Tag: Support

Introduction

Running a huge big blog or a website always brings security risk from time-to-time. Whether it would be by mistake or done by some intentions, losing the whole of your blog or its content or databases is a huge loss. But, do you know you can prepare yourself well in advance before any such thing comes in front of you. Simply backup everything as who knows what will come in front of you.

Although there are plenty of plugins available out there which will backup everything you have on your website, but the most popular of these services is VaultPress and just it happens to be run by Automattic. Automattic launched VaultPress back in March 2010 and since then the time; the service gained a whole lot of positive reputation amongst the users as well as WordPress community.

Initially just like other products, the service launched as an invite-only service, but since then it has opened its door for the common public offering three tiers of paid subscriptions: VaultPress Lite, VaulPress Basic (the popular one) and VaultPress Premium. All are charged on monthly basis and provide various features accordingly.

Features & Pricing

As just mentioned that the service comes under three hoods: Lite, Basic and Premium. They all includes and brings different features to the users. As opting for way up the tiers you will gain more frequent and better backups option, better support response times, disaster recovery, security scanning and lots more. You can purchase either of VaultPress subscription on a per site basis means if you have more than one site, you have to purchase an additional subscription for that.

Subscriptions are managed via a WordPress.com account while if you don’t have the one, then you will need to create one. On understanding differences between the three, you will find real-time backups as compared to daily backup, disaster recovery as compared to 30 days backups. Here on JustWP.org we are using VaultPress Basic but if you are happy with daily backup, automated site restore, 30 days of backup, then VaultPress Lite will be the right option for you.

Download, Installation & Configuration

The Basic

If you already have a WordPress.org account, you can link it to VaultPress else you need to create the one.
You have to select and buy the subscription pack from the three options available: Lite, Basic and Premium
Once you make the purchase and the payment is successfully done and the credit card is charged, you are asked to enter FTP credentials. These data will be used to recover your website while this step can be done later.

Download

The VaultPress plugin must be installed and activated before you can access your dashboard. You can download the plugin either via VaultPress website by the link here or through WordPress plugin respiratory.

Install

Install via the WordPress Admin

While signed in to your sites WordPress Admin, browses to the Plugins section, and click on Add New.
Click on Upload near the top of the page. Then click on the Choose File button and select the vaultpress.zip you downloaded from your VaultPress Dashboard. Finally, click the Install Now button.
WordPress will now upload and install your Plugin. Once the installation of your Plugin has finished click the Activate Plugin link.
Once activated, you’ll see a persistent message from VaultPress letting you know that your setup is not complete. Click on the Register VaultPress button.

Install via FTP Upload

After downloading the plugin from your Dashboard, you’ll need to unzip it.
Using an FTP application upload the unzipped plugin to the wp-content/plugins/vaultpress/ folder.
Sign in to your site’s WordPress admin, and browse to the Plugins section. You should see VaultPress listed under Inactive plugins. Click on the Activate link.

Configuration

If you’ve registered VaultPress on your site before, your registration key may already exist. If this is the case, you’ll see a slightly different message, and your site will begin backing up immediately.
On the VaultPress section of your WordPress admin, you will need to enter your registration key.
You can find your registration key in your VaultPress Dashboard or in your welcome email. Your registration key is valid for one site.
After registering your plugin, VaultPress will immediately begin backing up your site. If this is your first time installing VaultPress on your site, you’ll see the status report for your initial backup.

Summary & Review

I have been using the VaultPress plugin for now more than two years – the first time I used it for JustWP.org’s sister blog I2Mag and till now I never got any problem with it. The team behind VaultPress is very impressive and response back in fair enough time. Using the service makes me feel at peace as now I don’t have to think much on how the things are going at the backend and if there any security issue, data loss, malware or any other potential threats comes on board.

The other best part I like about it is that the service is remarkably easy for those also who are not tech savvy and feel shy about using and trying new technology. Using VaulPress means I am getting a full locked backup, security and support solution from one source itself and all that at a nominal cost. I highly recommend signing up for VaultPress for a month (at least) and see if you like it while if in case you don’t, then there is always an option available for cancelation of your subscription.

Note:

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What To Consider Before Buying A WordPress Theme?

By The Editorial Team

On May 21, 2013

In Themes, Tutorials

Without a doubt, the space the WordPress content management system makes in web-o-sphere is marvellous. Not only it comes up with the task of building things better, but also increase efficiency, brings responsiveness in design and lots more. Started way back in 2003, WordPress launched with a single bit of code to enhance the typography of everyday writing and now with years, it has grown to be the largest self-hosted blogging tool in the world, which being used by millions of people.

Photo Credit: Nikolay Bachiyski via photopin cc

In order to have you started with WordPress, you often think or even thought of that what ingredients you really require to build your first WordPress-based website? Is it just a theme or with mixture along with some plugins collectibles or something more. The questions are many; even chances are there you do often think of opting for free WordPress themes also. But the answer lies beneath that opting for premium WordPress themes not only make things easier but also better in nature for you.

The article gives you a clear idea on what all things you have to consider before buying a WordPress theme:

1. From Whom You Are Buying The Theme?

Are you too found yourself today in the line of choosing the perfect premium theme provider for you? There are dozens of such providers out there, but the question is which one you opt for. You definitely heard of number of reputed themes clubs name, including Elegant Theme, Magazine3, UpThemes, Organic Themes, WooThemes and lots more.

But, which one you do choose from? Well, your first bet start with learning more about each of every theme clubs either by typing it on Google with the keywords, such as reviews, support available, bad experience and so on. You can even also make a judgement through social media. As in current time, every theme clubs having huge presence on social media which gives more clear idea to you that how far the club is doing.

2. Support And Update

If you are paying for something, it’s clear that you do require an after-sale support. The thing goes similar for WordPress themes also, if you bought up a theme or theme club membership, you are entitled to get proper support. To get an idea or make a count on how the theme club doing so in this area, you need to head first straight to support forums as these forums speaks a real lot. Also, you can have a check on whether the club offer email support to their members or not.

Photo Credit: Nikolay Bachiyski via photopin cc

Another thing that you would like to consider is regular update. With time, it so happens that the theme you purchased need some real back breathing exercise i.e. regular updates on time. The WordPress keeps counting on with latest versions and themes, which requires regular updates, security fixes as well as patches. If the theme club provider offers its subscribers the regular updates, then it makes sense more to go for that theme club as a regular update mechanism is vital.

To understand, whether the updates are available or not, all you need to have a look on either the changelog or the ‘last updated’ date on the themes’ page. If the theme has not been updated, then all you can do is think of considering any other theme or a club. Also, you can check this by going through the WordPress version number the theme currently bearing, if the version number is older, then again it gives clear idea that the club is not working hard to maintain the pace.

3. Features And Code Compliance

Photo Credit: Inha Leex Hale via photopin cc

Not a single good theme completes without having all the required features you need, then whether its responsiveness in its layout, properly coded HTML, regular updates or specialized support. The point is when you are considering buying any theme, it do contains all the features i.e. let’s say, if you are considering on to create a blog, then it’s certainly true that your requirements are pretty much different than from those of portfolio theme designs.

Along with features, it is also important to note that the theme you plan to choose bears code compliance or not. It is always a better idea to run the W3C Validator check on the theme’s homepage in the starting itself as if the homepage returns huge numbers of errors, then there is no doubt that the theme might be poorly build. Further, to note that if the website contains poor coding, then it would get poor pageranks in search engines as well as make it easier for hackers to hack the site.

4. Pricing

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Some premium themes cost high and some pretty less, some will charge you on monthly basis and some ask for yearly memberships. Say, for example WPZOOM membership account will cost you $108 per annum while Elegant Themes club membership account cost you mere $39 for the whole year.

Similarly, if you are intended to buy just themes, then you will get a decent theme from ThemeForest at a onetime cost of anywhere between $30 and $55. Still pricing not much an important thing here as you are totally paying for what you are interested in. You will be getting the premium designs at just some mere cost, which helps you make you stand your brand out in the market.

Conclusion:

Always go for theme or theme clubs on the basis of reviews, support available, bad experience and so on.
Count on what support you will get once the purchase has been completed.
Does the theme get proper updation or the theme club of which you opted the membership of providing updates on time?
The theme you like having all the features you want, like responsiveness in its layout, properly coded HTML, regular updates or specialized support.
The code the theme bears no errors while checking on W3C Validator.
The theme will come under your budget or the price, the theme or theme club charged you fine with you.

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