Blog Audit Challenge 2021
Welcome back for another month of challenges for the Blog Audit Challenge 2021! I hope you did well with the October challenges. Remember to link up your progress in the October Linky.
Each month we'll concentrate on a different area of our blogs.
The Challenges:
November- Security
December- Know Your Stats
Monthly link ups
In order to keep us all on track, and give us a way to see each others progress, I'll be hosting link ups on the first Saturday of every month where participants can share their links and discuss their progress.
#BlogAuditChallenge2021
November Challenges
Our focus for November is on security.
The November challenges:
1. Back Up Your Blog
What would you do if you lost all your blog content? Not something you ever want to have to think about but the possibility is out there so be prepared.
All you need to do is create a back up of all your blog content, pages, and comments. This way if the worst thing ever happens you can install it all on a new blog is needed.
It's a good idea to get into the habit of backing up your blog regularly.
On Blogger creating back up files is easy. Back up your blog content
To get an .xml file of your blog’s posts, pages, and comments:
- Sign in to Blogger.
- At the top left, click the blog you want to back up.
- In the left menu, click Settings.
- Under "Manage blog," click Back up content
Download.
Save a copy of your blog's theme
- Sign in to Blogger.
- At the top left, click the blog you want to save.
- In the left menu, click Theme.
- At the top right, click More
Backup Download.
The process of backing up your blog on Wordpress is very similar. On your dashboard just go to tools and click on export.
Task 1: Back up your blog
2. SSL Certificate
SSL, more commonly called TLS, is a protocol for encrypting Internet traffic and verifying server identity. Any website with an HTTPS web address uses SSL/TLS. - cloud flare
It's much better for your site url to start with HTTPS instead of HTTP.
A non-SSL site will send log in details in clear readable form to the server. Sites that use SSL send all data to and from the host server securely in encrypted form.
Using SSL is also better for your website SEO as Google has now prioritised HTTPS sites in their search results.
The good news is that a lot of hosting plans provide HTTPS certificates for free.
Task 2: Make sure your blog has a SSL certificate.
Don't forget to promote your participation in the Blog Audit Challenge 2021 by using the following graphic in any blog posts you do connected with the challenge along with a link back to this site.
Save the Date:
The monthly link up post for sharing your November progress will be on 4th December. The December challenges will be posted on 1st December.
How often do you back up your blog?
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That time I almost lost all my work
When my Mac Book Pro stopped working earlier this year I went into panic mode. I hadn't backed up all my files. I had first drafts of novels, premade book cover designs, and more... that were potential lost. Yes I did cry a little.
Anyway, I finally got it fixed, and the first thing I did when I got it back was back up all the files. Words can not express how happy I was at finding all those files still there. Unfortunately, the problem came back again quite quickly and so it's back at the repair shop again. I should comment at this point that my Mac Book Pro is a model from a few years ago (2013 I think), which they aren't producing anymore due to this problem. This however also makes it harder to find the pieces needed to repair it. Hopefully the newer versions all work fine.
As a side note, I really do miss my Mac though. Well, if I'm honest, I really miss the programs I had installed on it. My trusty old HP Pavilion laptop is always there for me though, and I do have most of the programs on that too (just older versions).
Lesson learnt: My favourite back up tools
Needless to say, it's a good idea to regularly back up your files. As this is such an important topic, I thought I'd take you through a few of the ways I back up my files.
External Hard Drive
This is my preferred way to back up my files. I just plug in the USB and select the files I want to save from my computer. When I need them on another device I just plug the USB into that and transfer the files over.
I have several external hard drives that I use to back up my files. The biggest is the Verbatim 1 TB http://amzn.to/2znMqOi. It's a bulky model but does the job. I've never had any problems with it. This is the one I use for all my bigger projects.
Then I have a My Passport Ultra external hard drive http://amzn.to/2zoGAOD. This is much smaller and so easier to move around. Again, works great, and I've never had any problems with it.
Online Back up
I have several accounts for saving files online. Google Drive is the one I use most. One Drive and Drop Box are next on the list. This particular method of backing up files is really useful if you need to send the file to other people as you can get a shareable link, and give permission to view, and even edit the file to selected people.
There are free and paid options available for both Google Drive, One Drive, and Drop Box (and the many other types out there).
Email
This one is often overlooked, but beautifully simple. Just email yourself a copy of the file as an attachment. You'll then have a copy sitting ready for you in your inbox.
BONUS!
Surprise! Now I'm going to tell you about a bonus way to back up, that can be super useful for writers: Amazon's Free Kindle Reading App. This has saved me more than once. When I finish writing the first draft of a book I always send a copy of the file to my Kindle Reading App on my ipad. It really helps during the revising and editing stages as my brain goes into 'book reading mode', and so I find errors that I might have missed reading it on my laptop.
It is just a reading app and so you won't be able to edit the file from the app, but it does give you another copy. Once I wrote a big chunk of a non fiction book, and sent a copy to my Kindle App. Due to a problem with my computer, I lost the original file. Luckily I'd sent the file to the App and so managed to write up another one quickly. Not the best way to back up, but definitely a useful, extra layer to your safety net.
Now go back up your work. Trust me. You'll be glad you did.
This week I experienced a very hash reminder of the importance of backing up my files on a regular basis. My laptop died.
A nightmare situation for most people but particularly distressing for a writer and illustrator. The thought of losing just my current works in progress was enough to nearly send me over the edge. I admit it. I cried.
All those months of hard work potentially lost and never to be seen again. Heart breaking. Not to mention the panic of fast approaching deadlines. Nightmare!
Luckily it turned out that it was the battery and the charger that had died so buying a new charger sorted out the problem and I had my laptop back and working normally the very next day. I need to use it plugged into the socket until I get a new battery but it works and all the files are safe. Relief!
This whole horrible experience was a wake up call. I often forget to back up my files. Not any more! I have an external hard drive to save them to and now also send important files as email attachments to myself. I don't want to be in that situation ever again.
Has your computer ever died on you leaving you empty handed? How often do you back up your files?
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