Blog

Notes from the workshop

Practical writing on websites, software, and working with developers — no fluff.

Getting Access to Your Own Site When the Developer Won't Reply

Your web developer has gone quiet and you cannot get into your own site. A practical path to regaining control of your domain, hosting, and accounts, even without their cooperation.

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My Website Is Down: A Triage Guide

Your website is down. A calm, ordered triage: confirm it is really down, find whether it is hosting, domain, SSL, or a bad change, and know who to call. What to check, in order.

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The 12 Things That Break on Neglected Websites

The dozen problems that quietly build up on websites nobody maintains, from expired certificates to dead forms and broken checkouts. What to look for and which ones actually cost you money.

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A Plugin Update Broke My Site. Now What?

A plugin update broke your site? Do not panic and start deleting. A calm, ordered recovery: restore or roll back, find the culprit, and update safely so it does not happen again.

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How to Tell If Your Website Has Malware

The signs your website has malware, from browser warnings to spam redirects, and how to check for it with free tools. What the results mean and what to do if you find something.

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Website Backups: How Often, Where, and How to Test Them

A backup you have never restored is a guess. How often to back up your website, where to keep copies, how long to keep them, and the test that proves a backup actually works.

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What Happens If You Never Update WordPress

Skipping WordPress updates does not break your site right away. It quietly turns it into a target. What actually goes wrong over time, why hackers rely on it, and how to update safely.

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"Not Secure" Warning: What It Means, How to Fix It

Your website shows a 'not secure' warning because it is missing or misusing an SSL certificate. What the warning actually means, why it scares off visitors, and how to fix it.

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My Contact Form Stopped Sending Emails

Contact form not sending emails? The usual cause is how the site sends mail, not the form itself. A step-by-step guide to finding the break and fixing it, from most to least likely.

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