Capital Hosting

Whether you are not satisfied with your current web hosting company or you have discovered one that offers better deals, changing your hosting provider is a viable option. Switching to a new web host is a simple process. It is recommended that you keep your existing account until you have completed the transition steps. Here are step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process of changing web hosting companies for your site.

Find a web host that meets your requirements. Check out the amount of disk space and bandwidth provided. Make sure that your new host offers the tools and software you need. A good way to start your research on a company is by reading customer reviews. Choose a hosting provider that offers room for expansion if your business grows. Sign up for an account and choose a plan that suits your needs.

Copy all of the files and scripts from the current hosting provider to your hard drive. It is advisable to manually transfer your website. Take the time to record important information that you will use when making the transfer. This includes software, email accounts, security settings, and configuration details. Get your SSL certificate and key if you have one. Your files should be downloaded in the same structure in which you want to upload them later. Some scripts won't work until the DNS is pointed to the new hosting company.

Log in to your domain management control panel and change your DNS information. If your current web host is also your domain name registrar, this will be very simple. It is important that you have the DNS pointing to the new server as soon as possible. It will take about 24-72 hours for the process to be completed.

Try to schedule the transfer at a time where there's least traffic. Start by creating custom error pages on the new host server. Let your website visitors know about the move. By giving them prior warning, you can ease the transition. Configure your existing email accounts on the new sever. Transfer your existing website via FTP to the new server. Test everything to make sure it all works. Set up all the extra features and let your site run for a few days. Once your new web hosting plan has been activated and your website is up and running, cancel your old hosting plan. Make sure you have retrieved all your data from your old account.

If you are looking for a reliable web hosting provider, check out Bluehost. This is one of the few companies offering affordable web hosting plans for personal and business websites. Their hosting plan includes lots of great features and interactive applications.