Chaning web hosting companies

Okay, the details are probably going to change a bit from company to company. I'm getting pretty disgusted with the place that currently hosts my website and will be looking to switch hosting companies. In vague generalities, if I want to keep my current domain name and contact email address, what do I need to know about making a switch and what questions do I need to ask?

Any other advice? (Talking to the dog I sit will provide better advice than the company who currently hosts my site, and probably just as accurate.)

Thanks.

Ooof, Dan, that's a pretty trenchant statement!

I live in a town of 4,000, and my Internet provider is right here in this town. It costs me about $100 annually for my photo/business Web site, and I know the fella who does the deed by name. I mean that when I drop in at the local tavern and Chris is there, we share beers and bull.

If I can find a darn fine guy like that in my town, I'll bet you can too.

FWIW, we DO live in a virtual world, and my guy is Voltz Technologies in Ely, Minn. He has many, many clients in far-flung regions of the world.

Check out Godaddy.com for the services they provide and how they might meet your needs. If you just need a domain home and place to upload your site web pages, they offer very professional service with helpful and responsive support staff. They can help you transfer your domain to their servers.

I have a small portfolio/slideshow hosted on their servers sullyphotography.com

Dan,
Switching can be a real pain if the current hosting doesn't want to let you go, a few
thing you should do really is:
- ask for the transfer code of the domain ( EPP key )
- transfer the admin e-mail on your e-mail adress
- unlocking the domain name

if they are somewhat decent they should help you do those things.
p.s. with all do respect but i should steer away from godaddy i've heard to many horror stories about the support there.
i'd knock on the door with inmotionhosting they have great uptime and support and will help you get everything transfered and up and running in no time.
and they have a 90 day money back guarantee !


Wim

Dan:
I second the suggestion to contact GoDaddy.com. I've been with them for years, having had several sites with them, and have always found them most helpful.

Good luck whichever way you go.
Don

I also use godaddy as my domain service but was unhappy with the flexibility they offer for hosting. They are still my domain service but I moved my hosting to smugmug and have been very happy with them.

I'm not sure why transferring the domain would be a problem since if it's registered and paid for you own it. I use foliosnap.com and though not the cheapest they are very helpful (usually get answers the same day if not within an hour) and always improving their options. I registered my domain with regzip.com. With foliosnap you just tell them your contact email and anything that comes through the site goes to the email you specify. Don't know if that helps...like others said could be more complicated. I've heard many are happy with smugmug.

Before you do anything, find a new hosting company. Sign up over the phone, and keep an eye out for their name server information (DNS info) - usually sent in the standard "welcome" email. When you're signing up, ask them if they will transfer your website. They are usually more than happy to do this for you - if you send them the server login information for your current hosting plan. Once your website files have been transferred, then take control over domain hosting/management immediately ... prying it away from your current hosting company using the information Wim suggested. This can be a headache with some companies, but they have to let you go. Once you have this info, go sign up for a domain management account at GoDaddy or whatever (I use BuyDomains.com). This is incredibly simple ... a matter of inputting the name server addresses provided by the new website hosting company. 24-48 hours later, your website switches from the old server to the new server. Managing the domain separate from your website hosting will save a lot of headaches in the future.

I'll toss in another enthusiastic vote for local providers. I've used a local provider for a long while now ... after many frustrating years of poor support and jumping around from one big box company to another. The ability to get the owner of the company on the phone for support is PRICELESS.

Thanks for the replies, especially Wim and Jesse.

Right now, I'd be happy for poor customer service. At least customer service would exist...