You've created a Web site. You've put a lot of work into it and are really proud of it. You have many pages with lots of information. Your readers come there to read all you have to say and they really like your site.
One morning you wake up to find out that you hosting service is shutting down their service and you need to move your site or lose it.
Now you are in a panic. You need to move your site, you only have a couple weeks to do it and you don't even know where to start. On top of all that you have holidays to contend with, birthdays to plan and a life to lead. Where are you going to find the time to find out how to move your entire site and then actually move it?
There are a couple things you can do to move your site. Most of the ways I know entail moving your pages to your computer first then uploading them again to your new site. If you have a big site, this can mean a lot of work, especially if your hosting company is not offering FTP to help you with this process.
3 Ways to Save Your Web Pages
- FTP
This is the easiest way to move your site to your computer. Log into your site with your FTP program, tell your FTP program where, on your computer, you want to save your site and then transfer your pages or your whole site.
- Moving Program
There are some programs you can use to help you copy your Web site. These programs will move your Web pages as well as all the other files that go along with your Web pages like graphics, audio and whatever else you may have.
The files will be downloaded to your computer. Then, if you want to move your site to another hosting service, you can upload these files right to your new host. (More on how to do this later.)
- Save As
If your hosting service does not offer FTP then you may opt to do it the hard way, one page at a time. This could have all been avoided though, if you had saved your pages to a disk while you were creating the site in the first place. (Just a thought for the future.)
Before You Upload, Create Folders, 2 Ways
If you are going to upload your Web pages to a new hosting service you should build your files first so you can keep your Web site organized. If you create your folders before you upload your files you will be able to organize your site and keep it that way.- Create Folders Using FTP
If your site lets you use FTP you can create your folders using your FTP program. If you are going to move your Web pages using FTP anyway then this would definitely be the way to go.
- Create Folders Using File Manager
Using your hosting service's file manager you can quickly and easily create folders to put your Web pages into.
4 Ways to Upload Web Pages To a New Host
- FTP
FTP is a fast, simple way to move your Web pages and other files from your computer to your new Web site's server. Just log in to your server using your FTP program and upload the files.
- File Upload Tool
Many hosting service offer a tool to help you upload your files using a File Upload tool. This tool is very easy to use but takes longer than using FTP. If your hosting service offers this option you may want to use it.
- Copy/Paste
If your hosting service lets you create your Web pages using HTML and they offer an online HTML program to help you create those pages then you can use copy/paste to upload the Web pages you have created on your computer or are moving from another hosting service.
- Hosting Service's Site Copier
There are some hosting services who can transfer your whole site for you all at once. If your new hosting service offers this and your old hosting service let you use FTP then you can move your site this way. You tell it where your site is located and it will do the rest for you.
Freeservers offers a free hosting service along with several paid services. You can also get your own domain name from them. Once you sign up you can move your entire site from the "Member Area". Just click on "Build My Site" and then "Site Copier" and follow the directions. If you want to create a new site, you can do that too. You can either use their "no HTML necessary" program by clicking on "Site Builder" or you can use their advanced editor located in the File Manager and create outstanding sites all your own.
Things To Remember
- Fix Your Navigation Links
No matter which method you choose, you may need to adjust your links and image tags to properly reference your new page addresses. If you don't you may end up with a bunch of broken links and graphics that don't work.
- Remove Old Hosts Ads
If you don't use FTP to move your site, you may need to remove your previous hosting service's ad banner code from your HTML files before you reupload your Web pages.
