May 11
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Downtime, or the time when your website becomes inaccessible by users, can spell doom for your website. It is essential that you minimize downtime at all times. Even if you aren’t satisfied with your current web host’s services, a hasty shift to another web hosting company may result in downtime. If your site doesn’t remain active, your customers are bound to look elsewhere for fulfillment of their needs.
So, it is very important that you don’t close your existing account before the new web hosting package is bought, installed and running.
Here are 8 steps to prevent downtime while shifting from one web host to another.
1. Select A New Package
You need to find a new web hosting company which offers a better package than the one you’re currently using. Set up your account with the chosen web hosting provider.
2. Data Backup
Create backup for all your files and databases. You can download these through FTP but cannot close the old account even after making backup of your website’s information.
3. Uploading
After creating backup of files from your account, you must upload the same to your new web hosting account.
4. Mail Accounts
Create mail accounts in your new web hosting account to avoid losing of any emails from your old web hosting account while shifting to a new account.
5. Temporary URL
Make sure that all the links of your website are working properly. Create a temporary URL to test your new website, once you have shifted to a new web hosting provider.
6. DNS (Domain Name Server)
Choose a domain name server once your new account has been updated with the old account’s files and website links. The new host should provide you with DNS settings and you will also need to change the DNS server settings through the old account’s control panel.
7. Let the Word Spread
Wait for 1-2 days for the DNS change to circulate across the web. Till then, your old account will continue to serve your website. When the DNS changes have spread completely, your new host will start serving all requests to your domain.
8. Close the Old Account
Once your new account is fully activated and the server starts handling user queries, you can safely close your old web hosting account.
There are many reasons to shift from one web host to another but you need to be careful about the effects it has or may have on your website and business customers.