| When you have the need to switch web hosting | | | | need it. |
| companies, you can do so without causing any | | | | Sign into your account with your new web host |
| downtime to your web site at all. The fear of | | | | provider, and upload the files you saved from your |
| changing web host companies should never keep you | | | | old host. As this gets completed, at this very |
| from looking for a more reliable provider, or a | | | | moment, you will have two websites that are |
| company that offers better customer service or | | | | exactly the same on two different web host servers. |
| lower expenses. If you do all of the steps for | | | | Verify that everything is working properly on the |
| switching hosts correctly, you can ensure that your | | | | new host before you move on. If something didn't |
| website remains accessible to your site visitors | | | | transfer correctly or it doesn't completely function as |
| throughout the entire transition- meaning you don't | | | | it should on the new host, take the time to make |
| lose sales, potential customers or receive countless | | | | any updates or fixes that might be required to get |
| complaints from customers regarding an inaccessible | | | | databases, forms or other features to work on the |
| website! | | | | new web host. |
| The first step you'll want to complete prior to | | | | The next step is to obtain the name server |
| canceling your current web host is to find a new one. | | | | information from the new hosting company. You |
| Take some time to compare the features of the | | | | might be able to get it from the account area, or |
| new host against the features of your existing host, | | | | you may need to call customer service and ask for it. |
| as well as taking into consideration the features of | | | | Either way, make sure you have the correct |
| the current host that go unused. This will allow you | | | | information and then notify or log into the account |
| to get an accurate understanding of what you really | | | | where you registered your domain name. This is |
| need in a new host. If your current host gives you | | | | where you change the "name servers" to the |
| unlimited email accounts, and you are only making use | | | | information you obtained from the new host. (It's |
| of 3, why should you pay for a provider that offers | | | | usually something like ns1.newhost.com). |
| so many accounts? Look for one that leaves some | | | | Throughout this entire process, your customers and |
| room for growth but that isn't charging you extra for | | | | site visitors have been able to access your existing |
| all the additional features that you just don't need. | | | | website on the existing web host. Once the name |
| When you find a hosting company that will be | | | | servers have been set with the domain registry, you |
| compatible with your web site needs, create your | | | | have to wait between twelve and seventy two |
| account and make sure it is fully set up. During this | | | | hours for the site to load from the new hosting |
| time, you will actually have two web host providers. | | | | servers. |
| Next, log back into your original account with the | | | | Once the seventy hours have passed, you can |
| web host you are looking to leave, and download all | | | | cancel your original web host account, as the files are |
| of your site files onto your computer. Don't forget | | | | already on the new servers and once the name |
| any! You can usually do this painlessly using an FTP | | | | servers were changed to point at the new host your |
| program, or sometimes a web host will provide an | | | | site has begun loading from the files on the new |
| easy to use control panel to drag and drop the files | | | | server. Provided you do all of the steps in order and |
| right onto your hard drive. Ask for help from | | | | correctly, you should have no problems switching |
| customer service (or a knowledgeable friend) if you | | | | hosting providers without any website downtime. |