Okay, having the same question come in from several different clients is a sign that I just need to add the answer here. 

Question: How do I Share files with clients/colleagues/prospects when it is too big or gets blocked from going through email?

Answer: By using one of the many File Sharing Services available on the web.

File Sharing Services are basically renting space to host files specifically- sometimes for backup purposes, sometimes for sharing and collaborating with teams, sometimes to just make a large file available to someone who cannot receive it through email, etc.

You are probably familiar with places that specialize in photo sharing so your friends and family can see your vacation pix, etc. That is just a basic use.

True filesharing sites are more secure. The one I sell through the YNot Shop lets you upload files to a secure location and then email them to your recipients (instead of emailing an attachment, it emails them a link to download the document).  Here’s the link to read more:
Online File Folder (as low as $5/year )

Other file sharing services allow you to set up several users that are allowed to share and view the same space with the option to set some accounts with upload abilities(you) and some with download abilities (your clients). If you’re not a YNot Web client, or prefer one of these other scenarios, here are some other providers off the top of my head:

XDrive (free – $10/month)
GoDaddy ($6/year, go to Email options to find File Folders there)

Now granted, this is not the only way to share files.  Most web hosts will let you set up passworded FTP sites or you could also set up a password protected directory on your web site that holds files and such for downloads.  You then give the password to only those people you want access.  However, I have found this method seems overly complicated for most my clients and the small expense of a third-party file sharing service is worth it for ease of use for both them and their intended file recipients.

As a followup to a post I made last year (Beware Fake Listing Services, March 18, 2006) , I wanted to remind people about fake bills that come via postal mail to domain name owners.  I received another one just today on a domain I purchased recently that is exactly the same as the ones they were sending before, but with a new company name.  This year it seems they are going by DLSCORP.NET/Domain Listing Service Corp. and the top says “Domain Listing Service” instead of “Website Listing Service”.  Same company address as last year’s batch of mailings.

This sort of thing is just one of the reason’s most my own domains are registered via proxy (sometimes called “private” or “unlisted” registration.)  For only a few bucks more a year, I can avoid more spam, confusing or deceptive phone calls, and these ridiculous ‘fake’ bills.  I recommend this service to anyone concerned about their privacy and especially anyone who runs their business from their home (otherwise anyone can find your address and phone number via the public whois service).  In fact, this was a reminder to me to add private registration to the domain that was targetted for this mailing!

As you may know, if you are either one of my long-term customers, friends, or business colleagues, YNot Web has been consistently over-booked for quite some time (our 4 year business anniversary is in a couple of months).  In addition to the mounting number of businesses who’s websites we have created and launched (sorry, I haven’t updated the Portfolio in quite some time), I also have an increasing number of clients turn into ongoing strategy consulting, search engine optimization or online marketing clients.  I particularly enjoy having these types of long term relationships with my clients as I truly believe your web presence needs to be continually growing and improving.  What was ‘good enough’ five years ago is not ‘good enough’ now and there is no such thing as “build it, they will come” or “set it and forget it” when it comes to promoting your business on the web.

With that in mind, I have decided to devote more of my business schedule to my ongoing SEO, strategy consulting, and web maintenance clients.  For too long I have allowed the more deadline-driven web design project clients take over the schedule, particularly with project delays and scope creep.  Although I will not stop taking web design or development clients altogether, as I still enjoy the creation process, I will be reducing the number of design projects I carry at one time and imposing increased restrictions on timeframes, project scopes, and types of businesses we will accept as web development clients.  I hope this won’t come across as too ’structured’ (my husband calls it something else) to those interested in working with us in the future.  If you are a full-time business committed to completing your web project in weeks instead of months and have the time that you will need to devote to your project by providing a clear definition of your vision and providing the text and graphic content needed to create or revamp your website, then you are just the type of client we’d like in our next design schedule opening.  If you have questions or concerns, feel free to call 916-225-5266.