When you first buy domain and web hosting services, you might choose a provider that seems perfect for your needs. However, as your website grows, you may find yourself wanting to switch to a different hosting company that offers better features, speed, or customer support.
Transferring your web hosting NZ doesn’t have to be complicated – let’s break down the essential steps to transfer web hosting in a smooth and stress-free way.
Easy Steps to Transfer Web Hosting
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Choosing Your New Web Host
Before starting the transfer process, research different hosting providers thoroughly. Look for companies that offer reliable uptime, good loading speeds and helpful customer support.
Consider how much storage space you need and whether the new host’s pricing fits your budget. This careful selection helps ensure you won’t need to transfer again soon.
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Creating Backups – Your Safety Net
When you transfer a wordpress website to a new host, start by backing up all your files and databases. Think of backups like taking photos of your favorite memories – you want to keep them safe before making any big changes.
You can do this through your hosting control panel (usually called cPanel) or by using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software like FileZilla. Download everything to your computer as a safety measure.
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Setting Up Your New Home
After purchasing your new hosting plan, you will need to prepare it for your website’s arrival. Create a new database and make note of important details like database name, username and password.
Think of this step as preparing a new room before moving in your furniture – everything needs to be ready before the actual move.
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Moving Your Website Files
When migrating wordpress site to a new host, you need to transfer all your backed-up files to the new server. Use FTP software to upload these files to your new hosting account. This process is similar to moving boxes from one house to another – you want to make sure everything arrives safely and goes in the right place.
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Configuring Your Website
After moving your files, you need to update your website’s configuration files with the new database information. This ensures your website can communicate properly with its new home.
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Testing Before Going Live
Before completing your domain name transfer, thoroughly test your website on the new host. Most hosting providers offer a temporary URL where you can preview your site.
Check that all pages load correctly, images appear properly and contact forms work. This step is like doing a final walkthrough of a new house before moving in completely.
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Updating DNS Settings
The final step involves pointing your domain name to your new host’s servers. This process, known as updating DNS settings, tells the internet that your website has moved to a new location.
While these changes typically take 24-48 hours to fully propagate, your website will remain accessible during this time.
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Final Checks and Cleanup
After the DNS changes have taken effect, perform one last round of testing on your live site. Verify that everything works as expected, including any email accounts associated with your domain. Once you are confident everything is running smoothly, you can cancel your old hosting service.
Conclusion
Throughout this process, don’t hesitate to contact your new hosting provider’s support team if you encounter any difficulties. Many hosting companies offer migration assistance or even free migration services, which can make the entire process much easier, especially if you are not technically inclined.
