Your website is more than just an online presence — it’s your business’s digital home, your reputation, and in many cases, your revenue stream. And yet, one of the simplest tasks that could save you from stress, data loss, and even legal issues is often overlooked: backing up your website.
Over the years, I’ve worked with small business owners and entrepreneurs who’ve shared some tough stories with me. One client confided that her former website designer refused to give her full access to her site. Everything she built — her content, branding, and customer forms — was essentially locked behind someone else’s account. Another woman I worked with had her site hacked, and because she didn’t have a personal backup, she lost everything: blog posts, customer reviews, graphics, and months of work. It was devastating and totally avoidable.
No matter what platform your site is on — WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Shopify — you need to back it up regularly. Sure, many platforms offer automatic cloud backups, and that’s a great first layer. But relying solely on those backups is risky. If your account is compromised or access is restricted, cloud-stored files can be lost or withheld.
That’s why I always recommend downloading a full compressed backup of your website and saving it to an external hard drive or USB. Do this once a week or at least once a month. Having an offline copy gives you ownership, control, and peace of mind — no matter what happens online.
This also protects your intellectual property. Every piece of content on your site — from your homepage to your blog and product photos — is an asset. In the event of a crash, hack, or business fallout, having your own backup is like having a digital insurance policy. You won’t be stuck starting from scratch.
If you’re not already doing this, now is the time to build a simple routine. Add it to your calendar, automate it with a plugin, or ask your website manager to send you regular backups. Just like you wouldn’t forget to lock the front door of your physical office or storefront, don’t forget to secure your digital one.
Your website deserves protection — and so does your peace of mind. Back it up. Keep it safe. Stay in control. If you need help with this, let me know. hello@triciasoderstrom.com