In the realm of technology, website migration stands as a critical task that necessitates utmost caution. When not executed correctly, the consequences can be dire, ranging from incomplete migration to prolonged periods of website inaccessibility, resulting in downtime that hampers user accessibility.
To ensure a seamless website migration experience, it is imperative to adhere to a comprehensive checklist encompassing all essential considerations. Fear not, for you have arrived at the right destination. Presented herewith is a meticulously crafted website migration checklist, meticulously curated to encompass all crucial aspects for a successful migration.
This checklist primarily emphasizes the key steps to follow, ensuring a methodical approach throughout the process. Furthermore, a concise technical summary will accompany the checklist, simplifying your comprehension and facilitating ease in its implementation.
Know Why you are Migrating
Understanding the underlying motive behind your website migration may initially seem trivial, but it holds significant importance (as we’ll explore further). Several compelling reasons might prompt you to embark on this journey. The primary motivations for website migration encompass the following:
Change of Hosting Provider or Domain Name: The decision to migrate arises when you intend to switch your existing hosting provider or alter the domain name associated with your website.
Rebranding Initiatives: Rebranding serves as another common impetus for migration. As you undertake the process of rebranding, it becomes essential to closely monitor elements like logos, URLs, and more.
Rest assured, the forthcoming website migration checklist shall comprehensively address all pertinent aspects to consider during this momentous undertaking.
Backup your Website
The foremost step in the website migration process is to ensure the comprehensive backup of your website. This vital precautionary measure is strongly advised to safeguard your valuable data. Ideally, opt for backing up your website to a reliable third-party cloud platform such as Google Drive or Dropbox. Alternatively, you may also choose to create backups on your local machine. However, it is crucial to avoid storing backup files within your hosting account, especially if its expiration is imminent.
Moreover, remember to include the backup of your database and emails in this crucial process. To back up the database, you can conveniently navigate to PhpMyAdmin. For those employing WordPress, utilizing a suitable plugin for the backup procedure is a popular choice. Most plugins automatically handle database backups as well. An excellent option for WordPress website backup, inclusive of database backup, is Updraft, which allows seamless backup to Google Drive for added convenience and security.
Plan your Migration
As you proceed with the website migration checklist, the next critical task entails meticulous planning. This phase demands careful consideration of several factors. Firstly, identify the period of low activity on your website, typically characterized by a couple of hours when visitor traffic is at its minimum. By determining this opportune window, you can minimize the risk of disruption during the migration process. While we will provide you with effective tips to mitigate downtime, it remains advisable to undertake the migration during the period of least activity, ensuring minimal impact on visitors in case of any unforeseen issues.
Notably, there’s no need to fret over changing the DNS right away. Contrary to some migration tutorials, it is not the first step in this process. The DNS and nameserver adjustments should be made towards the end of the migration, following all other necessary steps.
Lastly, if you are transitioning to a new hosting provider, it is crucial to ensure that your current hosting subscription has not yet expired. To prevent any potential downtime, avoid changing hosts on the final day of your existing hosting plan. Instead, make the switch at least 1 or 2 days prior to the expiration date. This prudent approach will help safeguard your website’s accessibility and continuity throughout the migration process.
Copy the Files to the New Host
Now that you’ve settled on your hosting provider, the next task in the website migration checklist involves transferring your website files to the new host.
If you haven’t selected a new host yet, fret not. Here is a compilation of fast hosting providers that extend free website migration services to their customers. Simply reach out to them, and they will handle the migration process for you seamlessly.
Returning to the migration process, copying the files to the new host can be accomplished through various methods. One option is manual transfer, where you create a compressed zip file of your website on the old host, upload it to the new host, and subsequently extract its contents. Don’t overlook the importance of copying the database as well. Access PhpMyAdmin, select your database, and click on the export button. Importing the exported database on the new host can be accomplished through similar steps.
Alternatively, migration plugins such as Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration offer a convenient way to manage this process. Additionally, you can leverage Updraft for website backup and restoration on the new server. Tutorials associated with these plugins delve into their technical aspects, but we’ll stay focused on the checklist.
Another crucial step involves changing the credentials. Navigate to the wp-config.php file on the primary server and modify the username and password as required. You can readily obtain the necessary credentials from your hosting provider.
By diligently following this checklist, your website migration endeavor will be well-organized and effective, ensuring a smooth transition to your new host.
Change the DNS
Upon successfully transferring the files to the new host, the next crucial step in the website migration checklist involves changing the Domain Name Server (DNS) associated with your domain name. This process is typically performed on the website where your domain name is currently hosted.
To proceed, navigate to the relevant website and locate the option to modify the domain name server. Here, you can update the domain name server information.
Now, access the new host, where you will find the specific nameservers that need to be pointed to. Simply copy these nameservers and input them into the domain name settings.
Once you’ve made the changes, upon hitting the “close” button, be informed that it may take between 24 to 48 hours for the new nameserver settings to take effect. This waiting period is necessary.
During this transition period, an interesting aspect comes into play. Until the nameserver changes take full effect, the data from the old host will continue to load. Rest assured, your data remains intact, as you have not deleted the website from the old host. Once the nameserver changes are fully propagated, the data from the new website will take over. Since you have copied the website to the new host, this process ensures minimal issues and zero downtime for your website.
Upon completion of the migration process and ensuring everything functions smoothly on the new host, you can proceed to remove the website from the old host. However, it is advisable to wait at least 72 hours before taking this step. This precaution ensures that the website works flawlessly on the new host. If your old hosting is about to expire, you need not intervene, as it will automatically expire, and your account will be deleted. Remember to maintain backups of all essential data throughout the entire migration process for added security and peace of mind.
Emails and Domain Forwarders
After completing the main website migration process, your next focus should be on verifying and adjusting the email settings. Double-check whether all email accounts associated with the domain have been migrated successfully to the new host. Ensure that email configurations, including server settings and account credentials, are correctly updated to avoid any interruptions in email services.
Similarly, don’t forget to review and set up domain forwarders on the new host. Domain forwarders play a crucial role in redirecting emails from one domain to another, ensuring seamless communication even during the migration phase.
Change Domain Name
In the website migration checklist, the following step involves changing the domain, specifically for those seeking to switch domain names or relocate their WordPress installation to the primary domain.
When changing the domain name, many individuals opt for a simple method by accessing Settings > General in WordPress and making the modification there. However, it’s crucial to avoid this approach, as it can lead to website downtime and adversely impact your SEO efforts.
Instead, a recommended method involves adding the new domain to your hosting account using the “Addon Domains” feature. By doing so, you can proceed with the steps outlined earlier in the checklist, effectively migrating your files to the new domain. To simplify this process and ensure smooth domain transition, employing the Duplicator plugin is highly beneficial. The plugin provides comprehensive guidance throughout the migration process and facilitates the seamless change of the domain name.
Replace the Domain Links
It’s essential to address internal links and any instances where the old domain appears throughout your website.
To efficiently handle this task, utilizing the Search and Replace plugin is highly recommended. This powerful tool allows you to replace all occurrences of the old domain with the new domain swiftly and accurately. By doing so, you ensure that internal links and other references to the old domain are updated to reflect the changes made during the migration process.
Moreover, if your website includes watermarks on images with the old domain, this is a perfect opportunity to update them as well. By modifying the watermarks to include the new domain, you can maintain consistency and a professional appearance across your website.
Redirection in .htaccess
Absolutely, when implementing domain redirection from the old domain to the new one, it is crucial to use 301 redirects. This type of redirect is a permanent redirect, which is ideal for indicating to search engines and browsers that the old domain has permanently moved to the new one. This ensures that visitors and search engines will be automatically redirected to the new domain when accessing the old one.
For WordPress websites, you can create the necessary redirections by modifying the .htaccess file, which is a server configuration file. By adding appropriate 301 redirect rules to the .htaccess file, you can seamlessly redirect traffic from the old domain to the new one.
When rebranding your website and changing your brand, it’s essential to thoroughly remove all pages and content related to the old branding. If certain pages are no longer relevant or do not align with the new brand, you may choose not to redirect them to the corresponding pages on the new website. Instead, you can use .htaccess to set exceptional rules for handling such pages. This approach ensures that visitors are not redirected to irrelevant or outdated content, maintaining a clear and consistent user experience during the rebranding process.
Analytics and Configurations
Ensure you set up analytics on the new domain if you use it, or start using it if you don’t. Additionally, properly configure third-party tools like CDN and SSL during the website migration. WordPress users can take advantage of the platform’s automated features, streamlining many tasks in the process.
Tell Google about the Changes
Consider Google as your boss when managing a website. It’s crucial to keep Google informed about any changes you make. To do so, use Search Console and Webmaster Tools, which enable you to communicate updates to Google.
Oh, and don’t overlook updating your sitemap. It’s easy to forget, so take care of it promptly.
Be aware that these modifications may have a temporary impact on your SEO. While Google fetches and incorporates the changes into its database, you may experience some issues, including temporary fluctuations in rankings. So, if your rankings drop momentarily, don’t fret — it’s part of the process.
Backlinks and Citations
The critical aspects to assess during the website migration are backlinks and citations. While you may have limited control over some backlinks, it’s essential to review and modify the ones you can control.
Regarding citations, updating the URL is vital. If your website is listed in directories or other online references, ensure you change the link to reflect the new domain.
By diligently managing backlinks and citations, you can maintain a cohesive online presence and preserve the integrity of your website’s link profile throughout the migration process.
Test the Site
After completing all the necessary tasks, it’s imperative to thoroughly test your website. Don’t limit the testing to just one page; assess the functionality of all the pages on your website. Sometimes, the homepage may appear fine, but other pages may encounter issues. If you encounter such a problem, navigate to Settings > Permalinks and simply click on the save button without altering anything. This action will regenerate the .htaccess file and resolve the issue, allowing your website to function properly.
In addition to general testing, it’s essential to cross-check a few pages. This ensures that the links remain intact. You can take a URL from your old website and replace the domain name with the new one to verify if the page is functioning correctly. Furthermore, you should verify if the redirection is working as intended. By conducting thorough testing, you can ensure that your website is functioning flawlessly and that the migration process was successful.
Final Words
In conclusion, this comprehensive website migration checklist encompasses vital points to bear in mind during the migration process, regardless of whether you intend to change hosting providers or alter the domain name. To summarize, the checklist includes:
- Backup Your Website: Securely backup your website data to a third-party cloud or your local machine.
- Backup Database and Emails: Don’t forget to back up your database and emails using tools like PhpMyAdmin or WordPress plugins.
- Plan Your Migration: Identify low-traffic periods and avoid last-minute hosting changes to minimize downtime.
- Copy Files to New Host: Migrate website files manually or use plugins for seamless transfer.
- Change Domain Name Server (DNS): Point the new domain’s nameservers and follow the necessary waiting period for changes to take effect.
- Address Internal Links: Utilize Search and Replace plugins to update internal links from the old to the new domain.
- Configure Analytics and Third-Party Tools: Set up Google Analytics and configure CDN, SSL, and other third-party tools.
- Inform Google About Changes: Use Search Console and Webmaster Tools to inform Google about your domain changes.
- Test Your Website: Thoroughly test all pages to ensure proper functioning and verify redirects.
By adhering to this website migration checklist, you can execute a smooth and successful migration process while safeguarding the integrity of your website and maintaining a positive user experience.
