6 Steps for Changing Web Hosting Providers

Finding a hosting service that is suitable for your business can be an uphill task. Once you have settle on one, you might start finding out the hard way that things are not as rosy as had been promised. Once you get tired of the down times and the elusive nature of the customer care, you might want to change hosting providers. Without the proper information, this is a stage where you could do your online presence a disservice and set yourself back a considerable lot since you could lose all your data. To make sure that this does not happen to you, here are six steps that you should follow once you decide that you would like to abandon ship and try the services of another hosting service.

1. Locally back your website

Sending the note to let the hosting service that you are dropping know that moving on is very enticing. However, before you do that and they cut you off, you have to ensure that you have backed up all the important files. These include the scripts, the dll’s and even the database of your website on your computer. If there is any important configuration information, make sure that you back this up as well and get the key to your SSL certificate. The reason as to why you have to do this is because once your current hosting service switches you off, you lose everything. If you had not saved anything, you will have to start all over again.

2. Find a new hosting provider

Once you have backed up all the important files that regard your computer, you can then move on to find your new hosting service in the event that you had not already done this. Make sure that the hosting service that you are opting for does not have the same problems that you running away from or even worse, it might have more. Also check to make sure that they can support everything that you are running on your site. After you have confirmed everything and are comfortable with the terms, you can then go ahead and make the payment.

3. Get the domain name and registration information

The first task that you have to accomplish in this case is to make sure that you are registered as the contact for your domain name. Meaning that you are the owner of that name. This will mean that you will be able to transfer the name to your new hosting service. However, if there is another contact that is registered, that will mean that you can even ask for the name to be transferred legally. In the event that the latter is the case, you can ask your new hosting service to help negotiate the transfer of the domain name but that is as much as you can be able to do. Should this not work out, you might have to opt for another domain name or buy your own. To cross check the contact listed on your domain name, you can use the WHOIS sites.

4. Move to the new host

Once you have finished setting up, it is time to move out. Load the files that you had earlier backed up and the database to the new host’s servers. They can offer you a temporary domain n that you can use to test up until you are able to make the complete switch. Remember that you change any information that might have changed in that duration like the script paths. While at this, you will also need to update the name of your database or primary user ID and also make sure that you have updated your code to reflect the changes that you have made. Test run everything to make sure it is all in order. As a safety precaution, make sure that you leave your email intact in the soon to be old host because you can get emails in either of the platforms.

5. Update your domain information

This might not be much of a trouble if the hosting service that you are considering also happens to be domain registrar. Even if this is not the case, they will help you get in contact with the necessary people who your site is registered with. Make sure that this time, you are registered as the contact for your domain name. Keep in mind that the switch can take a number of days so it is best to wait for when there is low traffic.

6. Cancel your old hosting plan

Now this is the time to do what has been itching at your fingertips and that is let your old hosting know that you are moving to a new hosting service. However, first check the contract to make sure that it states that you own the entire site just to be on the safe side.

Just like that you are set to make your mark on the new hosting service. You should experience a flawless switch in the event that you do everything the way it should.