Publish Your Website Live with Claude

Claude builds, a host publishes

This distinction matters because it decides who you call when something goes wrong. If the wording is wrong, fix it in your Claude draft and republish. If the site will not load at all, the problem is usually with the host, the domain settings, or the upload, not with the words on the page. Keep the finished site files in one folder on your own computer, so you always have a copy you can republish from.

Before publishing, finish the site properly. That means real copy throughout, working links, correct contact details, and no placeholder text anywhere. A site published half-finished is harder to fix than a site finished before launch, because every fix then happens under the pressure of visitors already seeing it.

Choose a host for a simple site

For a simple site made of pages, text, and images, a static host is usually enough. Many platforms offer free tiers for this kind of site, and they publish by connecting to your files or by uploading them. Compare hosts on three things: cost, how you upload files, and whether you can use your own domain name. Do not pick a host because it promises features you do not need. Check the host's own current pricing and limits before committing, since these change.

If you already have a domain name, you will point it at the host following the host's instructions. This step, often called DNS setup, can take some hours to spread across the internet. That delay is normal. If you do not have a domain yet, most hosts give you a free address to start with, and you can add your own domain later.

Publish step by step

Publishing usually follows the same pattern. First, export or save the finished site files from Claude's artifact into your own folder. Second, upload those files to the host or connect the host to the folder where they live. Third, wait for the host to confirm the site is live and open the address it gives you. If the host reports an error, read the error message first: it usually names the missing file or the failed step.

Keep a note of where the live site comes from. If the host is connected to a folder or repository, that folder is the source of truth. Always edit there and republish. Editing the live site directly, where a platform allows it, creates a version that disappears the next time you publish from the source.

Verify the live site yourself

Open the live address on a phone and on a computer. Click every link and every button. Submit the contact form if there is one, using a test message, and confirm it arrives. Check that images load and that the page looks right on a small screen. Ask a friend to open it too: a fresh pair of eyes finds broken links and confusing wording that you have stopped noticing.

Check the address itself as well. If you connected a domain, test both the version with and without the www prefix if both are meant to work. A site that loads on one and fails on the other will confuse visitors and search engines alike.

After launch: small updates, same process

After launch, updates follow the same loop: edit the source, republish, verify live. Keep a short changelog so you know what changed and when. If an update breaks something, you can republish the previous working copy while you fix the problem. That safety net is the main reason to keep your own backup of the finished files.

Prepare this website for publishing.
Site: [describe the pages]
Checklist:
1. List every page and confirm the copy is final, with no placeholder text.
2. List every link and state where it should point.
3. List every image and write a short description for each.
4. Confirm the contact email and phone number are correct.
5. Write a plain-language summary of what changed since the last version.

Site files and copy:
[Paste the site content here]

Frequently asked questions