Here are 10 tips that might help: (tips in order)
Tip 1: Schedule the Migration.
Tip 2: Notify all clients and/or customers
Tip 3: Set a cutoff date for edits.
Tip 4: BACK-UP the website.
Tip 5: Make sure you have the new web hosting information (ie. ip address, username, password to new account)
Tip 6: Test the “new” website.
Test the new website by typing in either the dedicated IP address or the shared hosting address. Check that all links are working and are not going to error pages. This is the time to correct them.
Tip 7: Fix the form(s)
If you have any forms on your website, also be sure to go to the control panel of your account for directions of how to customize the form to work with the new server. Most web hosts have “plug and play” web forms that are easy to implement. If you are unsure about how to implement a form, contact your web programmer and/or our Tech Support Department.
Tip 8: Test the form(s)
Make sure that all forms are working by doing several tests. This may mean that the form is sent (emailed) to the right people and/or making sure the information is entered in the database.
Tip 9: Step away from the website for a while and test it out again.
It is good to step away and look at the website again. If possible, ask someone who is not a stakeholder to look at the website to make sure nothing is out of place. Something is almost always found at this stage.
Tip 10: After everything checks out, you can go to your domain registrar and change the domain name servers (DNS) to you new webhost. Login to your domain registrar account and replace the old DNS addresses with the new addresses. Web server changes typically take 2 to 3 days to take effect online. Therefore, it is recommended that this should be done during a low traffic period, such as a weekend, so that it would not interfere with business operations.