If you have a self-hosted blog, you need to back up the database after every post. I don't know about the other blog software, but WordPress has a backup utility included when you install it. I'm only harping on this for one reason, as I will attempt to explain.

Less than a month ago, my web host had Database Issues and couldn't get the server back online in a timely manner — it took more than three hours. When they did restore it, three of my recent posts were gone. Oh, I managed to use Google Reader to grab them from the stored feeds, but not until after I figured it out and not before I yanked half of my hair out. It was only a stroke of luck that I had decided to use full length feeds a while back.

Earlier today (well, today for you but yesterday for me), I was in the middle of saving a post when a bunch of MySQL error messages popped up on my screen. I let out a bloodcurdling yell the entire neighborhood could hear. Trust me. After dealing with Marine Corps recruits for two years, I know how to yell without destroying my larynx. Anyway, I contacted the service through their online chat utility and found out that their database server had run out of space. RUN OUT OF SPACE?!? How could a professional web hosting service even come close to running out of space? Obviously, someone wasn't doing their job! My itty, bitty database of a mere two megabytes took a dive because a server administrator didn't bother to keep an eye on server space!

I was lucky they got it back online in an hour and nothing was lost. Because of my previous dealings with them, I knew to backup my database after every post, so I wasn't worried about data loss (except for comments). Be prepared if something like this should happen to you.