Earthquakes; your web site; and tips for emergency planning

I've often stated that all service businesses need a website. It is an asset that appreciates over time. But take note... When you have your website you also need to protect it - and your future business success.

Just last month an earthquake near Taiwan caused 10,000 Chinese websites to lose their .com domain.

It has happened before too. When undersea cables have been severed. Internet traffic can be stopped. Or slowed to a crawl if traffic is diverted through other congested lines.

Even if you have a secure website, and you back up your data (don't you?), I urge you to remember to stay on top of your emergency planning.

My tips for being prepared:

1. Backup your website data at least monthly, and know where the backup is stored.
2. Keep your domain registery and website hosting details in an easy to find location. Username, password, registry key, website host login, etc. Even better is to keep it all together in a handbook or manual.
3. Have alternate email address/es ready, in case your own domain (website and email) is unusable for a period of time.
4. Have an alternate domain name registered, in case you need to activate it at short notice.

You never know when disaster will strike. But you can be ready to recover from it.