I know that some of you use GoDaddy.com for your server space and to register your domain names. I want to let you know of some recent issues I had with my hosting so that you can hopefully avoid a similar fate.

From 2003 until about two months ago, I’d been extremely satisfied with my GoDaddy services. Not only were their rates reasonable but they had fantastic, LIVE customer service that was always willing to help.

That all changed quite suddenly about two months ago. One day, I began receiving concerned emails and texts from visitors to my blog stating that they were being redirected to potentially malicious third party websites when clicking in. I couldn’t see the issue on my end and I hadn’t made any changes to my files so I was completely unaware of what was happening. Luckily, two of my web-savvy developer friends came to the rescue and in less than an hour, they had diagnosed the issue (and fixed over 300 infected files). I was back up and running smoothly and that was the end of the issue. Or, so I thought.

On my end, I’d made a few key mistakes as a blogger. Firstly, I’d used nearly identical passwords to log into my FTP client, WordPress platform and GoDaddy account. Secondly, I hadn’t been regularly upgrading my WordPress software. I actually preferred the way an older version I was running looked, not realizing that as time goes on, hackers figure out holes in security and can compromise your site (each upgraded version contains major improvements and fix). Thirdly, while I was dilligently backing up the files on my server, I didn’t realize that another, equally important backup should be taking place — the WordPress database backup.

After making all of these changes, I was feeling pretty good (and safe). And, then the compromise happened again. And, unbelievably, AGAIN. Three times in less than a month!

I was dumbfounded. My passwords were now so ridiculous and long that I had to keep a list. My software was all upgraded to the latest versions. I couldn’t figure out what I was ‘doing wrong.’ After some digging, my developers had some information — my site was being compromised by a Ukranian hacker who had found a way in through my shared server space. When you buy the cheapest option from a lot of providers, you’re thrown into a heap with a bunch of other users. Someone was infecting sites on my shared server but interestingly enough, they weren’t erasing all of our files. What they wanted was far more valuable — our traffic. My site receives a few thousand visitors a day and the hackers wanted that built-in audience to visit THEIR site.

Once we had pinpointed the issue, I called GoDaddy. Though customer service was friendly, they didn’t offer any solutions that were particularly helpful (and buying dedicated server space is very expensive and not a necessity for my level of traffic at this point). I flat out asked them if they were familiar with the compromised server issue and they admitted that it ‘was a possibility.’ Yet, there didn’t seem to be any fixes in place. At this point, I was so fed up that I didn’t push it — I could tell that it wasn’t going to get solved. And, I wasn’t about to let it happen again. I understand that compromises in security happen, even to the best companies. But the same issue three times?! Surely, I wasn’t the only victim and they had to know about this.

According to Kimberly Castleberry:

It appears that someone took a botnet…and using a vulnerability that exists between WordPress and the Host (GoDaddy), is attacking every single blog/site that lives on GoDaddy’s servers. This round of infections appears to be unique to an exploit on GoDaddy.

By this point, I was sick of the headaches, the loss of traffic to my business and constantly having to readdress the same problem. I decided to get rid of a big chunk of my issue altogether — after upgrading all of my software, I moved my site over to DreamHost upon the recommendation of my web-savvy friends. And, I am about a million times happier. The user interface is much easier to use and the site doesn’t bombard me with a pile of affiliate products and services I don’t want or need. Thank you, DreamHost!

A Few Key Things You Should Do to Stay Safe

1. Use a different password for each of your accounts. Yes, this is a huge pain but totally worth it.

2. Always keep your blogging software upgraded to the latest version. In newer versions of Wordrpess, there’s a one button backup that takes care of it for you. Couldn’t be easier!

3. Use an SFTP client to upload content to your site as it’s much more secure.

4. Take the time to back up ‘both sets’ of your files — the content on your sever as well as your WordPress database which contains all of your posts, comments and the general formatting of your blog.

The Bottom Line

If you’re wanting to register a domain name quickly and at a great price, GoDaddy is fine. For hosting, especially for your blog, I would recommend looking elsewhere. Stay safe and happy blogging!

If you’ve been blogging long enough, common sense tells you to back up all of the content on your server including photos on a regular basis. For years, I’ve been religiously doing this. BUT! Amazingly enough, I didn’t realize that I was supposed to be doing a SECOND, equally important backup until quite recently.

If you use the WordPress platform (such as I do), your WordPress Database contains all of your posts, comments, and links. In essence, it’s the content that gives your blog its unique format. A database backup may be the only saving grace if you ever install a bad plugin, have an upgrade go terribly wrong or get stricken by hackers. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Conveniently enough, a a free plugin can do all of the work for you. To use it, simply download the plugin, upload it to your plugins folder on your server and activate it.

Next, go to the Tools tab in the left column of your dashboard and click on Backup.

Once you’re in the Backup Options screen, scroll down and click on Download to your computer. It will do the rest!

Once you have a full backup, I would recommend scheduling regular backups from now on. Scroll down to Scheduled Backup and click the frequency (I do once a week) and make sure your correct email is on file.

Now, you can have peace of mind knowing that all of your hard work is tidily zipped for safekeeping.

In The Beginning: Nubbytwiglet.com, Fall 2007

Blogging isn’t easy. Though the internet is overflowing with how-to articles and more advice than anyone needs, the truth is that there’s not a proven formula to gaining notoriety. Rather, here are some concepts to consider, whether you’re new to blogging or have been at it for years:

If you’re seeking a massive readership, you’ve got a long road ahead of you, considering that there are over 100 million blogs out there.

With many niches already at saturation point, the one thing that you can do to stand out from your competition is to offer a unique perspective. How? Start by simply asking yourself “What makes my perspective unique and interesting?” You should be able to easily rattle off a list of ways that your blog differs from its nearest competitors. This cannot be stressed enough. If you’re presenting a carbon copy of someone else’s theme, personal style, voice and aesthetics, it can be a huge turn-off and readers will usually default back to the originator.

When making a list of what encapsulates your unique perspective, it can be super simple or totally outlandish. It may be as straightforward as finding your unique voice. Do you have an uncanny knack for ‘keeping it real’ that people admire? Or, maybe you have an awe-inspiring job (International Playgirl, anyone?). What about an amazing collection of shoes? Or, perhaps you possess a treasure trove of thousands of MP3s and an inside look at the music business. Play up your uniqueness and make the most of what you’ve got.

Blog because you’re passionate about your subject matter and about sharing what you know. Blogging for the sole purpose of gains (monetary and otherwise) won’t get you very far. To receive whatever it is that you’re after, it’s only fair that you’re willing to give something in return. Being completely self-absorbed and not offering your readers anything of genuine value will get old fast.

What can you give? Consider sharing advice about your profession or how to earn an education in a similar field as your own. Maybe you’re skilled at painting, drawing, knitting or another hobby and can share the outcomes of your projects along with tutorials. Do you possess a unique fashion sense? Share it with the world and inspire people as they’re getting dressed in the morning! Are you a brilliant writer? Share your experiences and offer your readers advice.

Besides offering content that no one else has, unique columns also add structure to your blog. If you keep a regular schedule, it helps readers to know what to expect on certain days. I’ve developed quite a few including The Typofiles (Tuesdays), Ask Nubby (occasional Wednesdays), What I Wore (twice a week), Link Love (Thursdays), The Week In Pictures (Fridays) and more that are all listed here.

Post content at regular intervals (but don’t post just because). Figure out a schedule that works for you and your lifestyle. Personally, I am happy with posting five to six days a week, but if three times a week works for you, that is fine. Be relentless with the schedule that you set for yourself. Posting a week straight and then disappearing for a month without a mention of why comes across as flaky and makes you seem undependable. We all get busy and we all have lives to live. The bottom line is this: don’t set yourself up for an unrealistic schedule that you can’t keep. Set your expectations while keeping time constraints and other commitments in mind.

Share what you love and always remember to link to it. Giving link love is one of the best ways to support those you admire while gaining authority from other blogs that share your links.

I know so many people that want to blog, but are holding out until their theme is perfect, until their prewritten articles have reached a certain number and until they’ve gotten their niche and elevator pitch perfectly crafted. While preparation is great, perfection is impossible. Waiting isn’t doing you any favors. Think of the content and amount of readers that you would have now if your blog had gone live in its imperfect state six months ago. Two years into Nubbytwiglet.com, I’m still making tiny changes on weekly basis. And, there’s still so much to do. Embrace the imperfect nature of digital content. It’s constantly shifting and growing and that’s what makes it fun to watch.

Two years into blogging five times a week, some days are still a struggle. There will be days where a post that you spent hours meticulously crafting barely receives any comments. There will be instances when you wonder if the time and energy you’ve committed is even worth it. Sometimes, you will feel as if your inspiration has been sapped dry. Then one day, when you least expect it, things will just click. It took me a year of regular blogging before my stats spiked and freelance and advertising offers began rolling in. It’s all about perseverance and dedication.

One of the coolest parts about blogging is to see a blog grow and change with a person. When I first started blogging, I was a full-time design student sharing my projects and vacation photos. The blog has continued on through multiple jobs, internships, business endeavors and freelance gigs. And, it is still a constant reminder of not only where I’ve been but where I’m going. Follow through with your blogging plan and refuse to give up, even when things get tough. People will notice. And, you’ll eventually be rewarded in ways that you cannot even imagine right now.

A few of my favorite people to follow on Twitter are: Nemo HQ (get updates on upcoming parties and events), pink-haired blogger & international playgirl Gala Darling, social media pro & Gang of Four alum Dave Allen, Trent Reznor, Courtney Love and Snoop Dogg.

Your Turn: What is your Twitter name and who do you recommend adding?

With your online representation, you get to decide which photos you’d like to upload, who you’d like to friend and which bands and movies to claim as your favorites. In a way, you get to cultivate a persona that may (or may not) mesh with your real self. You get to decide what content you’d like to add, modify and delete.

In Sharing is Creepy, Nicholas Carr says that:

Your online self … is entirely self-created, and because it determines your identity and social standing in an internet community, each decision you make about how you portray yourself…is fraught, subtly or not, with a kind of existential danger.

Carr claims that there’s an inherent arrogance to sharing so many details of your life with total strangers. In some ways, he says that it has a sadomasochistic quality because the exchange can become similar to that of a celebrity and a fan. And, when you think about it, there are a group of “A-listers” for almost every blogging niche imaginable.

Another factor that plays prominently in the cultivation of an online persona is guilt. In The Burden of Twitter, Steven Levy says:

Guilty. I feel guilty that I have a blog and haven’t contributed to it for seven months. Guilty that all my pals on Facebook post cool pictures, while the last shots I uploaded were of Fourth of July fireworks—from 2007. Guilty that I haven’t Dugg anything since, well, ever.

It seems odd that one would feel guilt, not out of something they did or didn’t do in real life, but because they didn’t contribute enough to their social networking activities. But, if you blog, tweet or visit multiple social networking sites regularly, there can be a sense of not being connected if you can’t log in to deliver regular doses of content.

Though, Levy’s guilt of not contributing enough can easily flip when he finally does log into these multiple platforms to update.

The more I upload the details of my existence, even in the form of random observations and casual location updates, the more I worry about giving away too much,” he says. “It’s one thing to share intimacies person- to-person. But with a community? Creepy.

He has a valid point. Do we spill all these details (sometimes overly personal) to other random strangers that we know in real life? Do you wax poetic about your new shoes to the mailman? Do you tell the person occupying the seat next to you on the bus about your hot date last night? Probably not. So, what compels you to dish out these voyeuristic glimpses into your life online?

It’s human nature to want to share what interests us. At the same time, we enjoy tiny glimpses into the lives of others who may have talents, personalities (or a hot pair of shoes) that we admire.

The bottom line with social networking is that you’re responsible for what you decide to share online. You have the freedom to choose as little or as much about yourself as you’d like. As sociologist Duncan Watts notes, “Now everyone is used to the idea that we are connected [through the internet], and that’s not so interesting. If I had to guess why sites like Facebook are so popular, I would say it doesn’t have anything to do with networking at all. It’s voyeurism and exhibitionism.”

Do you feel that your online activity accurately represents you? Or, is it a cultivated persona? Is this a conscious decision that you’ve made?