I’m going to address 2 easy ways to backup your website – and specifically, your WordPress driven website – in this post.

the cPanel backup wizard

Wow. This method is so great! Why? Not only does it give you a one-step backup, you can use the backup it generates to create a one-step restoration. Now that’s efficient!

If your web host uses cPanel, you can use these steps to backup your website without a headache. If your web host does not use cPanel, there may be a similar proprietary system, so look for it! As always, I recommend Host Gator for your basic and not-so-basic web hosting needs.

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To get started, log into your cPanel dashboard. Once there, look for the Files section of your dashboard. Something like this:

Click BackUp Wizard to begin.

Once you’re in the wizard, select Backup:

And then Full Backup:

Ready for this? On the next screen, enter your email address to be notified when the file is ready. Simply return to this screen (by repeating the above steps) to download the latest backup from the links on the screen.

As you can see, I keep several backups on my server – I delete one everytime I create one – and also keep several backups on my laptop that gets automatically backed up to an external drive. Yes, I’m a little obsessed and rightfully so.

In case you’re wondering, this technique literally backs up everything: your files, your email addresses, your database… anything that cPanel is involved with.

the quick & dirty WordPress back up

There are lots of other ways to back up your site depending on your web host and the importance of certain things within your site. You can come up with numerous combinations of mySQL databases & files & backup plugins… but there is a really simple way to backup your WP with little effort even if it’s not perfect.

First, go into your WordPress dashboard and use the export function under Tools on the left column about 2/3 of the way down your screen.

Follow the instructions on the next screen to get the file to download. It’s an xml file which is basically what feed readers use to see your content without any of the nonsense. This file contains all your content – words, code, comments, trackbacks – but none of your files or database settings for widgets or menus.

Next, use an FTP client – I use Fetch for Mac but there are lots of freeware & shareware apps out there. Basically, an FTP client allows you to see your website for what it is: layers of folders & files living on a computer far off somewhere. Once inside your site, it will look a lot like your computer’s “Finder” or “File Manager.”

When you’re in, navigate to the wp-content folder. It’s one of the top-level directories within your WordPress installation. Download the whole thing. This file contains all of your theme files, uploads (photos & other media), and plugin files. This is the stuff that changes regularly – the rest of your WordPress files stay pretty much the same.

If you have problems or questions with your FTP client or server, a good web host will give you a hand! And, yes, I’ll work on a good tutorial for that in the future as well.

Again, keep in mind that this second method doesn’t do all the dirty work for you in case of a problem. You’ll need to restore widgets, theme settings, and plugin settings manually. But the important stuff is safe & sound, just the way we like it.

So – cPanel backup or WordPress quick & dirty backup – your choose! Just back up your site regularly to avoid headaches in the future.

LIke this information? I’m going to have a few more tutorials on how to do some great techy stuff with your WordPress website coming soon. Want the scoop on those tutorials and the chance to get a sweet discount on the WordPress course I’m running in October? Sign up for my advanced notice list to give your website a kick start (or a right start!) right before the holidays!

But one thing that keeps nagging me is that I’d like to offer a bit of technical support for common questions. Some written tutorials, some video posts, and, yes, some ebook/video products coming soon.

So my question to you is: what do you want to know?

I’m self-taught – so I know you can learn a lot of this too! But truthfully, 15 months or so into this and I have no idea what your most pressing “technical” questions might be. You guys have supplied me with enough fabulous marketing/theory questions to keep me blogging for quite a long time – and I will try to get to each & everyone.

So, leave your questions in the comments! What do you want to know how to do? What terms and technical/internet services do you need explained?