Yes, you can transfer your existing website to AwardSpace. In the this article we’ll lead you through the process, but we’ll keep it short. If you need further information you can read our tutorial on How to Transfer a Website to AwardSpace.
Backup Your Website
The first step in the process of transferring a website is to make a backup of your website. The backup should include all files, databases, and emails. At this stage, you should still keep your current hosting provider as your files are still there, and if something is missing after you complete the process, you have to be able to access the files.
Register or Transfer Domain
Now that you have a backup of your files, you need to create a hosting account and register a domain with AwardSpace. Doing so is a fast and easy process.
Further reading: How long does it take to set up my hosting account and domain name?
Upload Website Files
Now that your web hosting account with AwardSpace is up and running, and you have a domain name registered with us, you can start uploading your website files. To do so, you can either use AwardSpace’s proprietary web hosting control panel or an FTP client, like Filezilla.
Further reading:
Import Database
If you use any CMS (like WordPress, for example), your website has a database, which you’ve hopefully downloaded from the previous web hosting provider. Most contemporary websites, especially with any kind of dynamic content, are using some kind of database. To import your database (downloaded from the other provider), you can use phpMyAdmin. AwardSpace offers MySQL database support even with the free hosting plan.
Update Configuration Files
Now that all the files are located on our servers, you need to make sure that your website’s configuration files (e.g., wp-config.php for WordPress) are updated with the new database credentials. Also, if there are any other changes to credentials, locations, or links, you ought to take care of them as well.
Test
Before you can say that the transfer is finished and cancel your subscription with the previous provider, take every test needed, to be sure that everything works as it should.
Should you encounter any issues AwardSpace’s support team is available to help guide you through the process.
Further reading: The Difference Between Domain Hosting and Domain Transfer
