1. Before you sign up for your new web hosting service, make sure your new plan offers all of the features your website currently uses. Do you have enough disk space? Does your new plan offer enough bandwidth? Does it use the same operating system (Linux or Windows)? Also make sure your new plan supports any programming languages and software you are currently using. Many hosts will also move your website for you for free, so it’s worth asking.
2. Once you have researched the company and verified that the new web hosting company will support your website, go ahead and sign up for your new web hosting plan.
3. Set up your existing email accounts on your new server. Make a note of the new incoming (IMAP or POP3) and outgoing (SMTP) mail settings that you will soon need to start using.
4. Upload your website files and databases to your new server. Since your domain name still points to your old hosting account, use the temporary address or IP address your new host gives you to do this.
5. Test to make sure that your site looks good and functions properly on your new server. Most web hosting companies can provide a link to preview your site before the domain name has been transferred over.
6. Once you are satisfied that your site looks and functions OK, you can go to your registrar and change the DNS settings to point the domain to the new web host’s nameservers. You should be provided this information after signing up for your account.
7. You will usually see your site on the new server within a few hours of changing the DNS settings, although it can take up to 48 hours. Your email will also start going to your new account around this time.
8. Update your email apps with your new incoming and outgoing mail settings.
9. Verify that your new website is working OK. Make sure that all of the files were loaded properly and that all scripts are running fine.
You have now successfully switched to a new web hosting company!