When you think of migrating your WordPress site, there is a constant fear of losing data that makes you avoid doing it on your own. Technical complications related to the process frighten you further. However, with a WordPress migration tool like InstaWP, you can easily do it on your own via source and destination site URLs.
There are multiple benefits to doing it on your own. From saving time to avoiding common pitfalls, dependency, and expenditure, the list is endless.
Wondering how to migrate a WordPress site on your own?
Well, with the right tools and guidance, you can do it yourself smoothly and efficiently.
Follow this guide to handle your WordPress migration confidently and successfully.
Why Migrate Your WordPress Site Yourself?
Migrating your WordPress site yourself offers several advantages:
Cost Savings: Avoid paying professionals or additional service fees.
Control: Maintain full control over the process, ensuring your data is only with you.
Learning Opportunity: Isn’t it?!
Flexibility: Migrate at your convenience and not in your service provider’s time zone.
What are the Benefits of DIY WordPress Migration for you?
Do you only think of disadvantages when it comes to migrating your website on your own?
Not your fault. It’s because the process you know is too technical and long.
However, using the best WordPress migration tool, taking on the task of migrating your WordPress site yourself can be highly rewarding.
The top benefits of DIY WordPress Migration are:
- It can build your confidence and technical skills by managing your own site migration.
- It lets you tailor the migration process to suit your specific needs and preferences.
- It allows you to address issues in real time without relying on external support.
- It can potentially reduce downtime and potential data loss.
- It’ll make you a migration expert. Maybe you can use this expertise to earn more 😉
So, let’s get started.
3 Steps to Preparing for Migration
Before diving into how to migrate a WordPress site, it’s essential to lay the groundwork for a smooth transition. This involves safeguarding your data, selecting the right hosting provider, and creating a staging environment to test changes.
#1 – Backup Your Current Website
Backing up your current website is crucial to ensure that you have a copy of all your files and data in case anything goes wrong during the migration process. Use reliable backup plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy to create a comprehensive backup of your WordPress site.
#2 – Choosing a New Hosting Provider
Selecting the right hosting provider is a critical decision that can impact the performance and reliability of your website.
Consider factors such as server speed, uptime guarantees, customer support, and scalability when choosing a new hosting provider for your WordPress site. For instance, InstaWP Live can be a good choice for site owners as well as WordPress agencies looking for managed services.
#3 – Setting Up a Staging Environment
Creating a staging environment allows you to test the migration process and make any necessary changes before going live with your new host. Use tools like InstaWP to set up a staging environment effortlessly, ensuring a seamless transition without disrupting your live site.
How to Migrate a WordPress Site?
For this tutorial, we are going to use this WordPress migration tool offered by InstaWP.
It’s so convenient and fast that you won’t need to do anything manually in the process.
Also, you can perform WordPress migration between any two hosting providers in the world using it – as long as you are migrating WordPress.
It is designed to help users transfer their WordPress sites effortlessly. This tool streamlines the process of moving your WordPress site from one hosting environment to another, ensuring that all your data, themes, plugins, and settings are preserved.
This migration tool is particularly useful for developers and site owners looking to switch hosts or duplicate their site setup quickly and efficiently.
Prerequisites for Using InstaWP Migration Tool
- A Source WordPress Site: Ensure you have a live URL to migrate WordPress site to new host. If your site is on your local system, consider creating a staging.
- Source and Destination URLs: Have the source URL of your existing website and the destination URL of the new hosting environment ready.
- InstaWP Account: Sign up for an InstaWP account using your email or via Gmail/social media.
- Authorization: Authorize InstaWP’s migration plugin to access your source website’s data for a smooth transfer process.
- Fresh WordPress Installation: Create a fresh WordPress installation on the destination URL to initiate the migration process.
What are the Steps of WordPress Migration (via Site Domains)
Considering that you already have signed up and logged up to your InstaWP account while understanding all the prerequisites mentioned above, let’s begin with how to migrate WordPress site to new host.
Step 1: Connect the Source Site
Open the WordPress migration tool by InstaWP and enter your source site’s URL.
Now, install the InstaWP migration plugin InstaWP Connect on your WordPress site, which facilitates the migration process.
After activating the plugin, authorize InstaWP to access your source site’s data to facilitate the transfer.
Step 2: Connect the Destination Site to the WordPress Migration Tool.
Start by creating a fresh WordPress instance on the destination, in case you haven’t.
Next, connect your destination site by entering its URL.
You will need to install and activate the WordPress plugin for migration.
Authorization for this site is also essential.
- Step 3: Initiating the Migration
Once the connection is established, initiate the migration process from the InstaWP dashboard.
As you start the migration process, InstaWP will automatically transfer all site data from the source to the destination.
- Step 4: Track Migration Progress
Monitor the migration progress using InstaWP’s built-in tracker, which provides real-time updates on the transfer status.
Read our detailed Migration Guide with multiple use cases →
What Steps Should I Follow Post-Migration?
- Thoroughly test your migrated site to ensure all pages, functionality, and content are intact. Check for any broken links, missing images, or formatting issues.
- Update your domain’s DNS settings to point to the new hosting provider. This step ensures that visitors are directed to the migrated site when they enter your domain name.
- Conduct final checks to ensure everything is working as expected. Optimize performance, security, and SEO settings as needed. Review configurations, plugins, and themes for any adjustments required in the new hosting environment.
What makes InstaWP the best WordPress Migration Tool?
InstaWP is not just another migration tool – it’s your reliable partner in seamlessly transitioning your WordPress site to its new home. Here are our reasons to say so:
Automated Process: InstaWP streamlines the migration process with automation, minimizing the need for manual intervention. Once initiated, you can sit back and let InstaWP handle the transfer seamlessly.
User-Friendly Interface: InstaWP offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise. You don’t need to be a tech expert to navigate through the migration steps.
High Success Rate: InstaWP boasts a high success rate of 99.9% for migrating WordPress websites. This reliability ensures that your migration is completed successfully without data loss or disruptions.
Low Downtime: With InstaWP, you can enjoy minimal downtime during the migration process. Your website remains online and accessible to visitors, ensuring continuity of operations for your business.
Support for All Hosting Providers: InstaWP works seamlessly with all hosting providers, allowing you to migrate your WordPress site regardless of your current or new hosting provider.
Powerful Staging: You can take advantage of InstaWP’s staging feature, enabling you to create a replica of your site for testing purposes before going live. This ensures that your migration is thoroughly vetted and validated, minimizing the risk of errors or disruptions.
Native Managed Hosting Service: Yes, you have InstaWP Live to benefit from high performance, automatic updates, and built-in security measures. It will help you ensure that your site remains secure and performant throughout the migration process and beyond.
Conclusion
Migrating your WordPress website yourself is a feasible and safe-to-do task, especially with tools like InstaWP at your disposal. Additionally, leveraging InstaWP offers numerous benefits, including simplified migration, minimal downtime, and robust support. So, don’t hesitate to begin your website’s migration journey when you have the right tool by your side.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the common WordPress Migration Challenges?
Moving your data smoothly, keeping your site running, and protecting against losing any information are big concerns. If you’re running an online store, there are even more things to think about. However, with the right migration tool for WordPress, all these issues can be solved.
What is WordPress migration, and why might I need it?
WordPress migration involves transferring your website from one hosting provider to another. You might need it if you’re dissatisfied with your current hosting provider, looking for better performance, or changing your website’s domain.
Can I migrate my WordPress site on my own, or do I need technical expertise?
While some technical knowledge can be beneficial, many migration tools (e.g., InstaWP) and guides are user-friendly and designed for those with little technical expertise. With the right resources and instructions, you can migrate your WordPress site on your own.
What are the common challenges I might face during migration?
Common challenges include data transfer complexities, ensuring minimal downtime, safeguarding against data loss, and addressing special considerations for eCommerce sites, such as preserving order data and payment gateways.
What tools or services can I use to migrate my WordPress site?
There are various migration plugins and services available, such as InstaWP, All-in-One WP Migration, and Duplicator. These tools offer different features and capabilities, so choose one that best suits your needs and technical proficiency. InstaWP’s WordPress migration tool is the easiest to use and fastest of all.
How do I update my DNS settings after performing the migration?
Update your domain’s DNS settings to point to your new hosting provider. This typically involves accessing your domain registrar’s control panel and updating the nameservers or DNS records accordingly.
How to ensure Migration was done properly?
After migration, thoroughly test your site’s functionality, including links, images, forms, and any interactive features. Monitor your site closely for any issues and address them promptly.
Is there any support available if I encounter difficulties during the migration process?
Many migration tools and hosting providers offer customer support to assist you if you encounter difficulties during the migration process. However, it mainly depends on your service provider. For instance, in the case of InstaWP, you can reach out to our technical support via the live chat option.
