Rebuilding ECoverFX!

Ok, the time has come to finally rebuild ECoverFX.

I’m going to write down everything I’m doing as I get this site rolling. First I’m going to have to back up the old site. While I back the site up, I’m going to map out exactly what I want on the new site. Now of course I want to re-create the site into a Wordpress blog, so to do that - I’ll back up the site, then delete everything off the server. Yikes. Scary!

So let’s do that now. As usual, you can click on any of the pics below to see the larger image. Just remember to click the “back button” on your browser to come back here.

Backing up all the files from the ECoverFX server.

Now I do have much of the site backed up already, but I’m replacing any files that I’ve plopped onto the server for whatever reason. As long as I have a copy of EVERYTHING on that server on my hard drive - that will be good enough. I think also, that I’ll move the site to hostgator - which may cause about a 1-3 day delay on working with the site due to propigation time to change the DNS settings and all of that.

While we’re waiting for files to pull over, it’s time to map the new site out. Here are the things I want on the new site:

1. Lots of information on creating ebook covers, minisites, and other web graphics.
2. All of the action scripts I have the right to resell, so folks can purchase scripts from the site.
3. GRFX Writer - a small program that can add text to headers, footers, can create basic covers, etc.
4. Links to existing graphic packs that I have up on other sites.
5. Template packages for ebook covers, headers, minisites that I haven’t even put out there yet.
6. A better way of listing out my portfolio, with updated graphics that I have done recently.
7. An order page for custom ebook covers, minisite design and more which has new pricing listed.
8. Explanation page of the order process for custom work.
9. New optin area with new autoresponder messages set up. Will need to clean off the list in Aweber, because anyone from that list should be on this list if they chose to stick around.

As a side note on the opt-in box for that site - I’m not really excited about separating these lists - but if I set it up right this time, it shouldn’t be so difficult to deal with. Meaning I’ll need to set up a series of autoresponder messages that are content driven about creating graphics - that will go out once per week - for let’s say 12 weeks. This will eliminate the need to keep creating broadcast messages, and still do the job of keeping in contact with any new subscribers. Before the first 12 weeks are up, I’ll have to go in and create another 12 weeks, and so forth throughout the year. Fun.

10. Update two documents I have that were written a long time ago. Decide to charge for them or not after they have been updated and add them to the site.

That should be enough to get me started, then I can add to the site from there. Sounds like a lot of work no? Let’s see how long all of this takes me. I’ve started around 11:45am today, and I’m killing about 3 birds with one stone by blogging here, coming up with a plan for the new site, and backing up all the site files at the same time. MULTITASK!!! (It’s a mom thing!)

Speaking of being a mom - while I’m waiting for the rest of these files to load - I’m going to go pull out some chicken so I can make Italian Wedding soup for the “sickies” in the family. Both boys have colds - so we’ll pull out all the good veggies and make chicken soup for lunch.

All right. It’s now 1:07pm and our soup is simmering on the stove. FTP is still doing it’s thing pulling over files. Uh, yes - ECoverFX is a huge site. I’ve dropped things on that server for what - about 3 years? So backing this puppy up could take a major part of the day. No biggie though, because it’s one of those things that you can check on every 5-10 minutes - and get other stuff done. Like laundry. Heh. Speaking of, suppose I could go throw a load in now.

This part is incredibly boring, isn’t it? 1:49pm, laundry in, and we’re going to sit down for some soup. (A little later than I planned on for lunch, but what the heck.) FTP still loading away - files upon files. By the way - if you need any sites backed up, now would be the time to think about backing them all up to your hard drive, and external disc, or burn them from your hard drive so you have a couple recent copies laying around. Obviously I haven’t backed this site up in a while, so it’s taking FOREVER! Time for lunch.

2:33pm and I have backed up the files I didn’t already have backed up - which makes for about 1.3 GIG worth of files. Uhg. Now, time to go delete the site from this server, and change the DNS settings so that they point over to hostgator hosting. Scratch that. Since this site tends to build up a lot of graphic files (which are hogs on space) think I’ll leave it on this server instead. I have two reseller webhosting accounts, so we’ll just keep this site where it is. Heck with it.

Here’s how I’m going to delete the site from the server. I’m logged into my WHM account, and I’m just going to delete the entire site. Here’s what that looks like:

Deleting The ECoverFX Website from Web Host Manager.

ECoverFX is Now All GONE - Kinda Scary, isn

Now I’m going to create a new account, and check it to be sure it’s live.

Creating the NEW ECoverFX - how exciting!

Brand new - nothing on it website to work on!

K, so far so good. I need to check that I can log in through FTP - and I can. (I used the same user/pass info as the old site.) Moving on, I’m going to go ahead and install WordPress on the site now. To do that, I log into the cpanel account for ecoverfx. Whoops, I forgot to copy the account setup into a notepad doc - but no big deal since it has the same user/pass. However, when I get wordpress set up, I’m going to copy that information over into a notepad doc and save the info in case I need it later for database information, etc.

Here’s how to set up Wordpress through cpanel. First you would use your cpanel account address, which would be www.yourwebsiteurl.com:2082 <- note the 2082 - it’s usually the same for every website that has a cpanel account. I believe it’s 2086 that will log you into a Web Host Manager (or reseller account) if you have it.

Once you get logged in through cpanel (which incidentally uses the same user/pass as your FTP account) - you’ll look near the bottom for “Fantastico.” Click on Fantastico, and you’ll see a screen with some text links on the left hand side. Click on the Wordpress link and you’ll see something like this:

Converting ECoverFX to WordPress

Just click on new installation - fill in your details for the blog (I installed mine in the root folder which means you put nothing into the box that asks you which directory you want Wordpress in) - and then you click finish. Wordpress will pretty much install itself right through Fantastico, which is awesome.

Then I want to go check to see if the site is up - with Wordpress on it. And it is. Yay! Now I have an empty blog that I’ll need to add one post to - just to let people know what’s going on when they hit the site… then I have to take the kids outside for a while. They’re wanting to go out and play in about 8 inches of new snow, so suppose I can shovel the drive and the steps. Later I’ll come back here and continue on with the site.

ECoverFX is now a new blog!

All righty, site has been updated with a post - it’s 3:00pm, and I’m off to take the boys outside. Even with colds, they still want to go out - so we’ll be dressing WARM!

Yay - that was fun! Spent about 2 hours or so outside SHOVELING. Kids played in the snow, and it’s now about 5:54pm. Day is going away already! Looks like this around here:

Made a big enough path in the drive for Anth to get in it!

Kids had a blast playing with their small 4 wheelers, digging in their snow tunnel, and doing snow angels. Yeah - that’s OK - leave mom to all the work!

Playing with the neighbor on the 4 wheelers!

The hubby got home and took over on the shoveling duty (thank goodness.) Since he took the boys upstairs to get a hot bath, I had enough time to update the blog here with all the pics I’ve been saving all day (not to mention take the pics from outside off the camera etc) so let’s see. I’ve done all of that “work” (we’re talking just on ECoverFX and THIS blog, in about what… 3-4 hours, not counting snow shoveling, cooking, and dealing with “kid duty.” It’s now 6:34 and time for a dinner break. When I get back, I’ll figure out what kind of template I want for the new ECoverFX site.

Think I’ll use the old header, and create my own Wordpress template using my “secret weapon” Artisteer.

I’m also going to have to clip my nails, cause they keep tapping away on the keys and causing me to type slower. Can’t have THAT! Back in a bit, and we’ll begin timing again. And, since this is getting to be quite a long post - may as well break it up and start a new post when I get back.

Any questions on how I’ve done what I have done on the ECoverFX site up to this point, just add a comment here on the blog, and we’ll get you the answer!

Thanks!
Michelle

PS - Song of the day!

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