How do I create a backup script in a Linux environment?

I'm not very experienced with Linux, scripts, or cron jobs.  I'm looking to set up a few backups, one is good for now, that create a backup file and move it to a folder on the server.  Ideally, I'd like to set it up to FTP the file to another server but I'll settle for just a folder on the current server for now.  I have it working so far but I'm using this script that I found online.  It's not putting the file where I want it even though I created the directory "web_backup".  

I guess my first question is how do I get it in the correct folder.

Next, is there a simpler script I may use to get the same thing done?  I'm using this in cPanel where the Cron Jobs interface allows me to just select the frequency and I enter the location of the script to execute.  I can clarify any of this, if needed.

###
# cPanel Backup via Cron v1.2.1
###

###
#  Instructions
###
# Make sure CP_SCP_BACKUP_ROOT directory exists. It is "web_backup" by default.
# Within this directory you'll need a directory for each cPanel account you're
# backing up.
#
# I.e. if you're backing up "example.com" and "foobar.com" and you want them
# to be backed up in the default location of "web_backup", you'll need to
# execute the following commands at the recieving end:
# mkdir ~/web_backup
# mkdir ~/web_backup/example.com
# mkdir ~/web_backup/foobar.com
###


###
# Config begins
### 

#cPanel info -- host that is being backed up
CP_USERNAME=uname
CP_PASSWORD=pword
CP_DOMAIN=domain.com
CP_SKIN=x3 # plain "x" is probably the most common one

#SCP/FTP info -- host to receive the backup file
CP_SCP_USER=uname
CP_SCP_PASS=pword
CP_SCP_HOST=domain.com
CP_SCP_PORT=22

# see cPanel backup page for alternatives of transfer mode
CP_SCP_MODE=cp

# email address for sending notification after backup is completed
CP_EMAIL=email@gmail.com

# target directory on remote host; do not include domain names in this one
CP_SCP_BACKUP_ROOT=web_backup%2F  # url encoded, e.g. "/" equals "%2F"

###
# Config ends
### 



# creates the target path (directory and filename)
# if you make changes, remember to url encode slashes, i.e. "/" equals "%2F"
# if --year option is used, script creates a yearly filename, otherwise a monthly one
if [ "$1" = '--year' ]; then
	CP_SCP_RDIR=$CP_SCP_BACKUP_ROOT$CP_DOMAIN%2F$CP_DOMAIN-year-`date +%Y`.tar.gz
else
	CP_SCP_RDIR=$CP_SCP_BACKUP_ROOT$CP_DOMAIN%2F$CP_DOMAIN-month-`date +%m`.tar.gz
fi

# initiate backup (the following command should be on one line)
curl --silent --insecure --user $CP_USERNAME:$CP_PASSWORD -d "dest=$CP_SCP_MODE&email=$CP_EMAIL&server=$CP_SCP_HOST&user=$CP_SCP_USER&pass=$CP_SCP_PASS&port=$CP_SCP_PORT&rdir=$CP_SCP_RDIR" https://$CP_DOMAIN:2083/frontend/$CP_SKIN/backup/dofullbackup.html > /dev/null

# gets curl return code
CURL_EXIT=$?

# curl encountered an error
if [ $CURL_EXIT -gt 0 ]; then
	echo curl returned exit status $CURL_EXIT - see curl manual pages for more details
	exit 69
fi

# everything ok
exit 0

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