.png)
The “My Cousin Built My Website” Emergency Preparedness Kit by BoostBC
- Alyssa
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The “My Cousin Built My Website” Emergency Preparedness Kit by BoostBC
Every business owner knows someone who knows someone who can build a website.
Maybe it was your cousin. Maybe your neighbour's teenager. Maybe a friend who "does computers." And hey, if your website is working, that's great! But what happens when something breaks, your site disappears, or you suddenly need to update it and nobody remembers where anything is?
That's where the "My Cousin Built My Website" Emergency Preparedness Kit comes in.
Think of it as a website survival guide for business owners.
First: Do You Actually Own Your Website?
This may sound surprising, but many business owners don't know who owns their domain name, hosting account, or website files. If the person who built your site registered everything under their own account, gaining access later can become a frustrating (and expensive) process.
Make sure you know:
Who owns your domain name
Where your website is hosted
Who has administrator access
Where login credentials are stored
Second: Passwords The Digital Treasure Map
If your website passwords are written on a sticky note somewhere or worse, only one person knows them you've got a problem.
Store website, hosting, email, and domain passwords securely in a password manager and ensure at least one trusted team member can access them if needed.
Third: Backups Are Like Insurance
You hope you'll never need them, but you'll be grateful when you do.
A website should be backed up regularly and automatically. Whether it's a plugin conflict, accidental deletion, hacking attempt, or server issue, a recent backup can save hours of stress and potentially thousands of dollars.
Fourth: Mobile Matters More Than Ever
Over half of website visitors now browse from mobile devices. If your site is difficult to navigate on a phone, loads slowly, or has buttons that are impossible to click, potential customers may leave before they ever contact you.
Take a few minutes to visit your site on your phone and see it through your customers' eyes.
Fifth: Are Your Forms Actually Working?
This one catches business owners all the time.
Contact forms can stop sending notifications without anyone realizing it. Test your forms regularly to make sure inquiries, quote requests, and bookings are actually reaching your inbox.
Sixth: Don't Forget SEO and Analytics
A website without analytics is like driving with your eyes closed.
Make sure tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console are properly connected so you can see where visitors come from, what pages they visit, and how your website is performing in search results. At the same time, check that your SEO basics are in place: page titles, meta descriptions, keywords, image optimization, and local business information.
Lastly: Security Isn't Optional
Outdated plugins, weak passwords, and missing security updates can make your website an easy target for hackers.
Regular maintenance, software updates, SSL certificates, and security monitoring help keep your website protected and your customers' information safe.
Is Your Website Emergency-Ready?
If reading this made you realize you're missing a few pieces of your emergency kit, you're not alone. Many businesses discover gaps only after something goes wrong.
At BoostBC, we help businesses audit, maintain, secure, and optimize their websites before problems happen. Whether your website was built by an agency, a freelancer, or yes even your cousin we can help ensure it's fast, secure, searchable, and ready to support your business for years to come.
