Easily Backup Your WordPress Website with UpdraftPlus

Knowing how to backup your WordPress website + keeping a recent backup is one of the most important things you can do for your business. In the event all hell breaks loose, it's the only way you'll be able to restore your site. Backups are like an insurance policy for your website. Because if you're thinking the unthinkable only happens to other people, you'd be wrong.

What could possibly go wrong, you ask? Hackers. Website hosting server malfunction. And the most likely cause being the "white screen of death" after a plugin, theme, or software update.

Keeping up-to-date with your backups provides assurance and peace of mind that you're protected. And it's a lot easier than you might think.

I do a lot of manual backups, but unless you want to geek out on learning how to download your website files and database through FTP and your hosting account, I'd definitely recommend an easy-to-use plugin (if you have ongoing support services through my website care plan, skip this post - you're already covered 😉).

I've used multiple backup plugins with my clients over the years and while they're all pretty comparable, my favorite (and the one I use in addition to manual backups) has been UpdraftPlus. Here are step-by-step instructions to easily get started with your first backup using the UpdraftPlus plugin.

 

HOW TO BACKUP YOUR WORDPRESS WEBSITE WITH UPDRAFTPLUS

  1. Purchase UpdraftPlus Premium
  2. Install the UpdraftPlus plugin and activate it
  3. Go to Settings – UpdraftPlus Backups
  4. Click on the Premium/Extensions tab and enter your login credentials
  5. Next, click the Settings tab and set your desired schedule
  6. Link to your remote storage location(s)
  7. Finally, click the Current Status tab and run your first backup

 

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WITH BACKUPS

  • Run a new backup after making any major changes to your website.
  • Schedule backups to run automatically so you don't forget to run them.
  • Check your scheduled backups occasionally to verify that they’re running as they should.
  • Store your backup files in a remote location so you can easily access them if your website goes down.