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Migrating an Alcoholics Anonymous Website to New Web Hosting

Discussion on migrating an A.A. website to new web hosting is widely varied within the forum. One of the most common questions is about migrating from Squarespace/Wix to a more customizable hosting plan/site.

Members of the forum have outlined several methods of migrating a website to new hosting, including:

  • Have the new host assign a temporary URL after purchasing their hosting package and build the new site on the temporary URL until ready to migrate, then update the site to the true URL.
  • Build the site locally, offline on a personal computer, then upload the database and necessary files when built to satisfaction.
  • Start with a reputable web host like Bluehost or Siteground that allows staging. This feature enables building a staging site that is not publicly visible until published and live. Simplify this process using a drag-and-drop site customizer like Elementor. When staging, use pre-built WP themes if inexperienced so the website doesn’t need to be built from scratch.
  • Build the new site on a dormant domain, then use UpDraftClone to copy your content, changing any old domain URLs to URLs for the new domain. Use UpDraftPlus’s Backup/Restore function to ensure your site is saved.
  • Keep the old Squarespace site open and the new site open side-by-side, and copy/paste the content into Divi Builder templates.
  • Install Local by Flywheel and practice building sites. Practice building and breaking sites in this low-pressure environment until you are ready to build the actual website.
  • WPBeginner is an excellent resource for people unfamiliar with web hosting and WordPress site building. Members of the TIAA forum are experienced in this subject and ready to answer any questions.

All hyperlinks to the tutorials above came from within the TIAA forum. Discussion about web hosting and changing web hosts happens frequently. Members of the forum can find these discussions here:

Converting Website to WordPress: CLICK HERE

Migrating From Bluehost: CLICK HERE

WordPress Upgrades: CLICK HERE

Issues with WordPress and WebHostingPad: CLICK HERE

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