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5) Testing (before switch)
This step is as important as backup. You need to be sure that your site is functioning before you cut off from the current host. It’s always a good idea to get someone else to test out the new site.

Don’t forget to test all internal and external links as well. You can make use of third party link checker program to do this. The program will give you a report on which links are still working and which are dead at the end of the check.

If you are using absolute paths, you may need to change them to relative paths before you can test on the page flow or you can choose to type the page name from the browser to load the page.

6) Email Setup
Follow the new host instructions in setting up the email accounts. Put in any rules or auto reply (if you have any running on the current email account).

It’s a good idea to keep your current email account running for a minimum of 1 week even after the move or if you can afford then 1 month is safer. Routers take varies time to update your new site’s information. The keeping of both the old and new email accounts will ensure you will not lost any email during the transition period.

7) Switching
The time is here. It’s actually a fairy simple step. The DNS information is the key to the actual switching. You need to update the servers (primary & secondary) to your new host servers. If you are the Administrative contact of your website, you can do this yourself but if you are not then you will have to either request your domain registrar or your current host to do it for you.

The switch will take anywhere from 2hours - 48hours to be recognized by routers around the world. To test whether your site information has been updated, put a mark on your new site to make the differentiation.

Remember to retest your new site after the switch. Perform links checking, revert back to absolute paths if you have changed them to relative paths, scripts testing, form validations, and email sending.

Remember to implement any changes to both the new and old sites for the time being to ensure consistency between the two sites.

 8) Cancel old host
Once you have complete the testing on the new site and are satisfy with it, you can now disconnect your old site. This will be happening the soonest 1 week after the switch or preferably 1 month after the switch (due to routers updating).
You will have to inform your old host about the cancellation and follow their cancellation instruction carefully.

9) Testing (after switch)
Testing again!! This is to ensure that your new site is not pointing to your old site from any of its scripts and all your internal links are pointing correctly to your new site.

There you go, pretty simple isn’t it? I hope the above steps will at least give you some idea about website moving. Wishing you a “Happy & Smooth moving”!!