What to Consider when Changing Web Hosts

There are a variety of reasons that might necessitate a switch from one web hosting service to another. The original service may have been bought out or closed down, you may be unhappy with the speed and reliability of their server equipment, you may have found better pricing elsewhere. Regardless of the reasons for changing web hosting services, there are few things to consider when it comes time to make the choice and the move.

The first thing to consider is timing. In a majority of cases it is best to refrain from letting the current hosting provider know that a move is coming. This is because they may initiate actions that make your files or site unavailable to your customers or even yourself.

Allowing yourself ample time to prepare your new site and ensure it is up and running before letting the previous hosting provider know you are ending your contract involves a lot of effort, planning and organization.

First you MUST backup everything you have on the current server, including databases and lists. Use the same approach to uploading to the server, such as an FTP site. It is never recommended to visit your site and simply save pages, especially if you have banner ads or pop ups because the JavaScript will remain and you will then have to manually remove all of this coding.

The next thing to consider is your domain name. Many web hosting services offer domain name registration to their clients, but a switch to another service can be difficult if the original web hosting service is the registrar for your domain name. For this reason many experts recommend registering the domain name with a separate company that you will never utilize for web hosting services.

Where domain names are concerned, it is important to remember that you should never use the old URL when changing web hosts. This is for several reasons:

1. Redirects from the old server will allow them to continually bill you.
2. Internal links will contain the old URLs and this will require a lot of time to address. Instead, using only your domain name will allow you a permanent URL.
3. You will be able to control the shifting from old server to new server if you have your own domain name. This is done by updating your DNS records at the time the site is where you need it to be to begin operations.

Finally, it is always a good idea to use an internet monitor service that alerts you to downtime or other problems with your site. Such third party activities can really let you know if the provider is meeting guarantees.