I know, depressing and perhaps a bit morbid to some but just like a will in “real” life, you need a will and plans for your blog once you’re gone. If you die tomorrow, who’s going to tend to your online business, your blog, your accounts with money in them, etc?? Are your loved ones gonna know your logins or what you want to happen with your blog? Of course legal documents will take care of a lot of this but having this information readily available will simplify things a great deal for your loved one.
The first thing you need to do is create a secured document, I recommend PDF, and store all your account’s login information. Information you might want to include is:
- Your blog’s login info
- Any affiliate logins that you regularly receive money from
- Adsense
- Important emails and logins
- Your web hosts & domain logins
- Paypal login
- Bank accounts
I would also create a ‘final’ blog post for your next of kin to post for you and add that to the document as well. Do you want your blog to continue through one of your family members? Or do you want it sold? You need to include your wishes and let them know how you want that to be handled.
Now be sure to secure the document and create a password for it.
I have created a template for you to use to make it easier in filling everything out. It’s just a simple template to guide you. You can use it as is or create your own using it as an outline. All you have to do is secure it when you’re done filling it out.
Download A Blogger’s Will Template
NOTIFYING NEXT OF KIN
Next thing you should do is download the Next of Kin plugin and decide who you want to gain access to all this information once you’re gone. If you haven’t logged in or visited your blog in xx amount of days, the Next of Kin plugin will send a warning to your first to make sure things are okay, if no response, it will notify the recipient of your choice. Included in that email notification to your Next of Kin, will be the text you wrote, including the password to the stored document.
For example:
If you’re reading this, I reckon I’m a gonner and I need your help in tending to my blogs. You can find a secured document on my computer in the “My Documents” file, named Blog Will. Password to open this file is 12345. You will find logins for everything, including my final blog post. Please post that on my blog so my devoted readers and friends will know what’s going on and add any information you think they should know as well. If I didn’t get the chance to say it, I love you. Peace out, literally. heehee
Obviously you can put whatever you want here. I chose to do the password to a file because it’s just not secure to put your personal information there and I recommend you do the same.
In order for all this to work, you’ll need to maintain your document and update your information and passwords as you change them. It’s just one more thing we can do to make it easier for our loved ones. Go out organized!
Have you thought about this before? What will happen to your blog when you’re gone?
I don’t want to do this nor think about this, but I have to, thanks for a reminder.
Katjas last blog post..Matthew Williamson’s collection at H&M
Im so glad you mentioned the plugin… I was just thinking about this the other night!
Wow! I added my business to my Will/Trust but it never occurred to me that none of my family would have the first idea what to do with my blog, business, affiliates…nothing. Great idea to get all of this organized and added to my estate so someone will know what to do. And a plugin -great idea. Thanks for this post.
Sommers last blog post..Green Baby Shower Gifts
You know its funny that you write this post. I was JUST drafting one myself. I think I will just direct my readers to you instead. It’s a tough post to write, and you did so just perfectly. Thank you! <3 ~Erin
Erins last blog post..Wordless Wednesday 5.6.09 – We See You!
I hadn’t thought of this before but I downloaded the template from you (THANKS!) and I am now thinking about this!
Angies last blog post..Winners: Remind Me Why I’m a Momshell
WOW…how cryptic but necessary! Thanks for a great reminder!!!
Jenn @ the Front Porchs last blog post..Easy Makeover Idea
Wow, I would have never thought of that! Thanks!
Shannons last blog post..Welcome Freebies4Mom Readers
I never thought of that. But it’s funny because I just found your blog from an old blog that hasn’t been updated since December. I wonder what happened to that person.
I don’t make any money off my blog yet but my husband wouldn’t have any clue which bills to pay and how so I’ve been thinking about making a document for him for that.
Kelly @ Parenting Princessess last blog post..I’m a Winner!
All I can say is, “unbelievable!” I am so prepared about my death, have a will, living will, told everyone what I want for my funeral, even the songs, but never thought of something like this. It is important because my blogs are a huge part of my life. And they do earn me some money so the business end of it needs to be taken care of too. Thank you so much.
ConnieFoggless last blog post..Graduation Day
Great tips. I’ve been thinking about doing this for all my online accounts after reading a blog where the blog owner was dying of cancer. In that case, she did know in advance. However, you never know when a horrible accident could occur. Thanks! As morbid as it is, I would rather be prepared for my family’s sake!
Brianas last blog post..Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic: Ready 2 Go Kit on 5/23
I read this when you first published it but wanted to let you know CNN has something they just put up on their website about the exact thing today.
Interesting reading and just thought how funny that you just published the same things several days earlier!! Your officially 1 step ahead of CNN lol
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/05/18/death.online/index.html?iref=t2test_techmon
marias last blog post..Summertime Fun
I don’t think I could trust anyone to take over in the event of my death! LOL!
I thought about this right before my surgery in May. And did nothing about it. Thanks for the info on the plugin.
valmgs last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Forever Flowers
I’ve thought about this a few times, not just my blog, which is no moneymaker or anything, but all my e-mail addresses, the forums that I visit regularly. This is a great reminder that we never know what tomorrow may bring, and our loved ones need to have the information to let our online friends know what happened.
Auriettes last blog post..
You are soooo right. I need to do this too. Hopefully nothing will happen to Janice and I at the same time, but you never know.
Thanks!
Susan (5 Minutes for Mom)s last blog post..Checking In With The Sisters
This topic has been coming up all over the web this month! I have to admit that until all this chatter started I hadn’t even thought about including my site info in our will! and not just my blog, but all my other stuff too … ack! What a load of paperwork that’s going to be!
Lorettas last blog post..Trying Out Cash4Gold.com
I know this post went up awhile ago, but if anyone is reading this and has had difficulty accessing a loved one’s online information after they died, I would like to hear about your experience. I am a freelance journalist currently working on a piece about this subject. You can reach me at dempsey_a@hotmail.com