There are great instructions for transferring a WordPress website on wordpress.org. I don’t intend to replace them. These instructions are specific to HolyWebHosts. If you have a question or find a step that is unclear just ask. We are here to help.

We will Assume the following:

• The domain name on the old server…and the domain name on the new server are the SAME. This most likely means you are moving the site and expect a little downtime while the nameservers resolve. There are several ways to avoid downtime, but this article does not avoid them. If you need to make the transition with little/no downtime we can help and we might write about that in the future. WordPress.org covers the basic steps. If you can make the switch this way, the steps on WordPress.org will get you through the more complex uninterrupted changes.
• You have a domain AND a hosting account on HolyWebHosts (in the same account).
• You have an existing hosting account at some other place.

NOTE: When we mention your old account, we will call it old to help distinguish between the new HolyWebHosts account and your prior service.

Here are high-level steps:

1. Download your wp-content folder from the old hosting account
2. Get the WordPress Database files from the old site
3. Install WordPress on the new hosting account (see Installing WordPress the simple way)
4. Replace the new wp-content folder with the contents from the old site (the ones downloaded in step 2).
5. Import the old database files into the new database.

Here are the detailed steps:

Step 1 – Download the wp-content folder from the old server:

I can’t go into detail here since each host is a little different. You should be able to use a simple ftp program. Just make sure you get ALL of the contents of the wp-content folder and store it somewhere on your computer.

Step 2 – Get a copy of your WordPress Database from the old site:

The simplest way to save a copy of the database is to use a plugin called WordPress Database Backup. Install the plugin and configure it to email you a backup. Make sure you select all of the database tables.

After the file is downloaded extract the contents (it may be compressed).

Step 3 – Install WordPress on the new HolyWebHost account:

I covered this in a little detail already (see Installing WordPress the simple way).

After WordPress is installed you will want to record the new database information. To find the database information you will need to view the file wp-config.php. This file is located in the root of your WordPress installation. Be sure you are on the new server and open the wp-config.php file. Record the following information:

define('DB_NAME', 'yourDBName');

define('DB_USER', 'yourDBUserName');

define('DB_PASSWORD', 'yourDBPassword');

define('DB_HOST', 'yourDBHostname');

Step 4 – Replace the new wp-content folder with the old wp-content folder

Step 5 – Import the old database files into the new database:

Before you begin, you will need Economy hosting or higher. I HIGHLY recommend linux hosting. If you choose to install on Windows your mileage will vary. I’ve tried it twice and always ran into problems. WordPress works great on Linux hosting.

I’ll assume your hosting is already setup.

From the hosting control center you will see Value Applications.  It can be found by clicking on the Your Applications image or going to the content menu and selecting Value Applications.

From the Value Applications area you have access to install many different tools. We all know WordPress is the best so we’ll focus on that. To find the wordpress click on Blogs and then click the WordPress link.

A little information about WordPress will appear. Click on the Install Now button and follow the instruction to complete the setup. It should take a couple minutes to complete the steps and may take 30 minutes to complete the process on the server.

NOTE: These instructions are QUICK and maybe a little dirty. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask. We are here to get you up and running…and want you to stay running without any problems.

After you purchase your hosting account it requires a couple steps to complete the initial setup.

Your pending account will show as NEW ACCOUNT. To activate this account click the green launch icon. This will initiate the setup process.

During the setup process you will create a hosting account username and password. It will take a few minutes to complete the required steps, however, you may need to wait 30 minutes or more for the server to complete the setup after you are done.

Once the setup is complete, clicking the green icon will launch the hosting control center. In the hosting control center there are many things you can do. One of the first things I check is the IP address and DNS servers. You will need these to make sure your domain name is set to the correct DNS and IP address.

Check the IP Address and DNS settings of the hosting account by clicking on the “view” link for the Primary Domain DNS field

The following information will show. Note both of the Nameservers and A Record information. You should verify this is set properly for the domain name you are using.

Next Step: Verify your DNS settings are correct for your domain name and/or update your DNS settings for your domain.

NOTE: These instructions are QUICK and maybe a little dirty. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask. We are here to get you up and running…and want you to stay running without any problems.

To check your DNS settings:

Login to your HolyWebHosts Account Manager.

Go to your Domain Manager (A new window will open).

From the Domain Manager, open the domain you want to check.

In the lower left corner you will see Nameservers. These nameservers should match the domain name servers from your hosting account. If they do not match you should update your domain name servers.

While you are here, check the A Record for your domain. The A record should be set to the IP address of your hosting account. The A Record is found in the lower center of the page under Total DNS. If 

NOTE: These instructions are QUICK and maybe a little dirty. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask. We are here to get you up and running…and want you to stay running without any problems.

We are offering a custom built WordPress website with 5 core pages for FREE. All you need to do is buy web hosting and a domain name with us. Then forward your receipt and we will get to work.

If you need to transfer a domain you already control we can help — and we will still give you the Free Website.

While you are at it, use a discount coupon code and save money on your purchase.

• Use Coupon Code 100CN15 and Get a 15% discount off any order $100 or more
• Use Coupon Code 50CN10 and Get a 10% discount off any order $50 or more
• Use Coupon Code 5NC25 and Get a 5% discounts on orders $25 and over

The site redesign is making progress. The framework is in place and most of the major components are functioning. The work for the next day or two will be adding some visual images and graphical eye candy.

Check back!

If you are wondering why we are “redesigning” on a live site I have an answer. First of all this is not normal. The old site was a simple static page and I figured a site-in-the-works would be better than what I had before. I am taking a proactive approach to Search Engine Optimization on my own sites since this is long overdue.

Welcome to HolyWebHosts. We are in the middle of a redesign, but fully functional. Click around or come back soon to see the progress. And, if you have a question don’t hesitate to ask!