In today’s digital age, many of us—especially those who started blogging later in life—have built a rich collection of memories, thoughts, and stories online. Whether it’s a personal blog, photo albums, or email conversations, these digital footprints tell a meaningful story of who we are.
As someone who recently turned 80, I’ve been thinking more seriously about how to preserve my digital assets, particularly my blogs hosted by Google Blogger. It made me realize that many of us may not have thought about what happens to our blogs or online accounts when we’re no longer around. So I’d like to share what I’ve learned—not only as a personal reflection, but also as helpful advice for fellow bloggers and digital storytellers.
π» What Is a Digital Legacy?
Your digital legacy includes all the online content you’ve created or shared: blogs, social media posts, emails, photos, documents, and even login credentials. Just like photo albums or handwritten letters, these digital records deserve thoughtful handling.
π‘️ How to Preserve Your Blog and Digital Assets
Here are practical steps that anyone—especially seniors and long-time bloggers—can take to ensure your work is not lost:
π₯ 1. Back Up Your Blog
If you use Blogger (or any blogging platform), download a copy of your content regularly.
For Blogger users:
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Go to Settings > Manage Blog > Back up Content > Download.
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Save the file to a USB stick, hard drive, or cloud service like Google Drive.
π¨π©π§π¦ 2. Choose a Digital Heir
Select a trusted family member, friend, or grandchild who can:
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Access your Google account if needed.
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Manage or archive your blog.
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Keep your stories alive for future generations.
Talk to them about your wishes—whether you want your blog to stay public, be turned into a book, or simply saved for the family archive.
π§° 3. Use Google’s Inactive Account Manager
Google offers a tool called Inactive Account Manager. It lets you:
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Choose someone to be notified after a period of inactivity (e.g., 6–12 months).
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Give them access to specific content like your Blogger or Gmail.
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Set your account to auto-delete if you prefer.
Activate it here: https://myaccount.google.com/inactive
π 4. Turn Your Blog into a Book
There are services like BlogBooker or Blog2Print that let you convert your blog into a PDF or printed keepsake. This can become a treasured item for your children or grandchildren to remember you by.
π 5. Store Account Information Safely
Make sure your blog’s login credentials and recovery methods (e.g., 2FA) are saved in a secure but accessible place. You can use:
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A password manager (like 1Password, Bitwarden).
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A sealed envelope with written info.
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A digital legacy planning tool like Everplans.
π 6. Leave a Legacy Note on Your Blog
Consider writing a short message on your blog explaining your wish for it to be preserved. It can be as simple as:
“This blog reflects the thoughts and journey of a lifetime. I’ve made arrangements for it to remain online for family, friends, and readers. Thank you for sharing in my story.”
πΏ Final Thoughts
Whether you're 50, 70, or 90, it’s never too early—or too late—to think about your digital legacy. The blog you write today may be a source of comfort, memory, and insight to someone decades from now.
To my fellow bloggers and readers: if your words mean something to you, they will likely mean something to others too. Let’s take simple steps to protect and pass on what matters.
Thank you for being part of my journey—and may your own digital story continue to shine.
Warmly,
David Au
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