Steps to Transfer your Website to a New Host

Home » How-Tos » For SMBs » Steps to Transfer your Website to a New Host

Starting an online business begins with setting up your website and choosing a hosting provider. However, as your business grows, so do your website’s demands—whether it’s increased bandwidth, better storage, improved email services, or more reliable customer support. At some point, you might find that your current hosting plan no longer meets your needs. When that happens, the best decision is to switch to a more competent hosting service rather than sticking with a provider that limits your growth.

Migrating your website to a new host may seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be a smooth and hassle-free process. You have several options:

1.Manual Transfer– This involves backing up your website, moving your files to the new server, and updating your domain settings.

2.Hosting Provider Assistance– Many hosting services offer migration support, which is an excellent option for those with limited technical knowledge or time.

3.Migration Plugins– If you’re running a WordPress site, using a plugin can simplify the transfer process significantly.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of switching web hosts seamlessly, covering both the manual method and the plugin-based approach. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced website owner, this article will help you make the transition without losing data, downtime, or sleep!

How to Transfer Web Hosting from One Company to Another – Steps to be followed:

1.Research and Choose a New Web Hosting Provider

The choice of a new web hosting provider is extremely important when you decide to switch from your existing web host. There are plenty of hosting providers in the market, and it should not happen that you choose a service provider with exactly the same problems or, worse, more issues than your current one. Detailed research on both the web hosting provider and their plans is a crucial first step.

Example: If you’re currently using Shared Hosting and want to upgrade, but you’re not satisfied with your current web host, then migrating to another web host is the solution. However, it is important to research your new potential web host. One way is to check customer reviews. Apart from this, you must check the upgraded plan you want to migrate to but also, their Shared Hosting plan to compare with your existing one. This will give you some idea about the services of the new web host on a real-time basis, helping you migrate with ease.

Make sure you choose a web host that would support your growing business needs for the long haul.

Here are Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a New Web Host

Choose a reliable Host – A reliable host should guarantee high uptime and conduct regular maintenance to keep your site running smoothly. Look for providers with at least a 99.9% uptime guarantee.

Robust Security Measures – Your web host should prioritize security with SSL encryption, secure CDNs, firewalls, and regular software updates to protect your website and data from cyber threats.

Seamless Website Integration – Whether you’re using WordPress, Joomla, or custom-built code, your host should support various platforms and provide easy integration tools to streamline your website setup.

Feature-Rich Hosting Plans – The best hosting services go beyond just storage and bandwidth. Look for extras like money-back guarantees, 24/7 customer support, automatic backups, and free website migration services.

Good User Experience – Managing your website should be effortless. Opt for a hosting provider with a user-friendly control panel, making tasks like setting up domains, managing emails, and monitoring site performance a breeze.

Cost vs. Value – While affordability matters, don’t just go for the cheapest option. Evaluate both initial and long-term pricing and choose a host with scalable plans that can grow with your website.

Along with looking for a good hosting provider try to look at different types of hosting plans and services your host provides.

Shared Hosting – Perfect for beginners and small websites with low traffic, shared hosting allows multiple websites to use the same server and its resources. The hosting provider takes care of maintenance, updates, and backups, making it a hassle-free option for those just starting out.

VPS Hosting – A step up from shared hosting, Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting provides dedicated resources within a virtualized section of a physical server. This ensures better stability and flexibility, making it ideal for growing websites that require more power and control. BigRock offers VPS hosting at different price points, allowing you to choose a plan that fits your needs.

Cloud Hosting – Instead of relying on a single physical server, cloud hosting utilizes multiple connected servers, offering high uptime and scalability. It’s a great choice for high-traffic websites that need reliable performance and the ability to handle sudden traffic spikes effortlessly. BigRock provides various cloud hosting solutions to meet different business demands.

Managed WordPress Hosting – Tailored for WordPress sites, this hosting type comes with optimized servers, pre-installed plugins, automatic updates, and specialized support. Some plans even include WordPress Multisite support for those managing multiple WordPress websites. If you’re looking for an optimized WordPress hosting experience, BigRock offers robust solutions designed specifically for this platform.

After you have chosen your hosting provider, ask your host to do a direct website transfer between the servers. If your website cannot be transferred manually, you will need to perform the following steps manually.

2.Export Your Website Backup Files

To transfer your website manually to a new hosting provider, the first step is to create a full backup of your site. This ensures that when you move to the new host, all content, themes, and plugins remain intact.

Important Tip – Avoid modifying any files or the database after downloading them, as this could cause errors or broken links when restoring your site.

Here’s how to Backup Your Website Using cPanel

Most hosting providers offer a built-in backup feature, making it easy to download your website files. If you’re using cPanel, follow these steps:

Log in to your cPanel, navigate Files, and look for the Backups option.
Find the File Backups section and click Select.
Choose the most recent backup date from the drop-down list and click Prepare to Download.
Wait for the backup to be ready. Once it’s complete, you’ll receive a notification to download your files.

Here’s how to Manually Backup Your Website Files

If your current hosting provider doesn’t offer an automatic backup option, you’ll need to manually back up your website using an FTP client, such as FileZilla.

Step 1: Connect to Your FTP Server

In cPanel, go to Files → FTP Accounts to find your FTP login details.
Open FileZilla and go to File → Site Manager → New Site.
Set Logon Type to Normal and enter the following:
Host: Your website’s domain name
User: Your FTP username
Password: Your FTP password
Click Connect to establish the connection.

Step 2: Download Website Files

In FileZilla, locate the Local site section and choose a folder on your computer (e.g., Desktop).

Right-click the selected location and choose Create directory and enter it. Name it something like Website Backup.
In the Remote site section, find your site’s public_html folder.
Drag and drop the public_html folder into your newly created Website Backup folder.
Wait for the download to complete.
Once done, your website files will be safely stored on your computer, ready for migration to your new hosting provider.

3.Inform your Website Customers

Transferring your website to a new host is a hassle-free process. Nevertheless, it is important that you inform your website customers about the possible downtime they might face while accessing your website during the transfer process. It is vital to keep your customers abreast of such a move as it helps retain your credibility and brand image.

A quick tip: You can load your website files on your new web host’s IP address before making the switch.

4.Note down all the System Settings

With the backup done, record and save all important system settings like the software you use and their configurations along with your email and security settings.

Note: Make sure you transfer all your emails if you’re using a third-party application for emails.

5.Change your DNS records

Correctly updating the A records of your domain name on the Nameservers provided by your new web host is the most crucial step of all. To face minimum downtime it is recommended that you complete this process before migrating completely to your new host. The process can take up to 2 days, taking into consideration that your previous domain provider and web host are the same. You can read this to know how to manage your DNS records.

6.Delete your Previous Account

Finally, you’ve moved to your new web hosting provider. Check if your website is performing as it should by testing it thoroughly.

There are 6 types of testing you should perform on your website:

Functionality Testing
Usability Testing
Interface Testing
Compatibility Testing
Performance Testing
Security Testing

You can read this article to understand in-depth how to perform these tests on your web application.

Once you’re convinced everything is in order, you can then delete your account and cancel the hosting package with your previous web hosting provider.

Conclusion

Switching your web host is seamless, and the process of ‘how to transfer web hosting’ shouldn’t daunt you anymore! All you need to do is follow the above-mentioned steps and keep an eye on any possible issues that might arise. Most importantly, remember to take website and database backup and restore it too, as well as keep your customer base informed about the switch. Wishing you a happy switch.

Still confused? Refer to our FAQs for more clarity!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.How long does it take to move a website to a new host?

A simple website transfer can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a day. The time taken to migrate a website from one host to another generally depends on the website’s complexity.

2.Is migrating a website difficult?

No, migrating a simple website with fewer pages is generally easy. However, larger, more complex sites need careful planning and take longer to execute.

3.Can migrating a website affect SEO?

Yes, all migrations impact SEO. A well-managed migration can boost traffic, improve site performance, and enhance search engine rankings.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below!

H Fatima

H. Fatima used to be an Engineer by profession and Writer by passion until she started pursuing full-time writing. She is presently a Content Marketeer at Newfold Digital (APAC). She mostly writes what she deeply perceives and analyses, it is her way of unwinding. Her interests include writing, reading (an avid reader), watching foreign-language movies and public speaking.