You know you’re not happy with your current managed WordPress hosting provider. They are unresponsive and your site goes down all the time, or they blame you when something goes wrong. It’s time to start looking into the possibility of making a switch to a new host. But the voice in your head is telling you it’s dangerous. “A new support team! A new set of rules! And then there’s site migration and every possible thing that can go wrong along with it!” Technology can go so wrong, putting you and your customers at risk. Better not mess with anything…
That’s where you’re wrong. You’re paying for a WordPress hosting service to provide you with all the resources you need for your site, so don’t settle for less. While switching to a new provider does present some risks, there are payoffs, like having a site that actually runs and support that actually supports you.
Signs You Need a Change
Not all hosting services are created equal. If you are going to invest in a managed hosting provider, then your money should go to someone that is the right fit for your business’s needs. There are a few red flags that might mean you need to brave the switch to another host.
Issues with your site
This one might seem obvious, but it’s also the most important. If your site experiences a lot of unexpected downtimes, slow load times, or database connection errors, then it might be time to start looking into switching to a new server. These are all things that directly become between you and your customers, and that’s never good for business. Your priority should be having a site that runs smoothly.
A lot of those common site issues might be the result of outgrowing your shared server. You can control your resource usage all you want with smart web development, but you can’t control how the other sites on your server perform. Don’t you want to be ready for when your site goes viral? Switching to a server with less “noisy neighbors” or more resources for your site will solve many of those problems that you couldn’t quite pinpoint before. When looking for a new host, be sure to ask about its scalability, caching, NVMe WordPress hosting architecture, and CDN. This will be a good indicator of how well your site will perform once you make the switch.
Unexpected fees and upgrades
No one wants to be surprised by their bill, and no one wants to be automatically upgraded without a warning, just in case your site needs maintenance. There are plenty of managed hosting providers out there—don’t stick with one if you don’t have to.
Not enough support
If you are waiting ages for responses to your questions, then is your hosting service even providing what was promised? When it comes to web hosting, communication is incredibly important. Plus, you want to surround yourself with WordPress experts, and if your hosting service support team seems like they don’t know what they’re talking about or are unfriendly, then you aren’t benefitting fully from what managed WordPress hosting has to offer. 24/7 support is no easy feat, but you want to find a host that can provide you with the service you need to run your business successfully.
What Should You Look for in a New Host
Support
Managed WordPress hosting is a premium service, so you should receive premium benefits. Customer service should be available when you need it, not when it works for them. And the support team should have WordPress-specific knowledge that can help you work through site issues. The support team should a resource for help with every aspect of your site, including third-party plug-ins. Look for a provider that provides 24/7 WordPress hosting support to access to our team, or promises to reply within a certain amount of time.
You should also look for someone who will be there during the move.
Quick and easy site migrations
So, you’re set on making the switch, and you’ve found the one, the provider that your business needs. There’s only one thing between you and the provider of your dreams: site migration.
Site migration can sound scary. You are risking the health and performance of your site…so much could go wrong! Look into how your potential new host handles site migration, and how long they predict the migration will take. Obviously the shorter the better. You can also look for a provider that offers free site migrations. Then all you will have to worry about is downloading a plugin. Then you’re set to make the switch.
Clear expectations and communication
Communication isn’t a one-way street. You don’t just hand your site over to your hosting provider and call it a day. You should have a base knowledge of what responsibilities are on you, your hosting provider, or third parties. Establish clear guidelines from the beginning of your hosting relationship. That way, you’ll avoid the awkward “I thought you did it” exchange if something goes wrong. This kind of communication will be key to developing a trusting relationship with your hosting provider, which will lead to more payoff down the road.
Don’t let fear of site migration hold you and your sites back. Your investment in a managed hosting provider should pay off with a reliable site and a support team at the ready, not with excessive downtime and unresponsive customer service representatives. As you go forth and look for a new managed hosting provider, keep Pressable in mind. We provide 24/7, white-glove support, personalized onboarding, and free, automated site migrations. Plus, we are all about clear, frequent communication. Don’t let your host keep causing you headaches. It’s time to switch.
Amanda Tsourakis
With over a decade of experience in the tech industry, Amanda's experience demonstrates her sales expertise. Her commitment to building, training, and guiding high-performing teams has been instrumental in driving Pressable's success. Amanda's extensive background in sales and marketing, coupled with her sharp business acumen, has made her an invaluable asset to the tech community. Her ability to identify and foster talent, combined with her passion for developing winning sales strategies, has propelled her to the forefront of the industry. When she's not expertly navigating the tech sales landscape, she loves spending quality time with her family, loves travel and adventure, lounging pool/beach-side, playing tennis, working out, and meeting people/making friends all along the way!
