Backups are an essential part of any website. Most hosting companies will offer backups with their services, but you shouldn’t rely only on the automated backups they offer. I can tell you first-hand that the cPanel automated backups are not 100% reliable. I ran into a problem once where they just stopped running altogether but I didn’t notice.

The only real drawback to saving your backups to your own computer is that you don’t have it anywhere else, and creating a backup disk each day is tedious. And with my personal computer getting older, I’m a little worried about losing my digital photos and all my past work. I keep everything.

This is where keeping an online backup is handy. But you can’t simply pick any website to upload your files to. IDrive is an online backup service that encrypts your files for added protection. They offer up to 2GB completely free. If that’s not quite enough, like 5 years worth of photos, they have a 50GB storage package for $50 per year.

The features on both packages are amazing. They have a ‘continuous backup’ feature which will allow you to automatically back up your (updated) files every 10 minutes. You simply download it, install it, and you’re ready to go. Or if you want to make a manual backup you simple drag and drop it in like you would moving files from folder to folder on your hard drive. Then you have the detailed statistics you can refer back to if necessary.

I’ve just set up my account today, I’ll update you later on how it goes.

I have to say, I was excited for my readers when I found this resource. Why? Because I keep telling you to stop making stinky decisions when it comes to web hosting. I mean, seriously! I get a lot of emails asking me, “Who should I use?” Well, I know who I use. I only use 3 web hosting companies. I have tried others and I don’t like them. I also refuse to try the crappy ones who sell too much space for too little. I like my servers to stay up not crash kthx.

But this is definitely an awesome resource. Webhosting Information is a really informative site. They give you some news but they also allow you to do simple research. I mean I can see where they can possibly angle it to make a buck or two via affiliate programs, but in the end seriously I don’t care since I would have done the same darn thing if I thought of the idea first. Wouldn’t you?

The ability to search via simple terms without tons of ads in your face is definitely a plus. I recommended my friends who own their businesses to put themselves in the search.

I do have to say this for the owner of the site: Have more specific terms. What if I only want 500MB for 5 dollars a month? How will I know where to go? You need to encompass more plans. Not everyone needs 50GB of space. Seriously, I don’t. So allow yourself to be more open to people who are looking to spend less and have the space they need only, not an obnoxious overload of space. I mean seriously, I have had website space yard sales before since I have so much room I will never use. Either that or I end up making tons of websites and they die a slow and painful death.

I want to reach out and let everyone know, if you aren’t getting the bids you used to DO NOT BE AFRAID TO LOWER YOUR PRICE.

You don’t know exactly what your market is willing to spend whats hot and what isn’t. Don’t feel horrible about going lower. Pajama Mommy was at $210 per text link and it was awesome, however we weren’t selling any. They sold like hotcakes at $150-$175 so I emailed TEXT LINK ADS, although the guy was a little abrasive saying I dont think your price should be over $125 its like EXCUSE ME yeah I’m too good for that. But then I thought well I am the MOST expensive Parenting/Baby site in this market. So I sat on the idea for a few moments.

I toyed around and then asked them to lower me from $210 to $175 that is a $35 lower amount. But the fact was I went from having 10 ads spots filled to 9 then down to 7 and they weren’t renewing them like they had before. I usually sell out every month. This wasn’t any good. So I am trying again playing the field at the amount.

I personally do not care if I annoy everyone at TLA with the lowering and the raising of my prices, why because they are making 50% off of me doing this to find my best target market price. Granted I am getting a lot of buzz for direct advertising, however if I wasn’t playing the price amount they wouldn’t have made what they did if I didn’t play the field a bit correct?

Make sure you aren’t under pricing yourself, and make sure you aren’t over pricing yourself. Its a really hard game to play there are a lot of places that sell better and there are a lot that suck, you have to figure out your best market.

Text Link Ads seems to be the place where more money is spent. Text Link Brokers, you may get $300 at TLA but you’ll only get $75 at TLB which is better? I don’t know. All I know is money is green and its good for me :P

Why am I writing about digital cameras you ask? Because every blogger should invest in one. IT took me forever to get one and mine is crappy but really it has come in very handy. I have to say my mother has stolen it on several occasions for her blog. I will need it for 2 of my other blogs so its really important.

I happen to love my digital camera even though its what I call “gangster” since it still takes batteries and there is no memory stick. It was ON SALE PEOPLE! :)

But really having a digital camera is one of the best investments aside from a good host.