Tips From HostingAndBackup On Changing Your Web Site Provider
At the time you signed on with your original website hosting provider, things seemingly worked out quite well. However, times and circumstances have changed and you might not currently wish to remain with your current provider. If you feel this way, you are not alone. Many small business entrepreneurs find their current web hosting provider really is not delivering on expectations so they may opt to make a switch.
Switching to a new provider, however, is never something that should be done without careful consideration.
Reasons To Switch
Some of the most common scenarios for switching web hosting providers include:
- Having a domain name that you do not own, and so needing to change domain names as a part of the hosting migration process;
- Having your domain name registered via a third party, and so needing to switch between website hosting companies;
- Having your domain name registered with your current host, but needing to change both hosting provider and the service which registered your domain name.
What Factors Should You Weigh Before Switching?
The first thing to consider would be whether or not the new hosting service is really one that is worth signing up with. It would never be wise to errantly switch to a new web hosting service simply because you came across an appealing advertisement. Making an errant and ill advised switch might only lead you to discover that the new hosting service is not a very good one.
You also cannot shut down your old website as soon as you open a new account with another hosting provider. Rather, you have to keep the old site up because you do not want to lose your traffic. There will be a migration period involved and this is another reason why you cannot make a switch flippantly.
You will need to change your DNS and point it in the direction of the new web host. You will also have to be very patient and wait for the DNS to register all throughout the Internet. Of course, you will have to make a backup of the old site and store it the new web hosting service. Losing all data from the old site would be a major disaster.
At the point in which you are seeing new and old traffic (and the search engine crawlers) hitting on the new IP address and the website, you can discontinue the old site.
Once your site has been uploaded to your new host, some testing will be necessary. Your host may allow you to preview what your site will look like before you actually publish it. If they do, it's advised that you take full advantage of the opportunity to ensure that all the functionality and desired elements of your web site are there.
How Should You Deal With The Old Hosting Service?
It is also best to be as professional with the old hosting service as possible. This is true even when you may have had a bad experience. It is never a good idea to leave on bad terms and leaving the door open to future business together never hurts. Simply inform the host in writing that you are discontinuing your relationship and service and are moving elsewhere.
The best HostingAndBackup advice is that a slow migration is likely best. Although it will mean that you pay double for hosting services with two providers, starting with a new host about a month before you leave your old one will give you plenty of time to not only ensure you have all the files you need, but allow you to work out any issues with your new host.
Switching to a new provider, however, is never something that should be done without careful consideration.
Reasons To Switch
Some of the most common scenarios for switching web hosting providers include:
- Having a domain name that you do not own, and so needing to change domain names as a part of the hosting migration process;
- Having your domain name registered via a third party, and so needing to switch between website hosting companies;
- Having your domain name registered with your current host, but needing to change both hosting provider and the service which registered your domain name.
What Factors Should You Weigh Before Switching?
The first thing to consider would be whether or not the new hosting service is really one that is worth signing up with. It would never be wise to errantly switch to a new web hosting service simply because you came across an appealing advertisement. Making an errant and ill advised switch might only lead you to discover that the new hosting service is not a very good one.
You also cannot shut down your old website as soon as you open a new account with another hosting provider. Rather, you have to keep the old site up because you do not want to lose your traffic. There will be a migration period involved and this is another reason why you cannot make a switch flippantly.
You will need to change your DNS and point it in the direction of the new web host. You will also have to be very patient and wait for the DNS to register all throughout the Internet. Of course, you will have to make a backup of the old site and store it the new web hosting service. Losing all data from the old site would be a major disaster.
At the point in which you are seeing new and old traffic (and the search engine crawlers) hitting on the new IP address and the website, you can discontinue the old site.
Once your site has been uploaded to your new host, some testing will be necessary. Your host may allow you to preview what your site will look like before you actually publish it. If they do, it's advised that you take full advantage of the opportunity to ensure that all the functionality and desired elements of your web site are there.
How Should You Deal With The Old Hosting Service?
It is also best to be as professional with the old hosting service as possible. This is true even when you may have had a bad experience. It is never a good idea to leave on bad terms and leaving the door open to future business together never hurts. Simply inform the host in writing that you are discontinuing your relationship and service and are moving elsewhere.
The best HostingAndBackup advice is that a slow migration is likely best. Although it will mean that you pay double for hosting services with two providers, starting with a new host about a month before you leave your old one will give you plenty of time to not only ensure you have all the files you need, but allow you to work out any issues with your new host.