websites are required by law to comply with the EU “Cookie Law” which means that website owners must advise visitors that they are using cookies and must gain the consent of each visitor before serving them web cookies.
The new policy was actually passed on 26th May 2011 but it didn’t seem to launch due to lack of uptake from webmasters. The ICO agreed a one year’s grace period meaning the new cookie law will officially be enforced from May 26th 2012.
So action will now need to be taken but the problem is most people don’t really understand what cookies are, let alone how they can comply to the new law. Below is our guide to Cookies, how they are used and how to comply with the new Cookie law.
WHAT ARE COOKIES?
A cookie, also know as Web Cookie or Browser Cookie is a simple text file that gets downloaded onto your PC when you visit a website. They are not programs and they don’t actually do anything. They generally contain two bits of information: a site name and a unique user ID.
HOW DO COOKIES WORK?
A website that uses Cookies will download one onto your PC when you first visit. The next time you visit that site, your PC will check to see if you have a saved cookie from that site and sends the information contained in that cookie back to the site. The site then ’knows’ that you have been there before, and will automatically load the information previously sent to the cookie. For example, you’ll probably use some sites that automatically load your email address/username and password onto their login screen so you don’t have to type it in every time, this information was stored in the cookie and is sent to the website every time you visit it.
WHAT IS THE NEW COOKIE LAW?
The “Cookie Law” comes the EU Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive, which took place in November 2009. It aims to safeguard privacy online and protect web users from unwanted marketing. It basically breaks down into the three following rules:
- If you are using Cookies on your website you need to let every visitor know that when they come to your site.
- You need to let them know what type of Cookies you are using on your website.
- You have to gain consent from the visitor for you to use cookies and they need to have the option to opt out if they do not consent.
DO I NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW LAW?
The new cookie law applies to all member states of the European Union, so any sites based in the UK that uses cookies will need to comply. Websites outside of the EU must also comply if they are targeting people within member states. For example, a US based site selling to UK customers will need to comply.
HOW DO I MAKE MY SITE COMPLY TO THE NEW COOKIE LAW?
Basically your site must gain the consent of your visitors for placing cookies on their computers. It is not made clear exactly how you should do this, but there must be some form of communication involved whereby the visitor knowingly consents to cookies being used.
Your webmaster should be able to help you with the best way to implement this on your site. You could have a pop up, but most browsers now block pop ups by default, or a box that appears at the top of you site which people have to click on and agree to the new privacy policy to make it go away, or have a notice at the top of your site to say that you are tracking cookies, maybe with a link to a page which explains more about cookies and the new privacy policy.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY SITE DOES NOT COMPLY?
The UK Regulations carry a maximum fine of £500,000 for serious breaches. The ICO will be concerned with the impact of the breach of the new cookie law on the privacy of website users. Initially companies will be sent information notices or enforcement notices with fines for further non compliance.
Further information can be found at About Cookies.
Make the most of your Web Hosting with Plesk Application Vault.
Apr 12 30
At Your Name Here all our Web Hosting packages all come with the Plesk Application Vault. Accessed via the control panel, the Application Vault provides a large number of ‘One Click Install’ software programs.
Once logged into your control panel, click on ‘Web Applications’ and then ‘Install Web Application’ and you will be shown the above screen. You can browse through each of the categories to find lots of applications that can do a number of cool things to your website.
Popular applications include:
Once you’ve chosen your application simply click on the ‘Install’ icon and the program will automatically be set up for you. You just need to enter an administrator password and the directory you would like to install the software.
The software will then be shown as an installed application in your control panel and you can click on a link to take you to the application’s login page.
Your Name Here Special Offers
Apr 12 26
We are currently running a couple of domain name special offers:
Free domain name with any Business or Premium Hosting Package.
From May 1st we will be offering a free domain name for 1 year with every Business or Premium Hosting package ordered.
Available domains on this offer are .co.uk, .com, .net, .biz, .info, org and .eu (.co.uk will be registered for 2 years)
Details of the Business and Premium Hosting Packages can be found here.
Choose your domain name now on our Domain Registration page.
.mobi domain names less than half price!
For a limited time only our .mobi domain names will be available to register for £8. Previously the price was £17 so you can save a lot by buying your .mobi for just £8 for the first year.
.mobi domains are designed to help users find internet content that will work on their mobile phones. Internet browsing on mobile phones has become more and more popular and .mobi is the first and only top-level domain name that is dedicated to delivering the internet on mobile devices.
Having a .mobi domain for your website can help you improve your site ranking when the search is made on a mobile device.
To register your .mobi domain click here.
New Web Builder Price Reduction
Our new Site Builder software is an ideal way for small businesses to create professional looking websites. From 1st May the price of the Website Builder will be reduced to £39.95 (previously £49.95)
The price includes registration of a new domain name, plenty of webspace and email accounts, as well as the Web Builder software which enables you to design a fully operational website in minutes and you don’t need any web design experience. The design is already done for you.
A perfect all in one package for any business or personal website.
Please visit our Site Builder page for further details and to try the demo.
New Multi Year registrations for .uk domain names
Apr 12 24
From May 1st it will be possible to register a .uk domain name for anywhere between 1 and 10 years at a time. 
Nominet, who are the organisation that manages UK domain names have decided to give registrars the opportunity to offer a more flexible service.
Previously UK domain names could only be registered and renewed for a fixed 2 year period. The new changes for .uk registrations will fall in line with other domain names such as .com, where it has always been possible to register a domain name for upto 10 years.
You will also be able to renew your uk domain names at any point during the registration. At the moment you can only renew the domain 6 months prior to the expiry date. The new system will allow you to renew the domain name at any time, providing the renewal period does not exceed the 10 years.
The new periods will only be available to registrars like ourselves who are Nominet members. This will allow us to offer our customers the peace of mind of long term renewals, so you won’t need to worry about renewals or expiry so often. Renewing for a longer period also gives you the benefit of reduced prices.
Once this comes into place we will modify our registration systems to allow for the extended periods. Prices for the multi year periods will be added to our website shortly.
New Site Builder for 2012
Feb 12 28
An easy and quick way for small businesses to create professional looking websites.
If you would like your own website but don’t know how to do it, our new Website Builder is just for you. In just 3 easy steps you can have a fully operational website ready to go.
Firstly choose your web address: 
(myownwebsite.co.uk or
myownwebsite.com)
Then we will set up your domain on our server and enable the Website Builder for you. Just choose the type of business for your site and a template of your new site will automatically be created for you:
You can then replace the template text with your own, add your own images and add extra modules such as a shopping cart, all with a few clicks of a button.
Once you have arranged your layout, added your pages and added your new content, simply click on ‘Publish’ and your new design will be made live on the Internet.
Any updates or changes can be made to your site – just login to your Web Builder again, make the necessary adjustments and click on publish again. It really is as easy as it sounds!
To try the demo click here.
The difference between POP3 and IMAP email accounts.
Oct 11 26
Many people may not even know this but when you are setting up your email
addresses there are two different account types you can set up – POP or IMAP. POP3 is the standard on most email clients and it is the most widely used, but IMAP may be more suitable depending on how you want to handle your emails.
POP3
POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) is the most widely used for email accounts. With
POP3, new messages are downloaded off the mailserver and stored on your email
client. So managing all operations on the account such as reading, deleting or
moving an email are all handled on your computer rather than on the mailserver.
This means the account is available whether you are online or offline and no
changes are communicated back to the mailserver.
Pros and Cons of POP3:
Pros:
- POP3 is well supported in all email clients.
- POP3 is faster than IMAP.
- You can view and manage your emails offline.
- Most email clients will allow you to keep a copy of email on the server.
Cons:
- Your email can only be viewed on one device
IMAP
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) differs from POP3 in that your emails are stored on the mailserver and all actions performed on the account are communicated back to the mailserver.
IMAP is useful for managing your account through more than one device. You can have the account set up at work, at home and on your phone, and anything you do on the account such as mark the email as read, or add a new folder etc will be seen the same way on each device. e.g You send an email from your phone and you can then see that in the sent folder on your
computer when you get home.
Pros and Cons of IMAP:
Pros:
- Your email messages can be synchronized over multiple devices.
- All folders -Inbox, Sent Items, Trash etc are available on all devices you use.
- More than one person can simultaneously manage the same email account.
Cons:
- You must be online to view your emails.
- IMAP uses more bandwidth.
- IMAP is slower
New Plesk Servers
Oct 11 19
We will be moving reddwarf.1st4domains.co.uk to it’s new UK server this evening.
From tomorrow morning onwards you will need to login to the new contol panel address as follows:
https://ynh7.uk.easy-server.com:8443
with your exisiting username and password.
If you used the IP address for the FTP host you will need to change this to :
ftp.yourdomain.co.uk
(obviously replace yourdomain.co.uk with your actual domain).
Please get in touch with any queries but we hope you will be much happier with the speed of the new server.
Who are we and who works there?
Mar 11 22
Who are we?
Who works there?
Doug Smith – Boss/Godfather
One of two partners who started Your Name Here back in 1998.
Starting from our back room we soon reached sales figures of £25,000 per week (yes – per week). A quick move was required as we took staff on and over the years have worked in a number of locations. Nowadays sales are much more modest and because I have such FANTASTIC staff I really have very little input. I’m so proud of the way they look after my business and let me pursue other interests. I really do owe a huge debt of gratitude to them. Please people…when you’re dealing with Alison, Craig or Christine just mention “Dougie really appreciates you” (because I don’t tell them that enough).
Alison
I was born and bred in Lytham St Annes and started out as a Sales/Support Advisor in March 2000 and was promoted to Manager back in 2002 by Doug when he decided to open a hotel in Blackpool and take more of a back seat, he did deserve a break though he worked 24 hours some days and none of this would be here without him! (curtsy/bow) So I do a bit of everything really, sales, marketing, support and general server admin. My Blackberry is always on so if you have an emergency (obviously not a medical one) email me on alison@your-name-here.co.uk and I will help.
Craig
Craig was born and bred in Blackpool and started in April 2006 when he decided on a career move to IT, he will help you with your sales/technical support queries by email and phone and won’t patronise you with technical talk, he also does general server admin and updates our blog with helpful tips on everything and anything, he has a great sense of humour and supports Manchester United which is either a good or a bad thing depending on your view.
craig@your-name-here.co.uk
Christine
Christine has been here since May 2005 and also has a great sense of humour and looks after all the sales ledger accounts and renewals. She also answers general queries on domains and hostings, she’ll send your invoices and receipts and remind you by email when your domain and hosting are due, so make sure your email address is up to date or you may miss it.. she’s from Yorkshire and keeps us in all check so it’s always a good idea to renew on time…
accounts@your-name-here.co.uk
We work really well as a small team along with our sister company Best Designs which is also owned by Doug, they have designed many of our customer websites along with our own, some of you may have spoken to David who’s worked here since July 2001 and is a bit of a technical guru, he looks after the other web designers Danny and Jordan. Gillian is their Manager who is from Ayrshire and has worked here since 2001, she also manages Best Hotel which offers hotel advertising with a new booking engine coming soon!