Some people aren’t lucky enough with their web host providers. They don’t get the kind of service they need after being lured by too much promises. Fortunately, they’ve already opened their eyes and saw the truth behind all these. So subscribers of “not so good” web hosting providers decide to discontinue their contract with them, aiming to find a better one. If you are one of them, before you think of leaving, might as well read the following steps in ensuring everything is in place.

1. Create your own backup. Before telling your provider that you will switch, make sure that you have backed up all of your things. Before you cancel your subscription, get ready first—take all you need. Copy all your files, images, design templates, scripts, and databases. Keep a list of all your software, configuration settings, security information, drivers, and others. Also, don’t forget your usernames and passwords if you have any. Even if your potential new host may have different settings, it might help.

2. Get a new web hosting provider. Find a new web host. Before you cancel your old one, get a new one first. But before all that, ensure that your host can support whatever media and text files you have with you, along with the software and scripts. Else, your website will not be running properly even though it’s fully up. Also, make a background check on the reputation of your new host. You can ask friends and families, read and participate in online forums, read some testimonials, and gather online reviews.

3. Check the registration of your domain name. Make sure that you are the registered owner because if not, you will have a hard time dealing with your old web hosting provider. The administrator of your old host might not allow you to transfer or you will have to wait until such time that they will permit you. Anyways, there are web hosting companies that help subscribers to transfer from one host and move to theirs. Should worse comes to worst, at least you have something to rely on.

4. Relocate your site. Your new web host will give you a domain temporarily so you can test. You can upload all your files, scripts, and databases into their servers. Update everything—from the links, scripts, and configuration settings—and see to it that they all run perfectly. Make your e-mail system work too in both old and new. While making your tests, post an announcement in your old site that you are moving and provide alternate e-mail so later they will get used to sending mails to your new address.

5. Renew your domain name registration information. Updates and changes will take a number of days or even weeks before they will be published in the Internet. So do re-register the earliest time possible. Moreover, make sure that it’s your name being signed up.

6. Withdraw your old web hosting contract. Usually, stipulated in contracts are agreements that all your site’s contents belong to you. Check out yours if it is written there. However, if it does not bear those words, it means that everything is a property of the web hosting provider. Should this be the scenario, just make a formal letter stating that you will move out. Make it in a polite manner. It might work!

Now, get ready to go!