Creating your own Website - Files and FTP

I want to give you a good piece of advice and tell you to get an FTP Program. What is FTP I hear you ask? It stands for File Transfer Protocol. FTP programs are basically little programs that you install on your computer and (after you've configured it of course) will open up a split window on your screen that displays files on your computer on one side, and files in your website on the other. Getting familiar with an FTP program is a must if you are going to be serious about your website.

Wordpress does have a facility to add files and edit your files within your admin area, but you can only use this for a few files at a time, which is very time consuming, not to mention risky if you're doing something important and your browser freezes! An FTP program will enable you to upload and edit multiple files straight from your computer to your site, by using a very simple drag and drop function.

Using an FTP program is invaluable for me when I'm using a new platform as it enables me to quickly get a grasp on the inner file structure,
which is obviously a good thing to have - the more you learn about how your website works, the easier it is to use and modify to your liking, as well as troublshoot if anything goes wrong. It also takes the stress out of modifying your files, because you simply save a copy of your master file onto your computer, upload your modified one, and if it doesn't produce your desired result on your site, with 2 clicks of a button you have your old file back online and everything's fine again. I can't tell you how many times I have experimented with a file and ruined the display of the whole site! Having a backed up file 2 clicks away has often saved me from a near heart attack. Phew!

I've listed the best FTP Programs below for you to choose from. One of the best investments you will make if you're serious about your website.