Migrating websites to a reseller hosting plan in South Africa is an excellent way to put all your client sites under your own brand. This will save you the cost of individual hosting and build a regular source of revenue.
If you are already a reseller hosting provider and you want to move your client’s website from another hosting provider to your own reseller hosting account, you should know that a successful migration ensures that the website remains secure, functional, and accessible throughout the process.
As a business person in South Africa, you can offer professional website migration services, which can become a valuable selling point. Many businesses hesitate to change hosting providers because they fear downtime or data loss. By handling migrations correctly, you give clients confidence to trust your abilities.
Website migration may sound like a complicated technical process, but with the right planning/approach, it is smooth and stress-free. In this guide, we’ll explain how to migrate websites to reseller hosting safely and efficiently. Let’s start from the basics, if you happen not to be familiar with the term “website migration.”
What Is Website Migration?
Website migration is the process of moving a website from one hosting environment to another.
A complete migration typically includes transferring:
- Website files
- Databases
- Email accounts
- Domain settings
- SSL certificates
- DNS records
When done properly, visitors should experience little to no interruption while the website is being moved.
Why Businesses Migrate to Reseller Hosting
Businesses choose to migrate their websites for many reasons, including:
- Better hosting performance
- Improved customer support
- Lower hosting costs
- Faster server speeds
- Better security features
- Access to reseller hosting services
- More storage or server resources
For many South African businesses, upgrading to a reliable reseller hosting provider improves both website performance and customer experience.
Prepare Before You Begin
Proper preparation reduces the chances of unexpected problems during migration.
Before moving any website:
- Review the client’s current hosting account
- Confirm access to both the old and new hosting accounts (cPanel/WHM)
- Check website size
- Identify installed applications (such as WordPress)
- Verify database details
- Confirm email account information
- Verify matching PHP versions, MySQL/MariaDB setups, and modules to avoid broken plugins post-migration.
Planning makes the migration process much smoother and easier.
8 Steps for Website Migration
Here is a clear, step-by-step blueprint to pull off the migration seamlessly and without website downtime.
1. Create a Complete Backup
Always begin by creating a full backup of the website. You can generate a full website backup by logging in to the control panel for the sites on your old host. Generate a full backup (including files, databases, and email routing configurations). Tip: Do not cancel your old hosting subscription yet.
Your backup should include:
- Website files
- Databases
- Email data (if applicable)
- Configuration files
A backup provides a safety net in case anything goes wrong during the migration.
2. Set Up the New Hosting Account
Before transferring the website, create the client’s hosting account in your reseller hosting dashboard.
This usually involves:
- Creating a hosting package
- Setting up the cPanel account
- Allocating storage and bandwidth
- Assigning the domain name
Once the hosting account is ready, you can begin transferring the website.
3. Upload Website Files
Log in to your new Web Host Manager (WHM) dashboard provided by your new reseller provider and transfer all website files to the new hosting account. If it’s a cPanel-to-cPanel move, then you are in luck, as telaHosting offers a free migration service with a new annual hosting account purchase.
All you have to do is upload the .tar.gz backups and open a support ticket so our technicians can restore the accounts and handle the rest. However, you can use WHM’s Transfer Tool if you have root/reseller access to the old server.
Alternatively, you can do it manually by recreating the hosting packages and accounts in WHM, then upload files via FTP and import the databases via phpMyAdmin.
You can also do this using migration tools provided by your hosting provider. Make sure every important file is uploaded successfully before moving to the next step.
4. Import the Database
This is when you manually carry out the migration. Export the database from the old hosting account and import it into the new one through PhpMyAdmin, SQL, or the database wizard section of cPanel.
After importing:
- Create a database user
- Assign user permissions
- Update configuration files if necessary
Keep in mind that, without a properly configured database, dynamic websites may not function correctly.
5. Recreate Email Accounts
Before touching domain records, ensure all email accounts are fully recreated exactly as they were on the old host. This prevents incoming emails from bouncing during the transition phase. If your client uses business email, recreate the necessary email accounts on the new hosting server.
Business email examples include:
If email messages also need to be moved, ensure they are backed up and restored where applicable.
6. Test the Website
Before pointing the domain to the new server, thoroughly test the website. You can do this by modifying the hosts file on your local computer to force your browser to point your client’s domain to the new server’s IP address. This lets you test the migrated site, links, and forms locally to ensure everything works flawlessly before going public.
Some sections you might check are:
- Homepage loading
- Internal pages
- Images
- Contact forms
- Shopping carts
- Login pages
- Database connections
Testing first allows you to fix issues before visitors see them. Do not skip this!
7. Update the Domain’s Nameservers
Once everything is working correctly, update the domain’s nameservers to point to your reseller hosting server.
After updating the nameservers, DNS propagation starts across different networks worldwide, and the internet begins directing visitors to the new server.
DNS propagation process can take anywhere from a few minutes to up to 48 hours, although many South African domains update much sooner.
8. Monitor the Website After Migration
Even after the migration is complete, continue monitoring the website.
Check for:
- Broken pages
- Missing images
- Email functionality
- SSL certificate status
- Website speed
- Error messages
Monitoring helps identify any issues that may appear after DNS propagation is complete.
Common Website Migration Challenges
Sometimes, even with careful planning, you may encounter a few common issues.
DNS Propagation Delays
Some visitors may still reach the old server while others see the new one until DNS updates finish.
This is normal and usually resolves automatically.
Missing Files
Incomplete uploads can cause missing images or broken website layouts.
Always verify that every file has been transferred successfully.
Database Errors
Incorrect database credentials or missing imports can prevent websites from loading properly.
Double-check database settings before making the site live.
Email Disruptions
Business email accounts may temporarily stop working if they are not recreated correctly or if DNS records are incomplete.
It’s important to test email functionality after the migration.
SSL Certificate Warnings
If the SSL certificate isn’t installed correctly on the new server, visitors may receive security warnings.
Always verify that HTTPS is working before considering the migration complete.
Tips for a Smooth Website Migration
Following a few best practices can greatly reduce migration problems.
1. Schedule Migrations During Low-Traffic Hours
Initiate the final DNS switch late on a Friday evening or over the weekend, as South African business email traffic drops off heavily during this period. This will reduce the risk of missing client emails during DNS propagation. Moving a website during evenings or weekends can also minimize the impact on visitors.
2. Keep the Old Hosting Account Active
Avoid cancelling the old hosting account immediately.
Leave it active until you’ve confirmed that the new website is working perfectly.
3. Inform Your Client in Advance
Let clients know:
- When the migration will begin
- What to expect
- Possible DNS propagation delays
- When the migration is complete
4. Clear communication helps build trust.
Test Everything Before Going Live
Never assume a successful migration.
Always test every important website feature before updating the nameservers.
Pro Tip
If you are migrating a domain along with the hosting to your new provider, you will need to request the EPP/Authorization key from the current registrar. The client (or you) must approve the incoming transfer ticket quickly, as local ZACR domain transfers require confirmation before they complete.
Migrating a website to reseller hosting doesn’t have to be difficult. With proper planning, careful testing, and clear communication, you can move client websites safely with little or no downtime. Now with telaHosting, you have nothing to worry about when you want to migrate a website; all you have to do is select a hosting plan of your choice and contact us with clear information to do the rest.
That’s it!