Know how to transfer your website from one host to another

If you’re looking to switch your current web hosting company to the one that better suits your requirement, look no further, we have a step by step break down of how you can do this without feeling intimidated. The process may seem complicated, but it is, in fact, easy to follow.

Before we dive into other instructions, it is important to go through the first crucial step of doing thorough research of popular web hosting plans that provide efficient services. You must also be aware that these services, while efficient, should align with your brand’s needs and requirements. So, let’s see which hosting plan is right for your website? Have a look at some of the popular ones to help you make an informed decision.

• Bluehost®
  One of the most popular companies in this category, Bluehost has helped more than 2 million businesses with web hosting services. They have competitively priced plans which makes it a compelling service for many companies.
• HostGator
  With an easy-to-use interface, this provider also stands to be amongst the most popular web hosting services. They provide 24/7 assistance with any queries related to web hosting and have unlimited domains and subdomains to choose from. They also have flexible plans that work well with the customers’ requirements.
• GoDaddy
  They are the world’s biggest web host with more than 620 million registered domains. Not just that, they help you build a website and even transfer domains easily to other website building providers. With a 30-day no-risk guarantee and SSL security, GoDaddy is a popular choice amongst many companies.
• Network Solutions
  They come with a wide range of developer tools that help make your website look creative and interactive. Compatible with multiple open source applications, you can experiment with various features that will give your website the required look. If you have any trouble with any features, the customer service is easily available.
• Web.com
  With an array of design templates, and its drag and drop feature to customize website layout, Web.com helped around 3 million customers build and host their website.

You may also want to compare different hosting providers to know what suits you best. For instance, Web.com vs GoDaddy, the latter is the biggest web hosting provider, but the former is known for its easy-to-use website building services apart from hosting. While there’s not much difference in the prices of the basic hosting plans of both the providers, GoDaddy has more options to choose from.

Comparing Bluehost® vs HostGator hosting services, the former comes with many features that may help you keep your website interactive and user-friendly. While HostGator is also a good choice, it comes with pricey in-house domains which would otherwise be free for the first year at Bluehost. However, Bluehost® loses points when it comes to accepting only annual payments. So, depending on your website’s requirements, you can choose any of the popular web hosting services!

Switching to a new hosting company
Once you have made your choice with the new web hosting company that you want to go with, these are the steps you must follow for an easy transition of your website:

Create a backup of your files and database

• All you have to do is go to your admin page and install the Duplicator plugin.
• Once that is installed, click on it and move ahead by clicking on “Create New”.
• Click on “next”.
• This new window will show you that all your files are archived.
• Once you see that they are, click on “Build”, and wait for these files to get downloaded.

Import your site to the new host

Once downloaded, these files also need to be uploaded to your new host. Do this by using an FTP software that you can install on your computer. This software will guide you through the uploading process.

Domain’s DNS Record

Domain Name System is what guides the user’s Internet service provider to your website. It tracks where the files are located and then directs the user to that page. Once you have migrated your data to the new web host, you will need to inform your old web host of the new pathway. You can do this by contacting your new host and requesting the DNS information. Once you have that, you can change the DNS, and your website will then run smoothly for the users. This usually takes about 2 days to take effect.

Quality check

Once you are through with the above-mentioned processes, it is essential that you go through your website on the new hosting site keenly. Check that all the information has been transferred, there is no lag, and all plug-ins work effectively. This may take some time as it is advisable to go through all the pages and links, but this is done to ensure the website runs smoothly for your user.

Close old account

Once you are sure there are no glitches, you can now go ahead and cancel your subscription from the previous web hosting service.

Apart from manually doing this, there are several providers that’ll help you with this transfer. You can easily contact their customer service, and their web hosting expert will help you make this switch efficiently.

Website hosting has its pros and cons, but it is the most crucial step in building an online presence of your brand. While you may have the best-looking website, if you do not have a web host, no one on the Internet will be able to look you up. Since its difficult to manage a whole server all by yourself, thanks to web hosting providers, the subscriptions are surprisingly affordable. Not just that, you also do not have to worry about performance as the web hosts ensure top-notch performance for the website; loading the website in not more than 4 seconds. There are other perks that come with these web hosting services like control panel interface, free email accounts, SSL certificates, website builders, and several other features to make your website look unique. So, make an informed decision by doing a thorough research.