When you set up a new site it's handy to have all of the details ready so that you can get everything configured quickly and with the minimum of fuss.

When you register a a new hosting package you get an email detailing all of the hosting settings, passwords etc. Print it out and blu tac it to the wall beside you for easy reference.

If you do this then you'll be able to keep track of your sites and maintain a credible password strategy.

I'm not a fan of printing loads of stuff out on paper. In fact I hardly print out anything at all which is how the following story came about:

I wanted to build another scratchcard site and so I registered the domain and hosting through the control panel and got the confirmation emails that everything was ordered and setup.

Probably like you I keep a spreadsheet of all my domains and passwords etc but I thought it would be good to print this info out and keep it on the wall for quick and easy reference.

Firing up my Epson D78 printer I discover that a couple of cartridges are empty and so off I head to the local stationers to get a refill.

£34.98!!! You gotta be kidding me. Call me tight fisted but there's no way I'm paying that just to print out a couple of sheets of A4.

Compatible cartridges come in at about £28 which is better but it's still steep and I decide to pay a visit to cartridge world to see what they can do.

Sold out!

Yep. Someone called in earlier that morning and wiped out the stock!

We have a polite discussion about the finer points of cartridge pricing, you get the gist, when the store guy suddenly has a light bulb moment.

Apparently someone had been in the day before with the same D78 printer and had replaced the cartridges. However the reason their printer wasn't printing was because the printer was dead itself and the owner decided to buy a new one.

Bingo! A set of brand new opened cartridges was mine for £5! Happy days!

Thanks to the guys at cartridge world. Have a free link on me ;-).

Storebuilder Blog - Productivity