How to Change Hosting on WordPress with Godaddy
Let’s say you’re running a WordPress site (or blog) and you want to change your hosting provider. Maybe you’re unhappy with the prices, the convenience, or the way the company operates. You’ve tried out a few different hosts and have realized that some are simply not suited for what you want to use them for. Maybe you’ve even evaluated the service level and decided that it’s not good enough. In either case, you’re probably considering a migration to another host, but you don’t want to lose all your data.
The first thing you should do is take a little time to read up on what a good hosting provider should offer. One of the things you’ll want is an assurance that your data is safe and any leaks are prevented. You’ll also want features like the ability to manage your site through a front-end user-interface (UI) rather than having to contact support to fix minor glitches. A good host will also provide you with tools to monitor and analyze the performance of your site so you can track growth and take necessary action if things start to look slow or sluggish.
Migrate Your Data
If you’ve already built up a significant amount of content on your site, you’ll want to migrate that content to the new host. You can start by exporting your entire site as a zip file and then importing it on the new host. This is a time-consuming process and you’ll want to do it gradually so you don’t lose any content along the way. You can use tools like WP Migrate to make this process easier. Using such a tool is advisable as it makes the process of migrating your data less prone to human error. Keeping backups along the way is also important in case anything goes wrong. You can use a tool like WP Migrate to make this process simpler.
Prepare To Renounce Your Login Credentials
If you’ve been using the same email address to login to multiple sites, you’ll want to prepare to discontinue that practice as soon as you’ve migrated your data. A good host will have multiple login options (including the ability to pick which identity to use with your site) so you don’t have to worry about locking yourself out. Make sure to lock down any data on the new host before you discontinue using the old one. This will provide you with more safety and convenience in the long run. You can use tools like Better Incoming Email to get around this process seamlessly.
Find A New Domain
If you’ve spent any time on the web, you’ll know that domains are a hot commodity. If you decide to migrate your site to a new domain, you’ll want to do so as soon as possible to take advantage of the free (or low-cost) domain searches offered by many registrars. You can use tools like GoDaddy’s Free Domain Finder to quickly search through a large number of domains with just a few clicks of the mouse. If you have your own domain name already and are considering a switch, use this tool to see what’s available.
Determine The New Email Address Structure
One of the biggest headaches in maintaining a website is managing the countless email accounts you might get linked to. A good host will help you avoid creating extra work by giving you the option of picking a new email address structure for your site. If you’ve been using Hotmail, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of having to input your account email address repeatedly whenever you need to send an email. You can avoid that by choosing a new email provider and starting fresh with a new email address. A good host will also allow you to generate unique email addresses for different parts of your site (like your welcome email) using the same procedure.
Install The New Software
Whether you use WordPress, Joomla, or any other content management system (CMS), the software behind it all is essentially the same. The only variable is the host you choose. When you choose Softlayer as your hosting provider, you get access to a range of software that makes managing your site a breeze. For example, you can use their one-click installer to install WordPress to create a blog or website in minutes. From there, you can login using the standard WordPress login credentials and begin to configure the appearance and functionality of your site.
If you’re using a custom domain, you’ll also want to make sure that your domain manager is set up correctly so it points to your new host. Once that’s done, you can use their one-click tools to install a WordPress site or demo site and start creating content.
Finalize Your Plans
Once you’ve prepared your database, decided on a new domain, and installed WordPress, it’s time to put this all into practice and start using the new service rather than the old one. This will require some time to get used to the changes but will ultimately make your life (and the process of creating a website or blog) much simpler. If you want to take the time to do things the right way, this is the stage at which you should consider doing so.
Choosing a new hosting provider is a difficult process, but it’s one that will prove invaluable in the long term. Make sure to do your research, read reviews, and evaluate the service levels before committing to a brand or specific plan. This is, in large part, because choosing a new host is not only about the technical aspects but also about the general “fit” of the service in terms of how well it matches your needs and the way you want to operate your site/blog. Above all else, make sure that you’re confident that you’re making the right choice for you and your website. Only you can answer that question. After all, you’re the person who will have to live with the consequences of your decision for the rest of your life.