Life and death happen, often unexpectedly.
For many of us, our blogs are valuable records tracking various trends, market data, – it would be a shame to allow such history to be relegated to the Google cache or the Internet Archive.
Give your passwords, logins, networks to someone else and give them instructions on what you want them to do.
– Who will tell your readers that you have died?
– Should it be maintained? By whom?
– Sold? To whom? How?
– Allowed to expire?
– When should the announcement be written and posted? Who should do it?
– Consider writing your (blog’s) obituary – what do you hope you have accomplished?
– Consult a lawyer about what steps need to be taken to transfer ownership of accounts – domain hosting isn’t free, and the hosting company likely won’t take your spouse’s or friend’s word that you really, really wanted them to take over.
– Develop a system for systematically syncing passwords, addresses, etc to a central, shared location that your significant other and/or trusted friend can access. Put what you want done in writing. Make sure that person understand what they will be doing – how to login/post.
As morbid as this sounds, it’s nothing compared to the conversations my wife and I have had about our respective wills (done) or our life insurance guy’s recommendation that we get life insurance for our kids (nope). Ultimately, it’s just a blog, but I really wouldn’t want four years of my life to be thrown away.
Now, off to develop a blog succession plan for myself …
Poppy Dinsey
December 29, 2008 at 11:28 am
I’ve often thought about this Jim…and have told loved ones that I’d want them to let the interwebs know of my demise.
When I’ve lost friends over recent years, it’s always been some comfort to see their Facebook profile become a communal place for people to write messages. Strangely enough, the day one of my friends was killed in a car accident his Facebook status was ‘What’s the meaning of life – exactly?’. Months later that’s still his Facebook status and I guess it will be forever unless FB close his profile. No doubt when I leave this earth my most recent tweet/status update/photo on flickr will be something really stupid and embarassing!
It may be weird to think about, but it’s definitely worth thinking about 🙂
Ines
December 29, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Wow Jim! contemplating death lately?? it’s something we cannot avoid, and a topic we should all think about.
On another note though, I was talking to Jeff Turner a couple of days ago about what our last words and records would be if we did die suddenly. Prompted by Bill Lublin sharing the lovely Sheila’s twitter stream (@Pinky379) – it’s something for us to think about.
Happy New Year a bit early, my friend.
Paula Henry
December 29, 2008 at 12:44 pm
JIm – I have never thought about it personally,and should have. I’ve had two friends from AR who passed away, one very suddenly and his work stopped. NO word from his family – they probably didn’t even have access to his accounts.
His work is still there for all of us, but if it had not been an AR account – it would have vanished with the expiration of his domain name.
Thought provoking for the rest of us!
Jim Gatos
December 29, 2008 at 1:06 pm
It’s too morbid for me to think that someone else will be continuing my blog if I were to die, so I think I’d rather allow my blog to go to internetarchives heaven or google heaven, although I don’t know what Typepad would do if all of the sudden my account were to go unpaid. Maybe I should ask them…
However, after careful consideration and thought, I’ve come across the only viable solution I can think of.. It may be the only answer for some of you folks, too..
The answer is simple; I’m just NEVER going to die!
Have a BIG day!
Jim
Brian Block
December 29, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Interesting Jim… I hadn’t really thought about this subject, but perhaps I will. After all we don’t want to leave our readers hanging, do we? A final blog post to at least tie up loose ends would seem to be appropriate.
Steve Simon
December 29, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I bet the vast majority of those that blog haven’t given this a thought; I know I didn’t and Lord knows the way I abused my body I certainly shouldn’t plan on being aroung forever:)
I’ll have to give this some thought!
Charles McDonald
December 29, 2008 at 6:43 pm
All my passwords, addresses, etc. will be sent directly to “Jim Duncan” by my “closing” Attorney!
Craig Barrett
December 29, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Interesting, after all we are running small businesses and most of us alone. Without clear instructions, policy, and procedure, continuity of operations will cease immediately.
teresa boardman
December 30, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Funny I have thought this all through and have a plan on how to sell the blog if and when I leave the business. It is a business asset and can be sold.