For you to back up your website is one of the smartest things you have done as a website owner.
Think about it. What did you think is going to happen if your website get crashes tomorrow? Or worse, hackers attack it, and you lost all your documents? Isn’t it Scary, right?
This is the main reason why backups are important.
They are your safety shelter, have that at the back of your mind.
Whether you’re operating a blog, an e-commerce site, or a small business website in Nigeria, for you to have a backup means you can restore your site back without stress.
Below are 5 easy ways to create a backup of your website.
Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything to you in full details.
1. cPanel Backup Tools
Most of the hosting providers in Nigeria, which include Hostlinko, usually provide cPanel.
cPanel is just like the control panel for your website, and it comes with built-in backup tools.
Using cPanel’s Backup Wizard is one of the easiest ways to back up your site.
Here’s how it works:
- Kindly Log into your cPanel.
- Search for the Backup Wizard. It’s usually under the Files section.
- Click on it and select Full Backup.
- Select where you want to save the backup.
- You can install it to your computer or send it through email.
This method creates a full backup of your website.
That includes your documents, databases, email accounts, and configurations.
The interesting part is that? It’s free and doesn’t require any technical skills,.no technical fee as well.
Although, don’t keep the backup on the same server as your website. Reason why is? If the server crashes, you’ll lose both your website and the backup.
Download it to your local device or save it on cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.
2. Cloud Storage Service
If you don’t trust storing backups on your computer or hosting server, cloud storage is the best way to follow.
Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive permit you to save your backups online.
They are very accessible from anywhere in Nigeria, and they always keep your information secure from physical damage like hard drive crashes or theft.
How to back up your website by using cloud storage:
1. Just download your website files using cPanel or an FTP client.
2. You have to compress the files into a ZIP folder. This usually lower their size and makes it easier to upload.
3. Kindly upload the ZIP file to your cloud storage account.
Most cloud storage services render free space (e.g., 15GB on Google Drive), which is more than enough for small websites.
For bigger websites, you might need to pay for extra storage.
The interesting part is? The process can be easily automate.
Some useful tools, like Google Drive Backup and Sync, can automatically back up your files to the cloud.
3. WordPress Backup Plugins
If your website is created on WordPress, plugins make backing up a breeze.
These tools take care of everything for you, starting from creating the backup to storing it safely.
Here are some of the best WordPress backup plugins:
a) UpdraftPlus
This is one of the most famous WordPress backup plugins. It’s free and very easy to operate.
You can schedule automatic backups.
You can save backups directly to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.
You can restore your site in one click.
b) All-in-One WP Migration
This plugin is suitable for creating a full backup for your website.
It’s also useful for migrating your site to a new server.
It’s usually supports huge websites.
Saves backups locally or on cloud storage.
c) BackupBuddy
BackupBuddy is a premium plugin with advanced features.
It’s ideal if you need more control over your backups.
Schedule automatic backups.
You can store backups offsite (e.g., Amazon S3, Google Drive).
With these plugins, you don’t have to worry about manual backups.
Just set it up once, and the plugin will do the rest of the work perfectly.
Here at Hostlinko, we usually provide full support for WordPress hosting, so that you can easily install and use any of these plugins without problem.
4. Manual Backups via FTP and phpMyAdmin
If you prefer to do things manually, this option is mainly for you.
It’s a bit more technical but it’s will gives you a full authority.
We only have two parts in this process:
- Backing up your website files.
- Backing up your database.
a) Backing Up Files through FTP
For you to back up your files, you’ll need an FTP client like FileZilla.
Here’s how:
1. Open FileZilla and connect to your server using your FTP credentials.
2. Navigate straight to the public_html folder (this folders contains your website files).
3. Download the whole folder to your computer.
b) Backing Up the Database through phpMyAdmin
Your website’s content (e.g., blog posts, user accounts) is stored in a database.
For you to back it up, you need to:
1. Log into cPanel and open phpMyAdmin.
2. Select your website’s database.
3. Click on Export and save the file on your computer.
Now you have a complete backup of your website. Remember to save these files in a safe space, like an external hard drive or cloud storage.
5. Hostlinko’s Automatic Backup Feature
Let me save you the stress of doing it manually.
Here at Hostlinko, we render automatic regular backups for all hosting plans.
This means your website is backed up every day without you lifting a finger, can you see that is very easy stress-free.
Here’s why this is a game changer:
Your backups are stored safely in many locations.
You can easily restore your website with just one click on your computer.
It’s included in all hosting plans at no additional charges.
Whether you’re owning a small blog or a big e-commerce site, you can sleep well and rest assured knowing that Hostlinko has your back all the time.
Why Are Backups Important?
Let me break this down. Why should you care so much about backups?
1. Protection Against Data Loss
Websites can crash for multiple reasons, either server problem, malware, or even accidental deletion.
Backups will make sure that you will be able to recover everything without leaving any part out.
2. Hackers Are Everywhere
Cyberattacks are increasing in Nigeria daily.
If hackers attack your site, a backup will help you to restore it quickly without wasting money or traffic.
3. Mistakes Happen
Sometimes, the issues come from our hand.
Maybe you mistakenly installed a bad plugin or deleted an important file.
Backups are your safety place.
4. Peace of Mind
Knowing that your website is fully backed up, will gives you confidence.
You can focus on growing your business without worrying about technical problems.
How Often Should You Back Up?
This depends on your website’s activity.
Small Blogs: Back up weekly.
E-commerce Sites: Back up daily or even every hourly (to protect transactions).
News Websites: Back up daily.
Her at Hostlinko, we take care of this issue for you with our daily automatic backups. So even if you forget, your data is safe.
Where Should You Store Your Backups?
Don’t store backups in one location. That’s risky.
Here’s a good strategy:
Local Storage: Save backups on your computer or an external hard drive.
Cloud Storage: Use Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.
Remote Locations: If possible, keep a copy in a different location from your office or home.
Diversifying your storage ensures you’ll always have access to your backups, no matter what happens.
Taking care of Large Websites
If your website is big (e.g., more than 5GB), you’ll need specialized backup tools.
Here are some options:
Amazon S3: Perfect for storing large backups securely.
CodeGuard: A premium service that works with all types of websites.
WP-CLI: For advanced WordPress users who want command-line control over backups.
At Hostlinko, we support large websites with unlimited storage and bandwidth. No matter the size of your site, we’ve got you covered.
Final Thought
Always test your backups. Make sure you can restore your website from the backup.
Automate the backup process. Plugins and hosting features like Hostlinko’s daily backups make life easier.
Don’t rely solely on your hosting provider. Always keep an external copy of your backup.
Why Choose Hostlinko?
Let’s face it, backing up your website can be stressful.
That’s why Hostlinko is here to make things easier.
With Hostlinko, you get:
Fast SSD Storage: Your website loads faster, and backups are quicker.
Free SSL Certificates: Secure your site and boost customer trust.
Free .COM.NG Domain: Save money when you purchase yearly hosting.
Automatic Daily Backups: Never worry about losing your website.
Unlimited Bandwidth and Email Accounts: Grow your website without limits.
Imunify360 Security: Protect your site from hackers and malware.
24/7 Customer Support: We’re always here to help, day or night.
Hostlinko is perfect for Nigerian businesses, offering affordable prices, easy Naira payments, and a 10% recurring affiliate commission.
Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Start backing up your website today with Hostlinko. You’ll thank yourself later.
