Hi,
To publish your website, like build you need to select publish web site under build tab or you can simply right cilick on project name and select publish web site option to publish wesite from solution explorer.
Now, you will see a popup window. You can change path to precompiled website other wise it will be created at the default location.
You can select other options for your precompiled website by check boxes.
1. Allow this precompiled site to updatable.
2. Use fixed naming and single page assemblies.
3. Enable strongf naming on precompiled assemblies.
Simply click ok to publish your website.
Hope this helps you. If you are getting any error again so tell me about error in detail.