If you are not satisfied with your current web hosting and you want to transfer all of your information and your domain to another host, you can do that relatively easily. While the actual transfer doesn't take much time, there are some steps that you should take so that all of your information is transferred successfully so you can be up and running again. If you aren't careful you can find that you lose files, you experience downtime, your website is deleted, and you even lose customers. When you work to prevent these issues your web host transfer can be done quickly, easily, and with all of your information intact.
Before you do anything you'll want to back up all of your files. If you really want to prevent loss you'll back all of your files up twice, just to be sure that nothing is lost or corrupted in the transfer process.
The next thing you'll want to do is set up your new account with the new web host of your choice and transfer all of your files to the new host. You'll also want to get DNS setup with the new host, or you can test your new host before actually switching the DNS if you want to be really conservative. Next, you'll edit your name servers on your domain name so that they point to the new web host. It's a good idea to keep both web host accounts active for at least a week so because some overlap time is a good idea to ensure a smooth transition. Once everything is official and in working order you'll want to ensure that everything is in working order. Check every function, every link, and every page to ensure that your new host can meet all of your needs. It's better to find out sooner rather than later.
It is a good idea to inform your customers and your visitors that you are making some minor changes to your website and any downtime that they may experience is very temporary. This communication with customers and visitors will make them feel as though they are in on the changes, so that they will be more patient and understanding if you hit any snags in the transfer process. If you take your time and do not rush through the transfer process you'll find that it can be done without any downtime or any inconvenience to you or your customers and visitors.
