If I Die, What Happens to My Website or Blog?
Regardless of your age, if you owned a “brick and mortar” business of any kind, you would in all probability think about what should happen to the business in the event of your untimely death. Why should an Internet web site be any different?
No One Is Immortal
Many young people today mistakenly think they are almost immortal, with the possibility of death something in the far distant future. An automobile accident can change that in a blink of an eye. If your Internet web site generates income or has the potential to do so, it is an asset and just like any other asset you have to consider what will happen to it you disappear from the scene.
After You Are Gone
The first decision you will have to make is whether or not you want to keep the web site up and running after you are gone. Even if you decide it should be shut down, there are things you need to prepare for.
First, you’ll need to select someone to shut things down for you and provide them with a contact list and a set of instructions, including whether or not you want your web site saved to disc for posterity. If you have young children, such a keepsake memory might be a good idea.
The contact list needs to contain the names of any partners you might have as well as guest bloggers or other site owners who should be made aware that something has happened to you.
In addition, it needs to contain the details for your web hosting service and passwords and contact details for any advertising or affiliate programs you might have operating.
Perhaps the most important issue is password information. For this you want to make sure you have someone you can trust. There is an Internet web site called Dead Man’s Switch that automates this process for you if you have no one to handle it. What happens is the system starts kicking into action when you begin failing to reply to emails. You store your contact information on the site – which has adequate security – and it begins the process of notifying whomever you want notified.
If you want to keep the web site up, you’ll need to select someone to manage it. They’ll need the same kinds of contact information you would need to record and store should you want the site shut down.
If you have a life partner who knows little about your Internet business, a discussion of how she or he would want things handled in the event of your passing is highly appropriate. In this way, you can take more time to teach your partner what he or she needs to know to run the site, or to whom they can turn for help.
Finally, there’s the matter of an obituary. If you’ve had your web site up for awhile you have undoubtedly made contacts, some of which may have become personal as well as business related. The Internet stretches across the globe and a friend in China will never see the announcement in your local paper. There are Internet businesses that can handle this for you. You simply need to supply them with a list of people to contact and they will email those who should know once the company has been informed of your passing.
While planning for anything involving your own death can be stressful, doing so will help alleviate the burdens of those left behind.
It is a bit morbid to think
It is a bit morbid to think about this, but you're right if website is generating significant amount of traffic it's something that should be paid attention to. I personally never thought about it. Now I might try that service deadman's switch.
WOW, I also have never
WOW, I also have never thought about this, but the question is in place. Great topic. It got me thinking.
eternal websites
Here's the soloution to what happens to your website when you die
http://www.perpetualwebsites.net/
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