{"id":3806,"date":"2026-09-14T10:28:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T09:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hoganhost.com.ng\/blog\/?p=3806"},"modified":"2026-09-14T10:28:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T09:28:40","slug":"how-nigerian-businesses-can-migrate-a-wordpress-website-to-a-new-host","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoganhost.com.ng\/blog\/tutorial\/how-nigerian-businesses-can-migrate-a-wordpress-website-to-a-new-host\/","title":{"rendered":"How Nigerian Businesses Can Migrate a WordPress Website to a New Host"},"content":{"rendered":"
Moving a WordPress site to a new host sounds intimidating, but the actual job comes down to two things. You are moving files and a database, then pointing your domain at the new location.<\/div>\n
Done in the right order, visitors never notice a thing. Done carelessly, you risk downtime, broken links, or a site that simply will not load.<\/div>\n

What You Are Actually Moving<\/h2>\n
Every WordPress site is really just two parts working together.<\/div>\n
The first part is your files. That covers WordPress core, your theme, your plugins, and every image or document in your uploads folder.<\/div>\n
The second part is your database. That is where your posts, pages, settings, and user accounts actually live.<\/div>\n
Migrating means copying both of those pieces to the new host, reconnecting them correctly, testing everything, and only then switching your domain over.<\/div>\n

Option 1: Let a Migration Plugin Handle It<\/h2>\n
For most business owners, a migration plugin is the simplest route. Tools like Duplicator and All in One WP Migration package your files and database into a single archive that you then restore on the new host.<\/div>\n
This approach works well because it removes most of the manual steps that are easy to get wrong, such as recreating database connections by hand.<\/div>\n

Option 2: Move It Manually<\/h2>\n
A manual migration means exporting your database directly and copying your files over yourself, then reconnecting everything on the new server. It takes more technical comfort, but it gives you more control over exactly what moves and how.<\/div>\n
Either approach can work well. The plugin route is usually faster for a standard business site, while a manual move suits more complex or heavily customized setups.<\/div>\n

The Zero Downtime Approach<\/h2>\n
The biggest migration mistake is switching your domain over before the new host is actually ready. Here is the order that avoids that.<\/div>\n
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  1. Set up and fully test the site on the new host first. Confirm the site loads correctly, forms work, and nothing is broken, all before touching your domain settings.<\/li>\n
  2. Lower your DNS TTL a day or two in advance. A shorter TTL means any change you make to your domain’s records propagates faster once you do switch.<\/li>\n
  3. Keep the old host active during the transition. DNS changes take time to spread across the internet, so leaving your old hosting running for a day or two ensures visitors reach a working site either way.<\/li>\n
  4. Only then update your DNS to point to the new host. Once the new site is fully tested, this is the moment your domain actually moves.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Migrating to a new host, done this way, generally does not hurt your search rankings either. Search engines index your content and URLs, not the specific server it lives on, as long as your permalink structure and URLs stay the same after the move.<\/div>\n

    Post Migration Checklist<\/h2>\n
    Once your domain is pointed at the new host, do not walk away just yet. Check these before considering the job done.<\/div>\n