Backup and recovery tips from experience. Don't let your blog crash, get hacked or damaged without a backup.

1. Tips to protect your blog
By HotBlogTips.com

2. First, A Couple Of Tips
 Backup your blog files and database before AND
after any major changes and WordPress or plugin
updates.
 Backup on a regular schedule. There are free
WordPress plugins that can help you with this.

3. Backup Your Files VIA FTP
 Save ALL of your blog files to your hard drive or cloud
using FTP.

4. Backup Your Database
 This is a simple matter if you use cPanel.

5. Don’t Forget Your Full Backup
 This is especially important when changing hosts or
extreme crashes. Find it in your cPanel.

6. Now, For The Recovery Tips…
 You may have to change the database filename
before using it to restore your blog. In my case, I
have to change the backed-up file
from mylogin_wrdp1.sql to wrdp1.sql.gz before the
restore will work in the cPanel.

7. Don’t Just Write Over Or Delete
 I like to rename files before replacing them rather
than deleting or overwriting them. I just add
something like -old to the filename. Once I know
everything took, then I delete the old file.

8. Evaluate The Situation
 Step back and evaluate the situation before
attempting a database restoration You may only
need to replace a particular file, depending on
what caused the problem.

9. Don't Be Afraid To Seek Help.
 If you’re stumped, ask a friend, find help in
forums, Facebook or LinkedIn Groups or Google
Plus Communities. There are always someone
willing to offer a helping hand.

10. Understand Which File Is Corrupt
 If your blog can be fixed simply by replacing a
single file with one you have backed up using FTP,
be sure you know while file needs replaced.
 Did you know, for example, Genesis Child theme
has it's own Functions.php separate from the
main WordPress Functions.php?

11. Rest Easy And Enjoy Your Blog
 Knowing your blog is backed up and ready for
mistakes, crashes and hackers is a piece of mind
that’s well worth the few minutes it takes up.
 Now you are free to create content until your heart’s
content, because that’s what we bloggers do.
 Have fun and enjoy your blog – the smart way.