Regular Backups of your WordPress Site

(Photo by grittycitygirl)

Once you have your WordPress site up and running, it’s important to make periodic backups in case something goes wrong. You should also backup before and after major changes to your site, like updating your theme and upgrading WordPress.

The two things that need to be backed up are your database and your files. You can pay for a service to do this automatically (VaultPress) or do it manually. Here’s the steps to doing it yourself.

Database

This is where all the content of your website is stored (Posts, Pages…).  The best way to back this up is using a plugin called WP DB Backup. It will let you automatically back up your database and have it emailed to you. You can also log in and do a backup any time you want (like before upgrading WordPress).

I recommend going to Gmail and setting up a separate email account for your website’s backup (ex: [email protected] ). That way all the backups are stored in one email account and don’t get lost in your personal emails.

To install the plugin: go inside your WordPress Admin interface, go to Plugins > Add New. Search for “WP DB Backup” and install the first one. Once installed, activate it.

Once the plugin is installed, you should schedule a backup. I do them weekly, but if you post often you might want to do it more often. Scroll to the “Scheduled Backup” section, select the period, type in your desired email address and click “Schedule Backup”.

To do a backup right now, go to “Backup Options”, select Email type the desired email address and click “Backup Now”.

Files

All of your files are stored in the wp-content folder. This includes your themes, plugins, and uploads.

I haven’t found a good plugin for this, so you’ll have to do it manually. Using an FTP program, download a copy of your wp-content folder. Once on your computer, convert it to a zip file, then email it to your backup email address (so all the backup files are stored in one location).

If it’s too large you might need to store it on your computer or an external hard drive. If you’re using Gmail for backup, you might try the Google Docs uploader which let’s you upload 1gb of files.

I’d only recommend doing it every few months since it’s such a large file. My database backup is only 300kb but my wp-content backup is 36mb.

Again, if this isn’t something you’re comfortable to do yourself, I’d highly recommend using a service like VaultPress to automatically do your backups, or hiring someone. You should also check with your hosting company to see what they are already backing up.