Using Dropbox to Host your Files

Posted by Bryan in Dropbox, Low-Cost Solutions for Ministries, Tips

By now, everyone has heard of Dropbox. If you haven’t – below is a short introduction to help make sense of the useage.

What it is – an Overview
In short, Dropbox is a file sharing – public and private – app that can reside, sync, and generally “make nice”, with all  of your gadgets. PC/Mac computer, iPhone, iPad, Droid, Android, whatever. It just works. While it is a “virtual thumb-drive”, it is much more powerful that that. It uses (forgive the overused term…) “cloud technology” to hold and host all files accociated with a users account. A huge benefit to being cloud-based, is the redundancy and efficiency with which is can handle all the data. You’re able to trust in it’s stability and speed, much the same way you can not trust a mechanical/non-flash hard drive NOT to last.

A quick walk-though of how to use as a host…

When you sign-up for your FREE 2GB account, you can also download a client app which syncs your computer files to your account. You can also directly upload the files directly from the user-friendly interface on the Dropbox website. Sign up for your account here.

Why you should consider it for hosting site assets
By “assets”, I do not mean html, php, js, etc. files.  I’m merely referring to the pdf, .doc, .csv, .mp3, etc files that are used on countless sites out there.  I hear you ask, “I have a website.

Why can I just keep the files there…and link them, like I’ve always done?” You can…and life will continue to go about it’s merry way.

This is merely an option, and as a designer, our toolbox needs to be diverse and efficient.

Here are some benefits to doing it this way.

1. Bandwidth resides with Dropbox, not a burden on your website host.
2. Client can upload revisions to documents, and simply overwrite them on the Dropbox side. Simple…and the client feels in control.
3. Easy way to link multiple sites to one repository.
4. Fast with stable uptime.

Basically, to link each of your assets using Dropbox, you simply:

- upload the document/file you want to link, into your “Public Folder” within Dropbox.com OR drag the file(s) – or save directly – into your computer’s Dropbox “Public Folder” location
- right-click on the file to pull up the context menu for Dropbox. Select “Copy Public Link“.

It literally is that simple. Remember to use your tools in the most effective way possible.