Switching website support companies – easier than you think!
Is the company that manages your website not up to scratch? Not receiving the support that you expected? Keen for a change?
Switching website support companies is much easier than most imagine. You don't need to write-off your old website or even make changes to how it looks.
A three step process is all you need:
Step 1: Download
You should be able to ask your current website support company to do this. Simply request: "I need a copy of my website's contents and database in a zip file that can be downloaded to my computer." Once you have that file, you can cancel your support contract with them.
Doing this by yourself? This is what you need:
- For a static website — just download everything (.html, .jpg, .mov files, etc.)
- For a dynamic website — you'll need to download the above contents plus export the database (i.e. MySQL)
Step 2: Change
Ask your new website support company to do this. You will need to provide them with the login details to your DNS (e.g. GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).
If doing it yourself:
- Your new company should provide you with an IP address of the new server
- Login and edit your DNS
- Change the A record to point to the new IP address
Step 3: Upload
Send your new company that zip file from step 1. Via a download link like Dropbox or Google Drive should work best.
And that is it! Your website should look exactly the same while running on the new server, only now managed by the new support company.
