M any companies put off switching host or agency for years – out of fear of downtime, data loss or a ranking collapse. Yet done in the right order, a website migration is a routine procedure: the site keeps running throughout, and visitors notice nothing. Here is how it works.
1. Access and Inventory
Before migrating you need complete access: hosting, domain, WordPress admin, database. This is exactly where things often stall – especially when the old agency holds the domain. Tip: domain and hosting should always belong to you contractually, not to the service provider.
2. Build a Copy, Do Not Move
The safe route: the website gets fully rebuilt and tested on the new server while the old one keeps running unchanged. Files, database, SSL certificate, email accounts – everything is ready before anything gets switched over.
3. Test on the New Environment
Forms, internal links, images, load time: the copy gets checked end to end on a staging URL. Only once everything works does the migration moment follow.
4. Switch DNS – the Actual Migration
The domain gets pointed at the new server via a DNS change. Properly prepared (low TTL, identical content on both servers), the switchover takes minutes – with no downtime window. The old environment stays live for a few days as a fallback.
5. Post-Migration Checks
Check SSL, test email, watch Google Search Console. If the URLs stay identical, nothing happens to your rankings. If the URL structure changes during the move, the relaunch SEO checklist applies on top.
Frequently Asked Questions About Website Migration
How do I migrate my website to WordPress without downtime?
Build the WordPress version as a complete copy on the new server first and test it on a staging URL. Once forms, links, images and load time work, lower the DNS TTL and point the domain to the new server. The old website stays live until the switch has propagated, so visitors never land on an empty page. Our WordPress migration service covers every step.
How do I migrate a website without losing SEO?
Keep URLs unchanged wherever possible. Every address that does change gets a 301 redirect to its new equivalent, one to one and without chains. Carry over titles, meta descriptions and internal links, then check indexing in Google Search Console during the first weeks. The full list is in our SEO checklist for a website relaunch.
How long does a website migration take?
Preparation and testing take a few days, the switchover itself minutes. All in, a standard migration is done within one to two weeks – including buffer and post-migration checks.
What does a professional migration cost?
A website migration starts at €490 – including testing, DNS switchover and follow-up support. Details on our WordPress migration page.
Can the old agency block the migration?
In practice only if they hold the domain or the access credentials. Your content belongs to you – on request, we handle the entire communication and transfer so the switch stays professional.
Will emails get lost during the migration?
No, provided the mailboxes are created on the new server before the DNS switch and existing mail is transferred. It only gets critical when email is forgotten and only considered after the switchover.
Do I have to change my domain when migrating?
No – domain and hosting are two separate things. The domain can stay where it is and simply point at the new server.
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