Backup plan
What a full WordPress backup contains, how often to run it, where to keep it, how to test it.
Free printable checklist
Renewals register
A fill-in register for everything a website renews, with the provider, account owner, who pays, renewal date, cost and cycle, auto-renew and sites for each, one row per item.
KIT-08
PDF, 1 page, 5 KB
Download the PDF
One page. Prints on any black and white printer. No signup.
Site and reminder rule
Site: ____________________ Updated: ___________ Renewal emails go to: ____________________
Card on file ends in: ______ Expires: ______ Reminders: 60 and 14 days before every renewal date.
Domain and SSL dates: the owner’s manual generator at /design-field-kit/owner-manual/ fills them in.
Renewals
| Item | Provider | Account owner | Who pays | Renewal date | Cost and cycle | Auto-renew | Sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domain | Y / N | ||||||
| DNS host | Y / N | ||||||
| Hosting | Y / N | ||||||
| SSL certificate | Y / N | ||||||
| Y / N | |||||||
| Backups | Y / N | ||||||
| Theme or builder | Y / N | ||||||
| Plugin | Y / N | ||||||
| Plugin | Y / N | ||||||
| Y / N |
Monthly check
- Reminders set 60 and 14 days before each date.
- Renewed? Roll its renewal date forward.
- Card on file valid past every date due soon.
- Registrant email still reaches a real person.
Keep packing
The rest of the bag
Hack recovery
After a WordPress hack: contain it, keep evidence, find the way in, clean, harden, recover.
Pre-launch
Check DNS, SSL, WordPress settings, security, speed, SEO, forms and backups before a new or redesigned site goes live.
Switching hosts
Move a WordPress site to a new host without losing email, SSL, data or rankings: inventory, rehearse, cut over, then wait.
Site takeover access inventory
Every login, account and file to collect when you inherit a website, in the order that keeps it safe: domain first, backup before changes, then access, code and renewals.
Store fraud response
When a WooCommerce store is hit by card testing: confirm it, slow it down in the first hour, clean up the orders, report it and harden the checkout.
Monthly maintenance
A one-page monthly routine for a WordPress site: backups tested, updates in a safe order, renewals, uptime, Search Console, forms and security checks.