How to Migrate WordPress from a Hosting Provider to Another
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a webmaster looking for ways to migrate your WordPress site to another hosting provider or a webmaster who’s just completed a WordPress migration and is now wondering how to move their site to another hosting provider. Maybe you’re a freelance webmaster who gets paid to migrate WordPress sites for customers. In any case, this guide is for you. In this article, we’ll discuss the steps you can take to migrate your WordPress site to another hosting provider.
Migrate Content Before Switching Providers
One of the first things you should do before switching hosting providers is to migrate your existing content. Not only will this keep your new provider from having to rebuild your site from scratch, it’ll also make the transition a lot smoother for you.
You have two options for migrating content: manual and automated. Both have their advantages, so it’s up to you which one you prefer. If you decide to do this manually, you’ll need to log in to your existing hosting provider and export your site’s content from there. You can use an automated tool to do this for you (such as Easy WordPress Exporter or WP Migrate), or you can write a script to automate the process. You’ll find more information about each of these tools below.
Migrate The Blogger Template To A New Provider
Another important thing to do if you’re migrating WordPress is to migrate the blogger template. The template serves as a basis for your new blog, so it’s important to get it right. One of the biggest differences between a blogger template and a regular WordPress theme is that the blogger template is incomplete; it doesn’t have all the necessary features included. While this might not seem like a big deal, once you start using a template, you’ll realize how much of a pain it is to upgrade or downgrade your blog’s software to meet the demands of your readers.
If possible, I recommend upgrading your blog’s software to the version that comes with the template. This will ensure that you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues when switching providers. Upgrading to a newer version of a software package usually results in better usability and additional features. Alternatively, you could use a separate plugin (such as the All-in-One SEO Pack) to get around this issue. The plugin allows you to import and export your blog’s content, as well as its settings, between different hosts. This can make the process of migrating much easier. You should certainly consider this option if you’re looking for a stable environment for your blog. However, if you’re looking for a cheap and temporary hosting solution, you may want to keep the blogger template.
Migrate The Database To A New Provider
The next step is to migrate the database to your new provider. This is a fairly straightforward process, but it’s important to follow the correct steps to ensure that your site’s data is transferred successfully. As with the other steps in this process, you have two options: manual and automated. If you decide to do this manually, you can use phpMyAdmin to navigate through the process of setting up the database on your new host. Simply log in to phpMyAdmin and follow the on-screen instructions. You can use the WordPress Backup Tool to make a backup of your database before you begin the import process. This will save you if something goes wrong during the import process.
If you decide to use an automated tool to migrate your database, there are dozens of WordPress database migration tools out there. The best ones are either cloud-based (such as Flywheel) or web-based (such as Backconnect and Migrate).
Set Up The Blog With A New Provider
After you’ve migrated your content, blogged using the blogger template, and your database is up and running on your new host, it’s time to set up the blog itself. First, pick a blog name and a design for your site. It’s recommended that you install WordPress on a subdomain of your existing hosting provider. This will give you the flexibility to move the blog to any other host you choose at any time. You could install WordPress on a root domain (.com,.net, or.org), but you’ll need to upgrade your host’s software to do this. It’s also important to choose a unique name for your blog. If you decide to migrate from a.com domain, it is recommended that you use the.org extension (e.g., myblogging.org).
Once you’ve installed WordPress on a subdomain of your existing host, it’s time to switch over to the default dashboard and begin creating content. You’ll need to do this to get your blog up and running. During this process, you may need to choose a theme for your site. If you decide to use a different host than your existing one for your WordPress install, you’ll also need to choose a different login and password. When you’re finished creating content for your blog, it’s time to switch back over to the dashboard of your existing host and set up your domain mapping. This mapping will tell your existing host which domain names (typically.com,.net, and.org) to redirect to your blog. Once you’ve finished doing this, you can test out your site by trying to visit one of your old domain names. If all is well, you can switch over to the main domain of your new host and enjoy your creation.
At this point, you may want to consider publishing your blog to see how it looks. You can use either the built-in editor for WordPress or one of the many excellent free blog publishing tools out there (e.g., Blogger, Typepad, and Squarespace) to get started. Don’t worry — you don’t have to be a pro to set up a blog with WordPress. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to create your blog and start posting content.
Migrate From Blogger To WordPress
If you decide to migrate from Blogger to WordPress, you have two options: manual and automated. The easiest way to do this is manually. If you’ve used WordPress before, you may have noted that its installation is fairly straightforward. You can download the WordPress app from either the iOS App Store or Google Play Store and begin installing it on a subdomain of your existing host. Make sure to back up your existing blog first, as this will be replaced with a copy of the new one. You can use the WordPress Backup Tool to make a backup of your entire blog before you begin the installation process.
Once you’ve installed WordPress, it’s time to import your existing blog. Simply navigate to your WordPress dashboard and click the “create a new blog” button. Follow the instructions and provide a name for your new blog and a description. After you’ve created the blog, it’s time to switch over to the dashboard of your existing host and export your content. This can be done using either the built-in tool or the WordPress Migration plugin. Make sure to backup your content before you begin exporting your blog. Some hosts, such as Bluehost, offer a one-click tool to backup and export your content. If you decide to use this option, you don’t have to go through the process manually. Simply visit the WordPress dashboard of your existing host and click the “Database Tools” option in the top-right corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear. Click the “Backup Now” button to initiate the database backup.
Once your database is backed up, it’s time to import your blog into your new host’s WordPress dashboard. This is where the real fun begins. At this point, you should start seeing some familiar WordPress themes because the import process recreated your blog using a template. Navigate to the Appearance menu in the WordPress dashboard and click the “themes” option in the top-right corner. Find the theme you want and click the “install” button. The theme will be downloaded and installed on your new host. Once installed, it’s time to switch back to the dashboard of your existing host and confirm the installation by clicking the “use this theme” link under the Appearance menu. Another step in the process is to set up a Google Analytics account to begin tracking the activity on your blog. You can use either the WordPress Analytics plugin or the Google Analytics platform to do this. If you decide to go with the plugin, simply navigate to your WordPress dashboard and click the “Plugins” option in the top-right corner. A drop-down menu will appear. Click the “Install New Plugin” button to install the Google Analytics plugin.