Web hosting, web host, webhosting
After one purchases their first webhosting package, there is oftentimes a bit of excitement and sometimes a feeling of accomplishment. This is all justified. Unfortunately, it is also oftentimes accompanied by a sense of confusion. If one has never had a website before, it can be very intimidating to figure out what one does once one has had hosting set up. The first steps are really quite easy and will largely depend upon whether one has contracted a web designer or whether they have designed a site themselves. Software is the first thing required.
Websites are generally uploaded to the webhost using a protocol called FTP. This is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol. Essentially, one can think of this as the service entrance of the Internet. One's site will have to be uploaded using software that allows them to use this protocol. One will have to create an account according to the policies of their webhost and give it a username and password just as they would any other account they create online. This is generally done using an interface in one's hosting control panel and is readily accessible from most login screens on most webhosting sites.
On one's hard drive, one will find the files that they use to create their site. If one is using what is generally called a WYSIWYG development program, little of this process will need to be done manually. Most of these programs allow one to set up an FTP transfer that works essentially as a wizard interface which allows them to simply press a button and to upload all of the site's files with nothing more complex than the press of a single button. However, if one is doing this manually, one must pay attention to the directory structure on their hard drive where the site is stored and must exactly duplicate that structure in the appropriate folder on the FTP server.
This may seem confusing but, once one begins the process, it is usually quite intuitive. If one becomes lost along the way, the vast majority of hosting companies will be more than willing to offer technical support to their clients to help them get their site online. If one happens to have database applications as a part of their site, this can be quite a bit more complex and may well require the services of a professional.
