Does Changing Your Host Affect Your Rankings?
I’ve come across this same question in many web master forums I’m a member of. I will address the issue here for future reference. So, does changing one’s host affects one’s ranking in the SERPs? The answer depends on the situation. For example, are you really just moving to a new host and not changing anything with your domain? If all you intend to do is move your web site and nothing else, then the answer is “no” (do I hear rejoicing out there?). No, merely changing hosts does not affect your rankings. However, if moving is coupled with some other changes, then it just might.
Moving will affect your rankings if…
1. You change your domain.
I think this one’s a given. You lose your PageRank and your ranking in the SERPs if you change your domain name. One real-life observation I had, however, is that if your content remains intact and you update often (especially if your domain’s a blog), you’ll get your rankings back in due time (but not your PageRank).
2. You change your content.
If moving entails changing majority of the content you housed in your old host before, then expect a fall in the SERPs.
3. A long down-time.
If you did not plan your move properly and you experience a long down-time, you’ll also lose your rankings. You’ll gain it back in due time though but think if you can really afford the loss of traffic that results from this.
To avoid this, it’s best to upload a copy or backup of your web site to your new host first before doing anything else. After this, point the DNS servers of your domain to your new host. It takes about 24-48 hours before the DNS propagates across the internet. But after it has and you had successfully redirected traffic to your new web site, you can then finally close your old hosting plan. Just make sure you’ve downloaded all backups you need.
