Security 1st: Backing Up Your Blog Template

It's the first of the month which means it's time for my Security 1st feature. This month we are focusing on backing up your template.

I've had a few people ask me what they can do to make sure they don't lose their awesome blog design. It's a great idea to back up your blog template. Here are the steps.
1- At blogger dashboard click on Layout.
2- Then click on Edit HTML
X- Make sure you don't Pick New Template. If you do, and then actually pick a new template the design that you have will disappear!

Then the following page will come up.
1- Click on Download Full Template and download the template. It will be named something like template-282235459.xml. You can rename it, but don't alter the extension. I like to rename mine something like CDBtemplate-21509.xml
X- Don't mess with the code at all!

If you are using the updated Blogger interface it looks like this.

Security 1st: Backing Up Posts

It's the first of the month which means it's time for my new Security 1st feature. This month we are focusing on backing up your posts. How would you feel if your blog disappeared? Would you be sad if you lost all your posts? Back them up on a regular basis and you won't have to worry about losing them. It's quite easy to do. Try it now!
1- Click on Settings
2- Click Export blog
3- DO NOT DELETE YOUR BLOG!!!!!!

This will back up all posts you have, not just today's posts. I recommend that you put the file into a folder and put it on a back up storage devise.

OK...how easy was that? You can also import blog posts (which you might want to do if you start a new blog and want to move posts over.) The Blogger Buzz has a more in depth post about exporting/importing posts. Check it out here.

Security 1st

I am starting a new feature here at Custom Blog Designs & beyond called Security 1st. It's going serve as a monthly reminder to secure your personal information and data. 1st is part of the title so that you remember to secure your stuff on the first of the month.

This month we will focus on passwords. When I install someone's custom blog design they give me access to their blog. Sometimes they invite me to be a contributor and grant me admin access, but for the most part people share their log-in information with me. I am often surprised by how simple their password is. Actually, I am not surprised and the blog owners shouldn't be if they get hacked. It's not a good idea to put your children's or pet's name or your hobby or things you talk about on your blog as your password. I know that many people claim that they will not remember it if it's not simple. My suggestion is to write it down. Yes, someone could get the passwords that you write down but if you keep them hidden somewhere it should be OK. I change my passwords to all my important accounts quite frequently and I use an odd combination of letters, numbers, and other characters. I have to write it down because I wouldn't remember something like 742Yn8/3Cwo. You should use a completely different password for each account. I often get a client who has the same (simple) password for both Blogger & Photobucket. I would venture to guess that they use the same password for their email and PayPal too.  And if you share your log-in information with someone (such as me) then change your password after they are done with your account! Yes, it seems like a pain to go in and change things, but it's better to be safe than sorry.