Website Migration Checklist Moving Your Site To A New Host

Site is too slow?  Move on to a fastest server. But, you need this website migration checklist alongside.

Then, optimize your images, have CDN, clutter-free database, and check everything that impacts your site loading speed.

Still, it loads like a crazy but lazy tortoise?

Oops, then you must think about the migration of your hosting server—nothing but moving your site from one web host to another with its entire files and folders.

Yes, your hosting server’s resource availability and reliability can greatly impact your website speed and performance.

Once you are decided, my site is slow. So, I wish to migrate to a FASTER host today!

That’s awesome. But, before that, take a minute to skim through this article. Keep it aside while you start to migrate to your new host. Refer to this website migration checklist before moving on to another fastest hosting server.

Other cases when you should switch web hosts.

When Should You Consider Moving Your Site?

Speed is the only factor that makes you consider switching over to another hosting? Not So! There are plenty of other reasons you should change or upgrade your hosting service.

Here are those –

• Experiencing more downtime than usual
• You need more space and other server resources
• Customer service and support isn’t helpful
• Exceeds your budget for limited benefits
• Lacks server security
• Limits you using external scripts, & apps
• Ambiguity in overall server performance

Noticing any of these issues in your hosting service, then it’s the time for a change. Let’s call it a hosting upgrade. Move on to a fast and reliable hosting partner.

But, how do I find such a high-performing hosting server?

Then, what are the things to keep in mind while doing site migration? How it affects my website and its SEO?

Let’s roll-out to find answers for these.

Things To Consider Before Migrating To A NEW Host

Here are the crucial things to consider when moving your site to a new faster hosting servers. Website migration checklist that you need ever.

#1 Choose Your Suitable Hosting Service

First and foremost, it’s a big thing to choose the better alternative to your current hosting.

You have got a bad experience or lack something with your current host. Let’s face it. Even the blogging experts might have moved on their sites to multiple hosts until they find their BEST.

Like how I stick to WPX hosting now (for my various niche blogs) after ditching multiple other hosting services over the years.

Learn from the fall-outs!

Make a note of the downsides of your current host. That’s basically the reason for your server change. With that checklist, ensure that your new hosting partner helps you with all. Most importantly, check whether the speed of the new host is good enough.

Reliable one is who –

• Keep things transparent communicating with its clients if something goes wrong
• Doesn’t charge you for the unused
• Never up-sells the security products delusively

Indeed, hard to pick. But you will have to.

Identifying your hosting partner, consider the below vital things before you move your site to it.

#2 Calculate The Risks & Prepare

Website migration often has some underlying issues, if not done properly. That doesn’t mean that you should never migrate your site. The hosting necessity changes as the business grows. So, calculate the risks in moving your big site to a new host and prepare for the impact with appropriate precautions.

#3 Backup Everything

There is nothing to do with your computer files while migrating your site. It’s all about your web version. So take back-up for everything for easy restoration of your website, in case of any unexpected pitfalls.

Due to loss in internet connectivity or server irresponsiveness between the site migration process, restore your site without any data loss.

Download entire files via FTP as a local copy and store in cloud servers for long-lasting reference. Make sure to back-up your databases as well.

#4 Don’t Forget Email

If you have your email servers with the old host and moving your full account from cPanel to cPanel, there is no need to move your emails manually. You can simply download your email accounts and upload them to the new host, like how you with your other files and databases.

Sometimes, there are worst chances when you are migrating from a less user-friendly host. You will have to re-create all your email accounts in the new host and move the email archives. Such a tedious process in case you have a lot of email accounts to be used.

#5 Use Staging Area

Some of the popular hosting providers would offer staging to preview your site before bringing it to live in the new host environment. Make sure you choose such a diligent hosting service to move your site for this time.

In such a case, you can completely review your site is working well. You can easily troubleshoot if any issues detected. It allows checking you have all your data, files, and databases are moved to your new one.

Most importantly, what if your new host doesn’t make your heavy site faster, or the plan you choose doesn’t have enough resources (RAM/CPU)? This is the stage where you can test your new host’s reliability.

#6 New Host’s Customer Support

It’s again a disappointment if you moved your site to another slow hosting server. It’s super annoying when you contact the support team to check why your site is too slow.

There are multiple factors between a visitor and a website like CDN, ISP, browser, etc. You can’t locate the issues if something happens at any point. Your hosting team must be capable and transparent in helping you out with the exact information for the drop.

So, customer support and service of your new host must be a top-notch one.

#7 Downtime While Migrating

The emerging technologies made website migration a fast and hassle-free task. Still, most of the hosting users face downtime issues while migrating.

Based on your website size, theme, and a number of files, and database size, site migration would take its own time. You will have to be ready for the impact of your site’s downtime here.

Again, pointing to the new name servers, it might take around 12 to 72 hours. But now, your audience can access your site content irrespective of which hosted files are presented to them.

#8 Migration Cost

Severe competitions prevail between the wide numbers of hosting services. Not to mention, most of the hosting providers offer free site migration services to its new customers. You can see WPX hosting offering unlimited site migrations at zero cost.

So, you can cut down your cost here, migrating to a newer host.

Let’s Wrap-up This Website Migration Checklist!

It’s inevitable. At some point in time, you will have to move your site to a reliable hosting server from an awful one. Fortunately, hosting services are easily accessible and affordable for all. Even beginners can play around choosing a reliable host that has a dedicated customer support team.

Just raising a single support ticket can do it with no hassle. But, it is essential to know what happens behind the screen to make sure your site is back with improved speed and performance.