Uploading your website means transferring the files that make up your website from your local computer to your web hosting account. Once uploaded, your site becomes accessible on the internet.
After uploading, you can:
- Add new files
- Edit or replace existing files
- Delete files you no longer need
- Completely rebuild your site or switch to a Content Management System (CMS)
How to Upload Your Website
You can upload your website in two main ways:
Using an FTP Program (Recommended)
This is the most efficient and user-friendly method, especially for larger projects.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) allows you to connect directly to your hosting account and manage your website files.Most operating systems include basic FTP functionality, but these built-in tools are often limited. For better performance and more features, it’s recommended to use a dedicated FTP program such as FileZilla, WinSCP, or Cyberduck — all of which are free.
- Using DirectAdmin's File Manager
You can also upload files directly through your DirectAdmin control panel. This is useful for quick edits or small uploads but less convenient for managing large websites.
Do it yourself or use a CMS
Before building your website, decide how you want to manage it:
- Using a CMS (Content Management System)
A CMS such as WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal lets you create and manage your website through a web interface. It allows multiple users to edit content, install plugins, and change designs easily, making it the simplest option for most users. You can read more about installing and configuring a CMS here: [LINK TO INSTALLATRON GUIDE] - Building Your Site Manually
If you prefer full control, you can build your website yourself using HTML (for page structure and content) and optionally PHP (for dynamic features such as contact forms or guest books). Typically, you create and test your website on your local computer first, and then upload it to your hosting account.
When building your website manually, there are a few important points to remember. Always keep your file structure clear and organised. For example, store images in an /images/ folder and stylesheets in a /css/ folder. Use absolute paths whenever possible to avoid broken links after uploading and make sure that your homepage file is named index.html or index.php, as this is the file automatically loaded when visitors access your domain.
Upload the files into the public_html folder. Otherwise, the hosting package does not know what your first page is. Before uploading, test your website locally in a browser to ensure that links, images, and scripts work correctly.
Finally, keep backup copies of your work and upload files regularly to prevent data loss and to make sure your online version matches the latest version on your computer.
Please note that our support team does not provide assistance with website design, coding, or content creation. We are happy to assist with hosting-related matters such as account access, domain settings, and file management, but building or troubleshooting your website's structure, code, or appearance falls outside the scope of our support services.