Breaking up with your web host may be a totally necessary and profitable thing to do, but it’s still a very large hassle, and can be a tricky proposition in many aspects. While the technical aspects seem straightforward enough, there’s always something that gets overlooked or forgotten. Let’s take a quick look at several of the things you’ll want to make sure you’ve taken care of before dumping your web host!
• Secure A New Hosting Partner – While this should go without saying, I’m going to say it anyway. You should have researched and found that next web hosting company to whom you’ll give your new business. They will meet all the needs, and have none of the problems your old has. (Hopefully!) Many times decisions are made to leave in haste or anger, before a proper search has been performed. This is important: take a minute.
• Plan Your Exit – You should figure this out to the day and hour you will be doing the move, for several reasons. First of all, should something go awry, you’ve scheduled this for a time when the least possible damage could occur. You also want to be able to not miss any sales, if you sell anything from your site. You may want to go so far as to construct an error page for the occasion, should the need arise. You may need the new host to put you on a virtual server so you can check to make sure the transfer has gone smoothly, and that everything works before you go live, and pull the switch to the old host.
• Design Changes – If you are going to do any changes to design, consider doing them at the same time if at all possible. Changing hosts, and then having more interruptions for site design is a lot to ask of your visitors.
• Make Sure To Back Up Your Site! – You would be very surprised to learn that many people fail to do this, and while it’s definitely not a common occurrence to have a problem during transfer where all files are lost, it does happen. Don’t let your site be the victim of poor planning on your part. Do an online backup, and also put the site folders and files on your own computer as well, just in case.
• Point Your Domain Name Servers – This is a vital yet sometimes overlooked part of the transfer. Changing the DNS servers at your domain registrar will enable people to find you at your new web IP address. When you change DNS they often tell you that it may be around 24 hours until you are live. That is usually not nearly the case. Very often it’s near immediate, but keep in mind Murphy’s Law when it comes to changing web hosting, and you’ll be okay! Also good to note here, is that if you have made the mistake of hosting with the same company from whom you also bought your domain, they may be unwilling to see you depart so easily. Stick to your guns, and don’t let them rake you over the coals for this!
Changing to a new web hosting company doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience. While it’s clearly not something you do every day, following these few simple guidelines will help make it easier!
