Signing up to website on behalf of a client

[aweb4u]

In my job as a web designer I have found that sometimes I have to sign up to various websites on behalf of my client. For example:

• YouTube in order to upload videos
• Facebook in order to set up fan pages
• Google Analytics in order to provide web statistics to my client
• Various web directories in order to submit the clients website
• Google Local Business Center in order to make advertise the client's business
• Etc

I am wondering what the best way is to handle this sort of thing.

There are two ways that I can see:

1. Sign up under my own name
2. Sign up under my client's name

The first method has the advantage that I only need one login on each service, which makes it easier for me to manage (i.e I set up one YouTube account and then upload all of my clients videos under that account, so I am the owner of the videos, where I may have videos for several different clients). The disadvantage is that I can't easily give my client access to these accounts (i.e. if they decide to employ a different web designer and take their website and all assets, or to view access stats, etc).

The second method has the advantage that if a client wants access to an account then I can easily give it to them, but I then have to manage multiple accounts for each service.

In many situations it is difficult to sign up using my client's details, as the service wants to send an email to my client's email address asking them to verify the sign-up. Many of my clients would just go "Huh?" and delete the email

Also some services have as part of their terms and conditions that you agree all the information you provide is true and you are who you say you are, so technically I am violating these terms if I pretend to be my client.

Asking my client to sign up to these services and then give me their username and password can also be difficult as many of my clients just want me to handle everything for them.

And Google Local Business Center is even harder because Google wants to post you a PIN and then ring the phone number they have on file for that business and you have to type in the PIN to prove you actually own that business!

How do you handle this sort of thing on behalf of your clients?

[Shaun(OfTheDead)]

I'd use their accounts or create accounts under their name, if they don't have.

That way should you ever need to part ways with 'em, there's much less fuss. Hand over a print out of the passwords, and go your merry way.

[AlexDawson]

I agree, it may be worth having a database of all your clients along with the usernames and passwords of the accounts you have created for them (encrypted or protected in some way) so you can manage the accounts you are required to intervene with. As such when you pass a clients details to them you should then ask them to change the password to ensure it's as secure as possible (if you aren't going to touch the account post deployment).

[JamesColin]

simply create on email adress (forward email) per client and use it to create accounts in the name of yoru client, with same username and password for all services.
The rules of the services are there to protect the services, they're just here because of lawyers and such. I don't believe any of these services perform any check nor do they care, it's just to cover themselves in case of any legal problem (i don't know which one, they problably don't know either, it's just lawyers business)

if there are pins involved, or checks, your client has to do his part.

[aweb4u]

Thanks guys, that's all valuable advise!

The idea of creating an email address for each client and redirecting it to me is a good one, thanks James! Since I control the hosting of most of my clients I can easily do this.

[Shaun(OfTheDead)]

Originally Posted by AlexDawson

I agree, it may be worth having a database of all your clients along with the usernames and passwords

Excel spreadsheet.

[aweb4u]

I already have an Access database that keeps track of all my clients (contact details, notes, etc) and also does my invoicing. So I can easily keep account signup info in that. Thanks!