How to Check if a Company’s Website is Old or New
A simple guide for au pairs, nannies, and tutors to stay safe when choosing who to work for.
Why This Matters for You
When you look for work as an au pair, nanny, or tutor, you want to find good companies. Some companies say they have been helping families for many years. But is this true?
Learning how to check when a website started can help you know if a company is really old and trusted, or if they are new and just saying they are old.
What Does “Website Age” Mean?
Think of a website like a house. When was the house built? An old house has been there for many years. A new house was just built.
Old websites = Companies that have been working for a long time
New websites = Companies that just started (this is not always bad!)
Why Older Websites Can Be Better
| Older Companies | Newer Companies |
|---|---|
| More experience helping families | Less experience with problems |
| Many families have used them before | Few families have tried them |
| Proved they are good over many years | Still proving they are good |
| More stable – less likely to close | Might close if they have money problems |
Important: New companies can also be very good! But you need to be more careful and ask more questions.
Simple Ways to Check Website Age
Way 1: Ask Google
- Type the company name in Google
- Look at the search results
- Look for the three dots next to the website name (see picture below)
- Click the three dots to see more information
- Check the date that appears
- Look for “About this result” or similar text
- Google might show when it first found the website
Understanding the Pictures
When you look at the first picture:
- Find the three dots next to the website name
- Click on those dots to get more information
- This opens a special box with details about the website
When you look at the second picture:
- Look for “Source” in the information box
- Find the date that shows when Google first found the website
- The date might say “first indexed by Google in [month] [year]”
- This tells you how long the website has been around
Way 2: Use Free Website Tools
There are websites that can tell you when any website started:
Easy tools to try:
- Type “whois” in Google and use any free checker
- Put in the company’s website name (like theaupairclub.com)
- Look for “Created” or “Registered” date
Way 3: Look at Old Website Pictures
- Go to archive.org (it’s free!)
- Type in the website address
- See old pictures of what the website looked like years ago
- If there are old pictures, the website is old too
What the Dates Tell You
Understanding What You Find
| What You See | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Website started 10+ years ago | Very experienced company |
| Website started 3-10 years ago | Good experience, likely trustworthy |
| Website started 1-3 years ago | Some experience, ask more questions |
| Website started less than 1 year ago | Very new, be extra careful |
Things to Remember
- The website date might not be when the company started
- Some old companies make new websites
- Some companies change their name and make new websites
- Always ask questions if you are not sure
Red Flags to Watch For
Be Careful If:
- Company says “20 years of experience” but website is only 2 years old
- No information about when they started
- Website looks very new but they claim to be very old
- You cannot find the website age anywhere
Good Signs:
- Website age matches what they say about their experience
- They explain if they had an old website before
- They are honest about when they really started
- Other people online talk about using them for years
Our Example: The Au Pair Club
Our story shows why checking matters:
- We used to be called “That Sassy Life Coach”
- Google first found us in 2016
- Now we are “The Au Pair Club”
- We have been helping people for more than 9 years
- Our website name changed, but we are still the same good company
What this teaches you: Sometimes good companies change their website name, but they will tell you about it honestly.
Questions to Ask Companies
When you talk to a company, ask these easy questions:
About Their History
- “When did your company start?”
- “How long have you been helping au pairs?”
- “Have you ever changed your company name?”
- “Can I talk to families who used you before?”
About Their Website
- “Is this your first website?”
- “Did you have a different website name before?”
- “How long have you been online?”
Making Smart Choices
Good Companies Will:
- Answer your questions honestly
- Tell you if they changed their name
- Show you families they helped before
- Not get angry when you ask about their history
Be Careful of Companies That:
- Won’t answer questions about their age
- Get upset when you ask questions
- Can’t show you any families they helped
- Say they are old but everything looks new
Your Safety Checklist
Before you choose a company, check these things:
✓ Website Age
- Found when their website started
- Matches what they say about experience
✓ Company Information
- Can find their real address
- Can call them on the phone
- Other people say good things about them
✓ Honest Communication
- They answer all your questions
- They explain anything confusing
- They don’t pressure you to decide fast
✓ Proof of Experience
- Can talk to other au pairs who worked with them
- Can see reviews from real families
- Have pictures and stories from past placements
What to Do Next
If the Website is Old (Good Sign):
- Keep asking questions about the company
- Talk to other au pairs who worked with them
- Make sure they are still good at helping people
If the Website is New (Be More Careful):
- Ask more questions about their experience
- Find out if the owners worked at other companies before
- Talk to any families they have helped so far
- Maybe look for more experienced companies too
If Something Seems Wrong:
- Trust your feelings – if something feels bad, it might be bad
- Ask more people for advice
- Look for other companies to compare
- Don’t rush into making a decision
Getting Extra Help
If you need to understand more about websites and how they work, especially if you want to help families or start your own business someday, you can read more detailed information about domain age and SEO.
This guide has more advanced information for people who want to learn about websites and marketing.
Remember These Important Points
- Older websites often mean more experienced companies
- Always ask questions if something doesn’t make sense
- Good companies will be happy to explain their history
- Your safety is more important than finding work quickly
- Trust your feelings – if something seems wrong, be careful
Final Advice
Checking website age is just one way to stay safe. You should also:
- Talk to other au pairs about their experiences
- Research the company in many different ways
- Ask lots of questions before you agree to work with anyone
- Take your time to make good decisions
Remember: You are smart and you can learn to protect yourself. Use these tips, ask questions, and trust yourself to make good choices.
Good luck finding a great company to work with!
Being careful about choosing companies helps you have better experiences as an au pair, nanny, or tutor. Take time to check, ask questions, and make smart choices.
