Blog Backups
Backup your posts locally with desktop blogging software
Desktop blogging software is an absolute must-have for any serious blogger. The easiest way to describe this software is like Microsoft Word, but designed to post to blogs directly. They’re simple apps with the better ones having WYSIWYG interfaces to easily format content, insert images, and manage all your content. So, why will this software help you with backing up your posts?
I’m glad you asked!
Desktop blogging software helps with backing up your posts as they save everything you write locally. Even after you publish the article to your server it’s still saved on your computer until you physically choose to delete it. Most often to the software will continually save your work automatically, keeping the drafts safe from crashes etc.
What blog publishing software should you use?
If you’re a Windows user you’re very lucky to be able to use Windows Live Writer which would have to be the best desktop blogging package out there. Completely free it offers a true WYSIWYG environment, works with many blogging platforms and services, auto-saves posts, and has a very similar interface to Microsoft Word.
Mac users do have some decent choices, but nothing free comes close to WLW. In terms of a paid solution ecto would definitely be one to consider. It has a very simple interface, works well, and has been around for quite some time.
The downside…
Of course, you have to realize that the posts are still stored locally on your PC, that isn’t the best complete backup plan. Backing up your saved posts to an external harddrive at the least is recommended, and if you’re a Mac user you can take advantage of Time Machine (for Leopard users).