How much of your business are you risking by giving responsibility to media platforms without backing up? If Reverbnation or any of the other music platforms shut down tomorrow would you lose your fanbase? Your email list? Your photos? How are you saving for your future?

​I learned the hard way with my photography business. In that time period when I was in the midst of losing my parents my website came up for renewal and I ignored it til the last day. The hosting company who shall remain nameless but is in my home town said I had til midnight to renew or they would cancel my account and my site would be gone forever. About 5 pm I couldn't access my email. Calling the host got me a profuse apology and admission that my site had been deleted about an hour before. It was irrevocably irretrievable. My entire portfolio gone in a flash. How I wish I had taken screen shots. Worn out, it was the last nail in the coffin and my time to turn my attention away from a dead business that had been half my lifetime and turn my full time attention to music. It taught me an important lesson. Make screen shots, make hard copies of my contacts, create multiple back ups. Build as much of my music business on my own land.

My methods today are quite simple. I have lately embraced the concept of bullet journalling. What does this have to do with digital? Simply this. If I think it, collect it, honor it; it goes in the journal. Receive a business card? Gets taped into the journal. Have an idea? Write it down. Collect an email address? Again, write it first. Of course all of this eventually goes into my computer and backed up. Still my own land. Photos for business now have their own dedicated folder and again backed up. A little paranoia goes a long way.

While my penchant for redundancy may be too hard core for most, it's currently serving me well. How can you make your business more secure? Tell me what you do, love to hear and brainstorm with you.