While most site owners put a lot of thought behind choosing a web host, there can be times when they need to migrate to another host for various reasons. If you are looking to upgrade along with the migration, then you need to compare web hosting plans and determine which one fits your needs.
There are many options to choose from like Virtual Private Servers, Cloud Hosting, Dedicated Server Hosting, etc. Today, we are going to offer a five-point guide to help you ensure a smooth web hosting transition.
1. Choose A Reliable Host And Plan
While this is a no-brainer, we included this point because we have observed that many site owners make the mistake of migrating to a host without any research. These are usually the ones who are suffering due to poor service or lack of hosting features needed by them. Hence, they tend to be a little hasty when it comes to choosing the next host since they are in a hurry to leave the old one.
However, this should be avoided to ensure that you don’t land on a bigger problem. Take your time and research comprehensively before making your decision.
Also, ensure that you choose the right hosting type. A VPS Hosting Server offers different features than a Cloud Hosting Server. A Dedicated Server is costlier than other hosting platforms. Choose the right plan for optimum site performance.
2. Backup Your Current Site
Take a comprehensive backup of everything that you have stored on your current server. Ensure that the backup is stored at a secure location. Also, keep two copies of the backup for safety. To streamline and automate the process, you can opt for automatic backup solutions.
3. Move Your Domain Name With A Third-Party Registrant
Many site owners tend to buy web hosting and domain names from the same provider. When you plan to migrate, keeping the domain name with the earlier provider should be avoided. Hence, before you announce your migration, ensure that your domain name is moved to another registrant.
4. Inform Your Customers About The Move
People like to be informed about outages before time. Hence, ensure that you inform all your customers about potential downtime or performance snags while the migration process is underway. If you are upgrading from Shared Hosting to say VPS Servers, then share that information with your customers and earn their support.
5. Test Before The Migration
While website migration might seem as simple as copying data from one server to another, the ground reality is very different. Before you initiate the migration process, ensure that you test database connections, file permissions, application scripts, etc.
Summing Up
Website migration can be a delicate process. If you are migrating and upgrading, then you need to ensure that your site’s files are ready for the new hosting environment. For example, a website on a Shared Hosting platform has different backend functions compared to a site stored on a Windows or Linux VPS Server.
Choose carefully and follow the tips mentioned above to make sure that the migration goes as per your plan. Good Luck!