If you are running a self hosted Wordpress site you will, at some stage need access to the files on your webhosting account. Using an FTP client allows you to upload, Download and Edit files ( Wordpress Themes and Plugins ) on your server.

For more information on FTP You can also read my article on What Is FTP?.

To get started open up Filezilla.

Once your Filezilla FTP client is open, you will see that it’s split up into two sides, on the left is your computers hard drive and the right is your server or web hosts computer.

There are a couple of ways you can use Filezilla to connect to your webhosts server.

For the first example, I want to show you how you would log in to your webhost as if it were only a once off access, Basically, every time you want to access the files on your webhosts server you need to retype your account details into Filezilla.

In the top of your Filezilla user interface you will see a toolbar, Depending on the version, it should look something like this… Fill in your webhosting account admin details, Username, Password and your Domain in the text boxes. Leave of the http:// and the www.

These are the same details you used to set up your web hosting account and log into your Cpanel, you should have all of this information stored in an email sent to you from your web host when you first signed up for your web hosting account.

Click on the “Quickconnect” button. That’s all there is to it, you should now be logged in and see the directory files on the right hand side of Filezilla.( See The Image At The Bottom Of This Page)

In the second method, I want to show you how to set Filezilla to remember your server details, so you don’t have to retype them every time you want to access your Webhosting file directories.

In the top left hand corner there is a small icon, it’s kinda hard to make out what it actually is, I think it’s an image of a couple of computers in front of the World, anyway click on that icon. This will open up a small window.

Follow the steps outlined below the image to set this up.

1. Click on the “New Site” Button.
2. Enter your websites Domain name, this must already be added to your hosting account.
3. Make sure you Click on the drop down Menu and choose the “Normal” Option.
4. Enter Your Webhosting accounts Username.
5. Enter Your Webhosting Accounts Password.
6. Leave any Specific comments or notes that you may need as a reminder at a later date,
7. I have purposely blanked this section out, but A small text box will open with the words “New Site” Click on the text twice, but slowly – Do not double click- then type in the domain name of your site, or type something that will help you to remember that these specific login details are for that particular site.

Once you have filled in all of the details correctly click on the “Connect” Button.

If all of the details are correct, you should now see the files hosted on your server on the right hand side of your ftp client.

Now you are connected to your server and have the ability to upload, Download and Edit files right in your webhosting account.

The next time you need to connect to your server via your FTP client all of your log in details are stored and ready to go, It will simply be a matter of clicking on the “Small Icon” choosing your Domain name and clicking on the “Connect” button.

More On This Topic...

• How To Install Wordpress Plugins Using Filezilla
• How To Install A Wordpress Theme Using FileZilla.
• How To Install A Wordpress Theme Without Using An FTP Client
• How To Install A Wordpress Plugin Without Using An FTP Client.

After successfully logging into your Cpanel, Look for the section titled “Mail“, in the mail section you should see an icon that says “Email Accounts“, Click on that Icon.

A new window will open up.

You will notice a small Dropdown box with your domain name inside of it.

If you have more than one domain name, you will need to click on the little black upside down triangle and choose the correct domain name you want to add an email address too.

In the yellow text box type in your preferred email name, this is pretty self explanatory but for example I use jeremy@whatever-my-website-is.com,  you could use whatever you want. Basically just type in whatever you want to appear before the “@” symbol.

Make sure you type in a strong password, use upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.

Click on the “Create” button.

Once you have clicked on the “Create” button you will be asked if you wish to configure the account to work with a mail client,

Because I use Google’s Gmail for all of my email accounts and not a local email client, I never worry about this step so I can’t really help you configure your mail client, But I did find a tutorial that should help you to configure your new email address with your Outlook account. The Tutorial.

If you are using Gmail look out for a post on how to configure Gmail with your new email address.

More On This Topic...

• How To Add A New Domain Name In Cpanel
• How To Easily Log Into Cpanel
• How To Open An Account With WebhostingPad
• How To Set Up A Permanent 301 Redirect In Cpanel.

So in the future, any time I write a post where you need to access Cpanel, I will just link back to this post as a reference, but once you’ve done it a couple of times you really should find logging into your Cpanel childs play.

The easist way I find to log into my Cpanel is to type in your Web browsers address bar your websites domain name with “/cpanel” (without Quotes) at the end, for example your URL will look something like this… www.mywebsite.com/cpanel

Then just hit the enter key on your keyboard.

One of two things will happen next,

One, a dropdown box asking you to enter your webhosting admin user-name and password will appear.

Or

Two, a screen will open in your browser with the Cpanel logo asking for your Username and Password.

Your log in details will be the exact same ones you used when you set up your web hosting account, you should have these details in an email that was sent to you after signing up for your web hosting.

You should store these emails in a safe place for you to reference them whenever you need them.

And thats all there is to it, The next screen you will see is your Cpanel.

More On This Topic...

• How To Set Up Your Email Accounts In Cpanel
• How To Add A New Domain Name In Cpanel
• Installing Wordpress With Cpanel Security Upgrade
• How To Open An Account With WebhostingPad

The reason I have chosen webhosting pad is mainly because of the price of there web hosting, which at $1.99 a month, anyone can afford to get a site up and running without putting to much strain on the bank account.

Webhosting pad also provide great support with a 24/7 live chat service, meaning you can contact support any time you need them.

I suggest before you set up your account and hand over any of your hard earned cash Make sure you have tested the live chat service and you are totally happy with the level of support you expect to get.

The first page you should see when you land on the Webhostingpad site should look similar to the following image.

To get things rolling just click on the Order Now button. (Number 1), If you run into any problems go to the live support for help. (Number 2)

After clicking the Order Now button the next page to load up should be this one.

1. If you purchased your domain through Godaddy you will need to choose the Owned option, a drop-down box will appear, just type in your domain name in the drop-down box,
2. Click on the plan you want to purchase.
3. Click Continue.

You will then be taken to a screen where you will be asked to enter your contact information along with your credit card or payment details, you will need to fill in all of the fields in yellow, these are required .

1. If you have a discount coupon insert it in this box, make sure you click on the Check button before proceeding.
2. You must check the box stating that you have read the Terms Of Service Agreement.
3. Click on the Complete Order button.

Once your payment has successfully been processed and you have set up your username and password you should receive a receipt sent to the email address you used when making your payment. It should look similar to the one below.

Click on the link provided at the bottom of your receipt, this will take you to your new hosting account.

You will also get an email with all of your Username, Password and FTP details for your new webhosting account.

Make sure you store these two emails where you can find them, keep these safe for your reference.

1. The login details you need to access the Cpanel.
2. The details you need to enter into your FTP client to access the server.
3. The nameservers of your new webhost.

The following screen should be what you see after clicking on the link from your receipt email. Enter your user name and password in the fields provided and click on the login button to enter your account.

Once you have entered you web hosting account you should see this screen.

Click on the Control Panel icon on the top menu bar to be taken to the following screen.

One more step and your there click on the log into cpanel button to continue.

“CONGRATULATIONS YOU MADE IT” you should be looking at this screen which is called your Cpanel

Cpanel is the back end of your web hosting account. Don’t worry you only have to go through that process the first time you want to access your Cpanel.

Any time you want to to access Cpanel from here on in is simply a matter of typing in the domain name you used to set up your hosting account and add /cpanel after the .com ie; http://Your Domain Name.com/cpanel, you will then be taken directly to your Cpanel log in page,

Then all you do to log in is just enter your Username and Password to gain access to the cpanel area.

Here is a tutorial that shows you How To Easily Log Into Cpanel.

More On This Topic...

• How To Set Up Your Email Accounts In Cpanel
• How To Add A New Domain Name In Cpanel
• How To Easily Log Into Cpanel
• How To Set Up A Permanent 301 Redirect In Cpanel.

The Web Hosting plans I am about to show you will be more than adequate to get your Church or personal ministry online. This article should give you some useful tips on how to find a suitable web host that won’t cost you the earth.

When I look at choosing a Web host, there are usually 6 main points I like to consider before finally deciding on a new web host.

They are…

• The Reputation Of The Company and Where The Servers Are Located;
• Whats The Support Like?
• What’s The Price?
• The Amount Of Data Transfer Available;
• What’s The Number Of Domain Names I Can Host?
• Does The Host Provide Cpanel?

Let look at each of the points mentioned in a little bit more detail…

The Reputation Of The Company and Where The Servers Are Located;

The Reputation of your WebHost is everything, I suggest you always do a Google search about the particular webhosting company and check out what other people are saying about them, Only go for a reputable host with good customer feedback, I also prefer to have a web host where the servers are located in the U.S.A.

Whats the Support Like?

I always look for a web host with 24/7 support, preferably via a live chat, I suggest you try out their support before signing up for your new web hosting account, also make sure you try out their live chat and support at different times of the day, this will give you an idea of how efficient the company really is and the quality of the service they provide.

What’s The Price?

Price can play a major factor when shopping around for a web host, but the old saying “You get what you pay for” doesn’t necessarily apply to web hosting. In the past I have asked friends about the cost of their webhosting and have been shocked at the amount they have paid.

You can get everything you will ever need in terms of Good Quality web hosting from as little as $1.99 to $7.00 a month, You may have to upgrade your account at some stage in the future, but in all reality your site may never get to that point, and if it does your webhosting provider can simply upgrade your account so you never have to worry about moving your site.

The Amount Of Data Transfer Available;

Usually the plans within the suggested price range will give you unlimited disk space and data transfer to host your site. But in reality, if your site gets to a point where your attracting a lot of traffic and you are using quite a bit of bandwidth you will have to upgrade at some stage.

What’s The Number of Domains I can Host?

Being able to set up multiple sites on one account can be useful when you are just getting started, It’s a good idea to set up a second site to use as a test site, this way you can test out any new Wordpress themes or plugins without anyone ever seeing your Bloopers.

If the thought of buying additional domains isn’t something that you think will be necessary, there are web host providers that will offer a free domain name when you sign up for your web hosting package, But… if you choose to take up this free offer make sure you find out what the renewal price will be when it comes time to renew the domain name, Free isn’t always Free. If the domain name remains free for the life of your web hosting account then you can always use this free domain for a second or practice site while you are still learning.

Does The Host Provide Cpanel?

The easiest way to set up your Wordpress website is by using an installation script called Fantastico or another popular script is called Simple scripts, When you sign up for a web host that has cpanel, Fantastico usually comes as a default product, I won’t go into to much detail about Fantastico other than to say it makes installing a Wordpress website as simple as adding a username and password and following a couple of prompts and you have a website set up online within a couple of minutes..

The other reason I suggest you use cpanel is it is very user friendly and most web hosts will provide you with some tutorials on how to navigate your way around the different functions within cpanel.

For myself, I personally use the following web hosts, and I have listed them below in my order of preference.

1. WebHostingPad
2. Hostmonster
3. BlueHost
4. HostGator

All of the above mentioned hosting providers will provide you with good quality but Inexpensive Web Site Hosting with great support and everything you will need to easily follow along with the tutorials you will find on this site.

Go and try them out for yourself, if your looking for a quality and affordable Website Hosting deal you won’t be disappointed.

More On This Topic...

• How To Connect To Your Server With The Filezilla FTP Client.
• How To Set Up Your Email Accounts In Cpanel
• How To Add A New Domain Name In Cpanel
• How To Easily Log Into Cpanel

For example; If you chose to set up your website with a paid web hosting account from Webhostingpad.com, for just .06 cents a day you could have…

• Your own personal email address (Unlimited Email Address)
• The ability to collect the names and email addresses of your websites visitors, Imagine having a database of Christians from around the globe that you could call on at any time you liked for intercessory prayer or support.
• The option to choose any available Domain Name you like for your website.(Including The Option Of a Free Domain Name from Webhostingpad)
• The choice of any Free or Paid website theme or design you like.
• The freedom to add any software or script on your website.
• The option to Install and manage your Own Databases.
• The power to track and monitor your traffic.(Free Tracking and Stats Using AW-stats or Google’s Analytics)
• The advantage of uploading and adding any type of content you want.
• A PayPal Button on your site to collect tithes or donations.
• Access to friendly and reliable support 24/7
• Unlimited Domain Names, meaning each one of the leaders in your church can have their own individual blogs.
• Easy Wordpress Installation Using Fantastico
• A 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.
• Plus many, many more benefits that are simply to numerous to list…

Now compare that to…

• Not having your own professional looking web design.
• The risk of having your site pulled out from underneath you at any time, for whatever reason, without any control over the situation at all.
• The inability to collect donations or tithes for your church or fundraiser.
• Very Low bandwidth or hosting space.
• No FTP access.
• Very limited support.
• The risk of loosing valuable content that has taken many precious hours creating.
• And the loss of visitors and back links to your site, when you are finally forced to set up a self hosting website, all of your hard work lost forever.

Why someone would take such a risk when there is so much at stake is beyond me.

I guess if you were to build a two or three page website you could argue that a free alternative may be sufficient, and I would probably agree with you, but most of the sites I see out there, and what I am talking about in particular, are sites that have been around for quite some time, that could at any moment be closed down.

All it would take is for someone to take offense at something that was written or said and you became the target of a malicious complaint, causing your site to be closed temporarily or permanently shut down. If you don’t think this could happen then please read the article on the following link and in particular take a look at the comment made by Carla on this post Titled “Moving from WordPress.com to Self-Hosted WordPress in Plain English”

When you compare having the security and peace of mind along with the actual cost of web hosting to having all of your effort and hard work at the mercy and control of another person, it’s really not worth it.

Your website should be considered a major part of your ministry, and the reality is, the cost of running a website is so insignificant that it really defies logic as to why a pastor would risk loosing their connection to the people they are ministering too through their website.

All for the sake of saving a few cents each day.

Please don’t under-estimate the potential your website has in terms of reaching into someones life, I myself have experienced incredible ministry through the likes of Andrew Wommack and Curry Blake, and to be honest, some people may consider these evangelists to be radical or extreme, but wasn’t Christ a bit radical and extreme!

So it would be fair to say that if hey had built up there websites using a free alternative then I guarantee they would have had there fair share of complaints and would of probably have been shut down long ago.

If you intend on building a ministry online then seriously consider spending the few dollars it takes to get started. Moving your site later will only cost you precious time and lost contacts. Your ministry is way to important to gamble with.

More On This Topic...

• How To Connect To Your Server With The Filezilla FTP Client.
• How To Set Up Your Email Accounts In Cpanel
• How To Add A New Domain Name In Cpanel
• How To Easily Log Into Cpanel