During most website migrations, through lack of knowledge or experience, many website owners end up loosing clients and damaging time-built company images, because their sites are unavailable for days or weeks on end. Another problem is loss of emails, some crucial, making migrations very expensive and even dangerous.

Migration from one web host to another is not difficult; it can be fast and safe when one knows what experts know. By following steps below you will stand a better chance of a smooth transfer.

The most important start to website migration is finding another web host, one that will not give you reason to migrate again, or soon. A whole book can be written on how to choose a web host; or by searching on ‘choosing a web host’ in a major search engine, there will be many articles available.

The steps below will give you an idea on how to start and how to avoid a lot of pitfalls.

· First, make a list of all features your website uses or requires, and will require in future, be prepared. · Make a list of web hosts who offer these features; you can find hosts in web hosting directories, message forums, or by searching on a major search engine. · Read information on their websites carefully, specially their terms and conditions. · Avoid any long-term contracts and full-payments in advance. · Ask questions about all things you have a doubt about. · Email their support department at various times (both day and night) and check response time. · You will find customer reviews on hosts in web hosting directories. (Unfortunately they may not be most accurate due to much web host guerilla activity, but greater scrutiny will often help.) · Talk to people in web hosting related message forums; you may find useful information on hosting companies by their existing or past, customers.

What is it that website clients really want from their web designers?

After creation of a client’s website, web designer usually goes away hoping that client will not destroy his design, believing they will; after he has pointed client to FrontPage or Dreamweaver to maintain it. Web site clients do not really want to maintain or update their websites, most businesses have not got time to ‘play’ around, they just want site finished and updated from time to time.

This is exactly what happens with traditional Graphic Designers; clients want to know that from time to time they can come back and update, or change totally, content without general design changing; quickly, and for a regular price, not a one off higher price as they were charged for original job.

As a graphic or web designer, you will be in position to offer your clients web hosting. They trust your decisions and love your work, but they don’t really want to start something with you, then have to deal with someone independent to run their website, or update it or change it in anyway, after you have finished and left them. If you could host them under your own web hosting account (with a multiple website hosting account) and control yours and their websites all from same control panel on your own account, you would be offering yet another regular client service.