Uploading your web files

Quick insight for what you will need to upload your files to your newly hosted website.  If you are planning on uploading files yourself, there are plenty of free FTP (file transfer protocol)  programs available on the web.  Many of the free ones are offered in hopes that you will like them and purchase the upgraded version.  For your first website attempt or casual use though, a free program will work just fine.

There are two great free programs out there though for the web beginner.  For the mac users, Cyberduck FTP is a great solution.  Its easy to use and its free, ofcourse the author has a donation page.  Mac users will like this program so much that you will want to donate money for the future of this app.  Since its free, there really isnt a reason not to give this app a try.

Pc users have a lot of free options for FTP, but only a few of them are really any good.  One free program I like to promote is CoffeeCup Free FTP.  CoffeeCup has been around since the 90′s and I remember using them back then.  This is why I have no problem looking back at them now for solutions that today’s user would need.  While your at their website, look around at some of the other free apps they have.  I know it sounds like a plug, but in no way do I get anything by sending people there.  Their products are really what got me into web design or atleast they were simple enough for me to figure out when I was 16.

From your webhost, you should be able to find your website FTP information.  Here’s my plug, With Ferret Hosting, you can easily find it in the control panel.  The icons are clearly labeled and you are able to then create your own custom logins.  To see what I’m talking about, go to the home page and then click the control panel demo down at the bottom.  Some web host will give you your ftp login, and others will make you dig in their control panel for it.

What you need to know:

Server name / URL: usually yourdomainname.com

Username: usually a username you setup when you signed up

Password: usually a password you setup when you signed up

Sometimes a company will auto generate these for you.  If you cant find the information, contact your web host and make them work for your business.

From here, it should be as simple as clicking the login button on your ftp program.  This will bring you the the root folder of your website directory.  Typically, your first page/ home page is index.html.  Download that file and make changes, then re upload the file.  I will have a post on here somewhere that will go into editing website files.  Cruise my site a bit.  Hope this posting has helped your endeavor.