Migrating from a host is one of the toughest jobs for any WordPress user. No doubt, that’s because migration is an operation that can mess up your site with downtime and broken links while resulting in search engine visibility drops. However, a well-planned and executed migration will never be wrong. It would be better to keep it straightforwardly with complete step-by-step approaches to ensure a smooth and successful
migration.

Why Migrate Your WordPress Site?

First, understand why you need to change hosts. Some of the most common reasons are:

• Your site performs poorly and takes a long time to load
• Your server frequently goes down
• Your customer support is limited
• You need stronger security features
• You need to scale up to support more traffic

Whatever the reason, doing this right ensures the least possible impact on your rankings and user experience.

Pre-Migration Preparation

1. Select a Trustworthy New Host

It is important to find a host. In determining the appropriate host, consider the performance, uptime guarantees, customer support, and scalability. Some of the popular hosts are SiteGround, Bluehost, and Kinsta.

2. Backup Entire Website

Back up your WordPress website and make the above changes. You can use plugins like UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, or Duplicator to generate your files and database backup.

3. Set Up Your New Hosting Account

Once you’ve selected your new host, sign up for your account and confirm that it’s technically compatible with WordPress.

4. Check PHP and Database Compatibility

Verify your new hosting company supports the most recent PHP version and MySQL/MariaDB database versions to keep your site working and running efficiently.

Step-by-Step Migration Process

1. Move WordPress Files

• Using a Plugin (Recommended)
• Install and activate a migration plugin like Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration.
• Create a site package that includes the database and files.
• Upload the package to your new hosting environment and follow the plugin’s restoration steps.

2. Manual Transfer (For Advanced Users)

• Download all WordPress files via an FTP client, known as FileZilla, from your old host.
• Upload these files into your new host’s public_html directory.

3. Export and Import Database

• Access phpMyAdmin from your old hosting account and export your WordPress database.
• In the new host, through cPanel, create a new database.
• Import the database into the new database using phpMyAdmin

4. Update wp-config.php

In your WordPress root directory, change the wp-config.php file so that it looks like this in terms of a new database name, user, and password

5. Change Your Domain’s DNS Settings

Update the name servers in your domain name to point to your new host. This would be done using the settings panel in your domain registrar. In most cases, DNS propagation is up to 48 hours

6. Test Your Website on the New Host

Before making your site live, test it using a temporary URL or modify your local host’s file to ensure everything works as expected.

Post-Migration Checklist

1. Check for Broken Links and Redirects

Use tools like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to identify broken links and set up proper 301 redirects if necessary.

2. Resubmit Your Sitemap to Google

Log in to Google Search Console and resubmit your XML sitemap to help Google reindex your site quickly.

3. Test Website Speed and Performance

Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to ensure your site maintains optimal speed after migration.

4. Verify SSL and Security Settings

Ensure your SSL certificate is correctly installed and running on your new host to avoid HTTPS errors.

5. Monitor Traffic and Rankings

You will track your website’s performance in Google Analytics and Search Console to catch any unexpected ranking drops or traffic losses.

Migrating a WordPress site does not have to be complicated and detrimental to its SEO. Through these steps, you can migrate your site and ensure that your search engine ranking is preserved and that everything flows smoothly. Before you make that final switch, take your time to test everything and immediately address any post-migration problems that may pop up. Given proper planning, your site could enjoy improved hosting performance while holding onto its strength in Search Engine Optimization.