Disaster-Proof Your Blog

#BH13DisasterProof INTERNET SSID: BlogHer | No Password Required

Disaster-Proof Your Blog

SKYE KILAENBlogHer Publishing Network

@skyekilaen

(presentation based on joint work with @lizhenry)

INSTRUCTOR

#BH13DisasterProofINTERNET SSID: BlogHer | No Password

Required

What kind of disaster?

• Floods, fires, you get hit by a bus – or whisked away to Paris!• Blog is hacked/ infected, attacked by spammers or DDoS• Copyright infringement• Locked out of your account (Google, anyone?)• Host deletes one or more of your posts due to alleged

copyright infringement • Database crash or corruption• Sudden popularity!

#BH13DisasterProofINTERNET SSID: BlogHer | No Password

Required

Backups, Backups, Backups

• No, really, back that stuff up!• Not just your posts:

- themes- plugins- image files- database if self-hosted

• Does your web host back up for you?• TEST your backups

#BH13DisasterProofINTERNET SSID: BlogHer | No Password

Required

Password Security

• Pick good passwords• Keep a record of them for every service you use:

- blogging platform- web host and database if self-hosted- domain name registration- image storage- social media

• Keep it safe AND share it with someone you trust

#BH13DisasterProofINTERNET SSID: BlogHer | No Password

Required

Don’t give anyone too much power!

• Don’t use your work email for blog business.• Don’t use your ISP for your email addy.• Don’t get your hosting and domain name from the same

company.• Don’t store your images and posts on the same free service.• Don’t give out your admin-level login, even to your designer.• The best time to find a web pro to bail you out is BEFORE you

need one! Know what services SHOULD cost.

#BH13DisasterProofINTERNET SSID: BlogHer | No Password

Required

Pay Attention

• Use your MAIN email address for blog-related services.• Calendar reminder for expiration dates for hosting and domain

name registration.• Know what credit card(s) you’re using for auto-renewing

services.• If you lose your domain name, ZERO chance of getting it back.• Google your site regularly – some redirection hacks only hijack

search traffic.

#BH13DisasterProofINTERNET SSID: BlogHer | No Password

Required

Dealing with Content Scraping

• Add your name/blog title to your template/settings so it’s included in every post in your feed.

• Use Google/Giga Alerts, get emails with updates for that term.• Real person with bad manners? Contact them via their blog.• Commercial and automated? Find their ISP (Hosting Company)

using Whois.net (look under “nameserver”) – send DMCA takedown.

• Have your hosting company block their IP from your site or DIY with WordPress.

#BH13DisasterProof INTERNET SSID: BlogHer | No Password Required

Disaster-Proof Your Blog

SKYE KILAENBlogHer Publishing Network

@skyekilaen

(presentation based on joint work with @lizhenry)

INSTRUCTOR

“BlogHer is a snake meal of

ideas in a wonton wrapper of

love. Afterwards you need a 2-

day nap, then it nourishes you

for a year.”– @debontherocks