Making the business repeatable.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT
Creating a new client account, step by step Migrating a site The maintenance routine Handling a compromise Offboarding a client Your monthly and quarterly routines
WHY
Consistency. A process followed produces the same result every time.
It also means the work does not depend on remembering.
AND IT MAKES DELEGATION POSSIBLE
You cannot hand over work that exists only in your head.
WHERE TO KEEP IT
A document you can reach, off the hosting account.
HOW DETAILED
Enough that you could follow it after six months away.
Not so detailed that maintaining it becomes work.
THE TEST
Could someone competent follow this and get the right result?
WHAT IT PREVENTS
Steps forgotten during a migration Inconsistent account setup Things done differently each time and therefore harder to support
UPDATING IT
When the process changes. A document describing last year's method misleads.
THE PRACTICAL BENEFIT
The first migration takes a day. The tenth takes two hours, because the process is written down.
