How to Prepare for Disasters if You Work from Home?
Let’s face it. Although we keep on telling our clients that we are just as advanced in technology as they are so they should not think twice in hiring us, we’re just as available as our Internet connection is. So, if you are web designer who telecommutes or a virtual assistant who have to make outbound calls every midnight or a web content writer who has to submit articles every 36 hours, how do you prepare for untoward incidences such as typhoons cutting off the electricity in your whole town or Internet connection problems?
Here are some suggestions:
1. Make a backup of all your projects.
If you are a web content writer, save the articles you were able to finish using your email service. GMail is great for this job. You can also use wikis like Zoho’s as long as you have an online copy of your work. If you are a professional blogger, use desktop publishing software so you don’t have to lose sleep if you think that your blog got hacked and somebody deleted all your blog posts. BlogDesk automatically saves your blog posts when you publish them.
2. Get a 3G-enabled smartphone.
If you have a client who’s not a keen in waiting, hey no client should be made to wait as much as possible, a phone with 3G feature can help you update him before he gets irate.
3. Avail redundant Internet connection service providers.
If the Internet helps you greatly in putting food on the table, if you can afford it, why not get at least two ISP’s? It will save you from a lot of trouble. Virtual assistants who do phone and email support should consider this option.
4. Don’t depend too much on online applications.
Although I mentioned so many online programs that you can rely on if something happens, you should also keep yourself from getting addicted to Internet-powered apps. If you’re a BaseCamp fan, how about taking note of some of your important tasks manually or using a whiteboard to see your to-do list more easily? This is only to avoid overdependence on technology, which can also fail you at times.
5. Get a laptop.
This is one of those emergency aids that any home based worker who’s job is mainly online should have that I don’t have yet. 
But I’m getting one as soon as I can afford the laptop I want.
6. Anti-Disaster Tools
Password-reminder tools, UPS for those unexpected power interruptions, lists of domain name registration renewal dates, other backup tools etc. These should help lessen your burden when anything untoward occurs.
What other anti-disaster tips do you have?
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Tags: disaster, Internet, typhoon, online job
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Gabs said,
August 8, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
7. If you have clients in the US and Canada, get a US tollfree number. It isn’t that expensive to obtain one. If your budget is really on the cheap, at least get a local number from your market country, (where most of your clients reside) using SkypeIn. You can obtain a local number, whether it’s in the UK or in Ukraine. It’s only $60/year, and you can get the calls from your Skype account.
8. Instead of a UPS, consider buying a small power generator. If you’re dead serious about your business, a UPS will only last you so far, so get something that’ll give your laptop the extra mileage when the power’s out. If you’ve got a Paypal account, now’s the time to put that online bling of yours to good use; purchase a Xantrex backup power unit from Amazon or some other legit online shop.
9. Consider investing in an external hard drive. It’s not enough that you have a backup online, and even then, if your service provider or the host of your blog goes down, how can you have access to your data in the first place? A fairly good-sized hard drive nowadays should only cost you anywhere from P2,000 to P5,000, but it’s a worth investment nonetheless. If you’re really limited on budget, at least get a USB drive. Last time I’ve been there, CDR King sells these stuff on the cheap, so grab some while you’re perusing in SM for that next big purchase you’re gonna make when you get paid for your work.
Laura said,
August 9, 2007 @ 3:09 am
This is an excellent list of tips for those who work online. I especially like tip #1, backing up your work. I was always told to back up often or I might have to do the work over. The fear of rework has kept me backing up my work religiously.
Alfa said,
August 9, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
@Gabs
Whoah! Some serious virtual assistant you are. I’m praying for that day to come when I can afford your methods of preparing for disasters.
@Laura
Reworking is definitely stressful. But when you’re under pressure, people still forget to backup, which can backfire. Tsk!
Gabs said,
August 10, 2007 @ 12:20 am
Hi Alfa,
Actually there are other Filipino-based VAs that are doing that right now. I know one VA in Pangasinan who has her own back-up generator at home. According to her, she bought it second-hand and the price wasn’t all that different from a brand-new UPS.
As for the toll-free number, you can get one for like $10/month (at $0.24/minute, that gives you a max. of 41 minutes talk-time from your clients). $10/month is only like P450 nowadays, a price people will easily spend on an outing at a restaurant. Why not use that same amount to make yourself more accessible to your target market, and make more money in the process, right?
Gabs said,
August 10, 2007 @ 2:45 am
Addendum: here’s one that might interest your fancy:
http://www.xantrex.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=381
It’s a solar powered power pack (ie. unlimited Napocor-free energy!). Price? $169 (or roughly P7,600). How’s about that UPS price again?
Alfa: As soon as I get to close a few more accounts this year I’ll definitely heed your advice Gabs. Thanks for these tips!
Apple Door Says NO to Bundy Clocks » Another Family Member Bitten By the Work-at-Home Bug said,
August 11, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
[...] Since we work in the same home, now I have someone to share my emergency tools expenses with. Haha! [...]
Apple Door Says NO to Bundy Clocks » Tell Me What Tuesday: What Laptop Brand Do You Use? said,
November 27, 2007 @ 12:59 am
[...] When typhoons Lando and Mina went Fujiwara’ing, can’t help but worry a great deal about my work. I can sense that series of brownouts everyday or so are about to happen. And guess what? I haven’t heeded Gab’s suggestion yet about getting an inexpensive generator. So I believe I could at least get myself an extra and more useful tool to extend my online presence and probably help me get a feel of my new goal – mobile working. [...]
Lazy Sunday Link Love said,
December 1, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
[...] Alfa Mercado’s How to Prepare for Disasters If You Work for Home. Because even first-worlders workers suffer too! [...]