FTP Program – Upload Your Files

Everyone new to websites and with virtually no knowledge of how the Internet works always has the same basic question.

How do I get stuff onto my website?

While the websites we install will give you the ability to upload pictures and other items to your site without an FTP Program, there are occasions when a File Transfer Protocol Program (FTP) will come in handy.

I prefer uploading my pictures and other items to my own server, onto my own websites, and place them in a file called “images” for each site. In this way, I know where my images are and I am not subject to a hickup problem that might happen because my images were stored using the supplied website system of uploading pictures. Though this problem is highly unlikely to occur, I still like the comfort of knowing I am in control of what is uploaded and where to retrieve it.

In the following screenshot of the Filezilla FTP program you will see the screen is basically divided in half.

The left side allows you to locate a file on your computer. The right side shows the files on your host server (this is where you would find your website and all its’ files.

If you clicked on an item on the left side (your computer side)  and held down the mouse button, you can then drag a file (or folder) to the right side, placing it onto the server. Releasing the mouse then begins the transfer process. The file you are transferring is not removed from your computer – it is only making a copy of it to put into your website (you will still keep the original on your computer).

This, of course, is not a tutorial of how to completely utilize an FTP. It is only a post in which to let you know that you do not need to pay for an FTP Program, as many programs are available from between $20 and $50. Some of them are actually fine programs, which have all the bells and whistles, but those bells and whistles aren’t needed for most webmasters and especially not for those who are just building a few simple websites that only want to upload some pictures and basic other needs.

Filezilla is a FREE FTP PROGRAM.

By clicking the link above you will be taken to the download page. You want to download the Filezilla Client for your use.