Changing Web Host can be an expensive, time consuming and difficult task. Those are the main reason why many dissatisfied customers prefer to stay and put up with an awful hosting service.
During most website migrations, through lack of knowledge or experience, many website owners end up losing clients and damaging time-built company images, because their sites are unavailable for days or weeks on end. Another problem is the lost of the some crucial emails which will hurt the credential of your business. All above have made migrations very expensive and even dangerous. Actually, migration from one web host to another is not difficult; it can be fast and safe when one knows what the experts know. By following the steps, you will stand a better chance of a smooth transfer.
Before you start migrating your web site, the most important thing is to find a new appropriate web host place, which will not give you a reason to migrate again, or soon. In Basic Web Hosting Guide you will learn how to define your web host needs and find a reliable affordable web hosting from our Top 10 Web Hosting list.
Upload all of your files, databases and test your site using the IP address given to you with your new account. Make adjustments in the coding which might be necessary for the change in the server environment. Then check each and every page, link and image on your website to make sure it works
On your new mail server, re-create all email accounts currently in use; and set up auto-responders, forwarders and aliases at the same time. If available, enable the “catch-all” feature; this will help you to retrieve all emails sent to a non-existing email account; which you may have forgotten to create! Remember though, the new email addresses will only work after the transfer of domain is complete. Unfortunately, there is no way to test them on new server before the transfer.
Transfer your domain is easy. Go to your domain control panel and change Name Server of your domain to which of your new web hosting service provider.
If you don't know the new name servers for your domain, just send a email to your new service provider and ask for it. Usually, you will get 2 name servers, one is the Primary Name Server and the other is Secondary Name Server.
Changing name server will take 1-2 days to be effective. During this period, someone might still visit your old web site or even can not find your web site. All those you will depends on how fast the name server information has been synchronize cross the internet. But it wouldn't take more than 2 days.
Once the name server of your domain is transferred, you will start receiving emails from your new mail server and see your website from your new account. Leave your old web hosting account open for 3 or 4 more days, just to ensure you receive all emails, including those losing their way in the domain transfer and directed back to your old email account. After a few days, ask your previous web host to cancel your account. Make sure you follow all of your previous host’s closing procedures, and leave cleanly. You will find that the transfer should go smoothly and all parties will be more helpful.
If your domain is got as free from your previous web hosting service provider, you will need to ask them about how much they will charge for domain registration. That's the amount of money you will be charged when you renew your domain in the next year. Or you can choose to transfer the domain to another domain register if they charge you very high. GoDaddy is my preferred domain register considering their very cost effective domain service.
Changing web hosting service provider can be very easy and safe if you follow above guide. But keep in mind that selecting a reliable web hosting service provider for your web site is the key steps in all above steps. Hopeful, you can get a smooth web hosting changing experience.
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