Which is the best way to access a clients content?

If a client wants us to optimise their website we either access their site via FTP or get them to send us the site in zip format.

either way we always get the client to proof any changes we make before overwriting the original content.

We have found that it is far less risky for the client to give us their site in a zip format, or on a CD so we dont even have to bother opening up FTP.

How do you guys get the content to optimise from your clients websites? ..., are there any other methods, and have any of you had any trouble by accidentally overwriting files or anything else?

http://www.cvshome.org/ would cover it but depends on your clients server.

Interesting, thanks RB

I would just get the FTP and download all the files to your computer.. less work for the client.

If using FTP i think its an idea to get the client to make a backup of their content first.., what happens if you dont get the client to make a backup and then you accidentally delete a file

Jeeeees, that'd be scary!

thats why we try and get the site on a cd or in zip format so we never have to open FTP.

I know that deleting a file wont generally happen, but i'm sure out there in the world that it has...., and thats a scary thought.

I use the total reverse logic.

I do not give my clients access to their servers.

But it depends on the situation.

but that means u design their whole site for them.. correct?

this is a little difficult for us RB, as we usually optimise the website after its been made, therefore we dont have access and have to get the FTP details from our clients.

I can understand your point if you are doing the hosting and the creation of the website, but not if you're optimising.

I would just download the content and run it on my local server, update everything, and then upload the new content to the FTP server.

I understand what you say st, but my problem is that i do not wish to touch the clients content at all. I want it delivered to me on a plate so that if any files go missing or get deleted, my company does not get the blame.

Wherever possible we recommend that our client put their website on a cd and mail it to us, or put it in a zip file and email it us. We have found that some clients are not that web savvy meaning they dont know how to do this.., this is the point where we require FTP access, but we are not overly comfortable with this solution as there is room for error.

good point. however, just connect, download all files, and disconnect. every ftp server has logs so if there is ever anyqyestion of who deleted what you have their IP

Every now and then I get some customers who don't have access to their website via FTP (because the previous webmaster disapered - very common here in Thailand).

In those cases I use the WebZIP from

http://www.spidersoft.com/.

It downloads almost all the files images .js and the CSS files. (not the .pl .asp. .php or any program related files)

Then I clean up the code SEO them and then order a new domain name and server and upload them.

I am sure you will find some other use of this program.

Hope this helps ;)

you can always just ftp, download the files, zip up the files BEFORE you make any changes, save that as your backup, and then make the changes. you always have the backup to go back to if you need it. just common sense, really.