Why Website Migration Feels Daunting — and Why It Should Not
Every Ghanaian business owner who has outgrown their current hosting provider faces the same fear: what if my website goes down during the move? What if I lose data? What if my customers cannot reach me for hours — or worse, days?
These concerns are valid, but here is the reassuring truth: with proper planning, you can migrate your website to a new host with zero downtime. The key is understanding the process, preparing thoroughly, and never rushing the DNS switch until everything is verified on the new server.
Whether you are moving away from a slow provider, upgrading from shared hosting to a VPS, or switching to a host with better support for the Ghanaian market, this guide will walk you through every step.
Step 1: Evaluate Why You Are Migrating
Before you begin, be clear about why you are moving. This clarity helps you choose the right new host and avoid repeating the same problems. Common reasons Ghanaian businesses migrate include:
- Slow page loading times — your current server cannot handle your traffic or is located too far from your audience.
- Poor customer support — you submit tickets and wait days for a response, or support staff lack technical knowledge.
- Frequent downtime — your site goes offline regularly, costing you customers and credibility.
- Limited resources — you have outgrown your current plan and the provider does not offer adequate upgrade paths.
- Better pricing elsewhere — you have found a provider offering superior value for the same or lower cost.
- Security concerns — your current host does not provide SSL certificates, regular backups, or adequate security measures.
Document your specific pain points. When you set up the new hosting environment, you can verify that each issue has been resolved before making the switch.
Step 2: Choose Your New Hosting Provider Carefully
Selecting the right destination is just as important as the migration itself. A hasty choice could land you in the same situation within months. Consider these factors:
Server Location and Performance
For websites targeting Ghanaian audiences, server location matters significantly. A server in Europe or North America adds 150-300 milliseconds of latency compared to one in West Africa or with strong African peering. Ask potential providers about their server locations and test their response times from Accra or Kumasi before committing.
Support Quality
Test the provider's support before you migrate. Submit a pre-sales question and note how quickly they respond and how knowledgeable the answer is. A provider that takes 48 hours to answer a sales question will likely take even longer with a technical emergency at 2 AM.
Migration Assistance
Many quality hosting providers offer free migration assistance. This can save you hours of work and reduce the risk of errors. Ask whether migration support is included and what exactly it covers. For guidance on evaluating hosts, our comparison of the best web hosting providers in Ghana breaks down the key differentiators.
Step 3: Create a Complete Backup
This is the most critical step. Never begin a migration without a full, verified backup. You need to back up three things:
Website Files
Download every file from your current hosting account. This includes your website's source code, images, uploaded documents, configuration files, and any custom scripts. Use an FTP client like FileZilla or your hosting control panel's file manager. For WordPress sites, this means the entire public_html or www directory — including the wp-content folder, which contains your themes, plugins, and uploads.
Database
If your website uses a database (WordPress, Joomla, custom PHP applications, and most modern websites do), export it completely. Use phpMyAdmin from your hosting control panel, navigate to your database, click "Export," select "Quick" method with SQL format, and download the file. For large databases, use the command line: mysqldump -u username -p database_name > backup.sql.
Email Accounts
If your hosting account includes email, back up your email data as well. Use an email client to download all messages via IMAP, or ask your current host for email backup options. This is frequently overlooked and can result in permanent loss of business correspondence.
Store all backups in at least two locations — your local computer and a cloud storage service like Google Drive. Verify the backup by checking file sizes and opening a few files to confirm they are not corrupted.
Step 4: Set Up the New Hosting Environment
With your backup secured, set up the new server. This involves several sub-steps:
Configure Hosting Account
Create your hosting account with the new provider. Set up the same PHP version your website currently uses (check your current host's control panel if you are unsure). Install any required PHP extensions and configure settings like memory limits and upload size limits to match or exceed your current configuration.
Upload Website Files
Transfer your backed-up files to the new server. Use FTP, SFTP, or the control panel's file manager. For large websites, SFTP is more reliable than the browser-based file manager, which can time out on large uploads. Maintain the exact same directory structure as your original installation.
Import Database
Create a new database on the new server with the same name, or update your website's configuration file to reflect the new database name. Import your SQL backup using phpMyAdmin or the command line: mysql -u username -p database_name < backup.sql. Verify the import by checking table counts and running a few test queries.
Update Configuration Files
Update your website's database connection settings to use the new server's credentials. For WordPress, this means editing wp-config.php with the new database name, username, password, and host. For custom applications, update the relevant configuration file. Double-check these values — an incorrect database password is one of the most common migration errors.
Install SSL Certificate
Set up an SSL certificate on the new server before switching DNS. Most hosting providers offer free Let's Encrypt certificates, or you can install a purchased SSL certificate. Your site must work over HTTPS on the new server before you direct any real traffic to it.
Step 5: Test Everything on the New Server
This is where most people rush and make mistakes. Before changing your DNS, you must verify that the website works perfectly on the new server. Here is how to test without affecting your live site:
Use Your Hosts File
Edit your computer's hosts file to point your domain to the new server's IP address. On Windows, the file is at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. On Mac, it is /etc/hosts. Add a line like: 123.45.67.89 yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com. This makes your browser load the site from the new server while everyone else still sees the old one.
Test Thoroughly
Check every page, every form, every image, and every interactive feature. Test the contact form and ensure emails are delivered. Test mobile money payment processing if you have e-commerce. Check that all internal links work. Verify that images load correctly. Test on both desktop and mobile devices. Run a speed test from the new server to compare performance with your old host.
If anything is broken, fix it now. You have the luxury of time because your live site is still running on the old server.
Step 6: Lower DNS TTL Before the Switch
This technical step is often missed but is crucial for minimising downtime. DNS records have a TTL (Time to Live) value that tells other servers how long to cache the record. If your current TTL is 86400 (24 hours), DNS changes could take up to 24 hours to propagate globally.
At least 48 hours before your planned migration, log into your domain registrar and lower the TTL on your A record and CNAME records to 300 (5 minutes). This means that when you do change the DNS, most visitors will see the new server within minutes rather than hours. If you manage your domain through a provider like Faciotech, this is straightforward through the domain management panel.
Step 7: Update DNS Records
Once you have verified everything works on the new server, it is time to make the switch. Log into your domain registrar's control panel and update your A record to point to the new server's IP address. If you use CNAME records, update those as well.
This is the point where some visitors may briefly see the old server while others see the new one. Because you lowered the TTL in the previous step, this transition window is short. Both servers should be running your website during this period, so visitors see a working site regardless of which server they reach.
The Zero-Downtime Secret
Keep your old hosting account active for at least 72 hours after the DNS change. During this overlap period, both servers serve your website. As DNS propagation completes, traffic gradually shifts from the old server to the new one. No visitor ever encounters a down site.
Step 8: Post-Migration Verification
After DNS propagation (typically 2-24 hours, but sometimes up to 48 hours), verify everything one final time:
- Check from multiple devices and networks. Use your phone on mobile data (not Wi-Fi) to confirm the new server is being reached.
- Verify SSL is working. Check that the padlock icon appears and the certificate is valid.
- Test email delivery. Send and receive test emails to confirm email routing is correct.
- Check Google Search Console. Ensure Google can still crawl your site without errors.
- Monitor site speed. Run speed tests from tools like GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights to confirm performance improvements. Our guide on speeding up your website covers the benchmarks you should aim for.
- Review analytics. Watch your Google Analytics for any unusual drops in traffic that might indicate a problem.
Common Migration Mistakes to Avoid
Having helped hundreds of Ghanaian businesses migrate their websites, these are the mistakes we see most frequently:
Cancelling the Old Host Too Early
Never cancel your old hosting account until you are absolutely certain the migration is complete and everything is working. Keep it active for at least one week after the DNS switch. The small cost of overlapping hosting is insignificant compared to the potential disaster of losing your site.
Forgetting to Migrate Email
If your email is hosted with your old provider, switching DNS will break your email. Set up email accounts on the new server and update MX records along with your A records. Better yet, consider using a dedicated email service like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, which operates independently of your web hosting.
Ignoring File Permissions
File and directory permissions may change during transfer. WordPress typically needs directories set to 755 and files set to 644. Incorrect permissions can cause white screens, upload failures, or security vulnerabilities.
Skipping Database Verification
A corrupt database import can cause subtle issues — missing posts, broken user accounts, or garbled content — that are not immediately obvious. Always verify table counts and spot-check content after importing.
When to Hire a Professional
While DIY migration is entirely feasible for simple WordPress sites, some situations warrant professional assistance:
- E-commerce sites with active transactions — you cannot afford any data loss or payment processing interruption.
- Custom-built applications — these often have specific server requirements and configurations that need expert attention.
- Multiple websites on one account — migrating several sites simultaneously adds complexity.
- Large databases — databases over 1GB may require special handling during export and import.
Faciotech offers managed migration services as part of our hosting packages, handling the entire process so you can focus on running your business. Our complete IT solutions include migration planning, execution, and post-migration support. For more on maintaining your website after migration, our guide on website maintenance costs in Ghana explains what ongoing upkeep looks like.
Your Migration Checklist
Print this checklist and tick off each item as you go:
- Document reasons for migration and requirements for new host.
- Research and select new hosting provider.
- Create full backup: files, database, and email.
- Store backup in two separate locations.
- Set up new hosting account with matching PHP version and extensions.
- Upload files and import database to new server.
- Update configuration files with new database credentials.
- Install SSL certificate on new server.
- Test site using hosts file — check every page and feature.
- Lower DNS TTL to 300 seconds (48 hours before switch).
- Update DNS A record to new server IP.
- Set up email on new server and update MX records.
- Verify site from multiple devices and networks.
- Monitor for 72 hours before cancelling old host.
- Restore DNS TTL to normal value (3600 or higher).
Website migration does not have to be stressful or risky. With methodical preparation and patience during the DNS transition, your visitors will never notice the switch — they will simply enjoy a faster, more reliable website on your new hosting provider.
