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By publishing, I mean the way in which you make your book available to the general public. Assuming you have written and compiled your ebook, then built your website, your next step is to publish.

Which simply means uploading your compiled .exe or PDF files to the public_html directory of your website.

Depending on the system you have chosen to host your site (for more details go here), there are a number of ways you can do this.

Most web hosts will provide you with the means to upload files directly into your file manager (don't worry if this sounds like so much tech speak right now. Every host shows you how to do this).

In addition, many of the ebook compilers have their own ftp (file transfer protocol) built-in. You simply click on a button that says upload.

And finally, you can use ftp software, which is widely available and becoming very user friendly.

I have found that I use all three systems, largely for convenience. There's an additional reason for using ftp software.

The programs I use not only allow me to upload and download individual files, they allow me to edit them inside the program.

Let's suppose, for example, I want to change a section of html, replace a java script or just correct a typo, I don't have to download the file to an editor.

I simply connect to it through my ftp program and edit it on the spot. I can also drag and drop another file into the directory at the same time.

This saves a huge amount of time and effort and it's very simple to do. It need not even cost you anything if you follow my recommendation, which is........

Yup! CoffeeCup,

That's what I use and they offer a completely free version which offers everything except the 'drag and drop' feature.

It may well be all you need. And if it isn't, the pro version is priced well below most of its nearest rivals.

Now let me just repeat - you may not want or need to use an ftp manager at all, so don't rush out and buy one on my say so,

Try CoffeeCup's free version first of all. There's no obligation to buy anything. And if you find you don't use it, there's your answer as to whether or not you need it :0)