Moving from one hosting company to another can be daunting.
Here is what you need to know:
When one register a domain name, the hosting company is supposed to put it on the name of the registrant. Unfortunately some don't. So when one send a transfer request through it should go to you, the registrant, but sometimes it goes to the Hosting company.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when moving your domain to a new hosting company:
- It is important to cancel your hosting and make sure your account is up to date with the current hosting company.
- Let them know you are moving away and ask if there is something special you need to do in order to get the transfer request accepted.
- Make sure you know if there is a cancellation period involved so that you can cancel at the right time. (eg: 30 days notice)
- Ensure that you have a proper backup of your website. Your website developer should be able to assist with this.
- If you are using a CMS like WordPress make sure that you also have a backup of the MySQL database.
- Pre-create your email addresses on the new server before the new host changes the name servers or you may lose a few emails
- If you are using POP3 with your emails you should keep all mails that you have in your email client. (like Outlook)
- If you are using IMAP you need to make a backup of all your emails in Outlook to ensure you do not lose them when you sync with a new, empty webmail server.
- Once you accepted the transfer request, let your new host know that you are ready so that they can change the name servers end get you active on the new servers.
- Transfer requests can only be sent through every 5 days (.co.za domains).
Hope this will help you prepare for the migration.