What to Expect During Your Website Transfer: DNS Propagation and the Go-Live Process
You've prepared everything for your website transfer, gathered all your DNS records, and your new site is ready to launch. Now comes the part that makes most business owners nervous: the actual transfer process. What exactly happens when we ”flip the switch” on your new website?
Understanding the technical process behind website transfers can transform anxiety into confidence. While the process involves complex systems working behind the scenes, knowing what to expect helps you prepare your business and team for a smooth transition.
The Website Transfer Process: Your Role
Once we have migrated your website files and set up your new site, there's one critical step that you'll need to handle: updating your nameservers.
What Are Nameservers?
Think of nameservers as the internet's GPS system for your domain. When someone types your website address, nameservers tell their browser where to find your website. During a transfer, you're essentially updating this GPS to point to your new website location.
Your Nameserver Update Task
Your web developer will provide you with new nameservers (they'll look something like ns1.squarespace.com and ns2.squarespace.com). You'll need to log into your domain registrar (where you purchased your domain name) and update these nameservers.
Important: This is typically the only step you'll handle directly. Your web developer won't access your domain registrar account – you maintain complete control over your domain ownership.
Understanding DNS Propagation
After you update your nameservers, a critical process called DNS propagation begins. This is where things get interesting – and sometimes frustrating.
What Is DNS Propagation?
DNS propagation is the time it takes for your nameserver changes to update across all DNS servers worldwide. Imagine the internet as having thousands of phone books, and you just changed your business address. It takes time for all those phone books to get updated with your new information.
Timeline Expectations
Typical Range: 4-48 hours (sometimes up to 72 hours)
Most Common: Changes complete within 24 hours
Factors Affecting Speed:
Your old DNS records' Time to Live (TTL) settings
Your internet service provider's caching policies
Geographic location of DNS servers
Time of day and internet traffic
Why Timing Varies
Several factors influence how quickly propagation completes:
TTL Settings: If your old DNS records had high TTL values, servers will hold onto old information longer before checking for updates.
ISP Caching: Some internet service providers ignore TTL settings and cache DNS information longer than recommended, which can delay updates for users on those networks.
Geographic Distribution: DNS servers around the world update at different rates, so someone in California might see your new site while someone in New York still sees the old one.
What to Expect During Propagation
Inconsistent Website Access
During propagation, your website experience will be unpredictable:
Mixed Visibility: Some visitors see your new site while others see your old site
Personal Experience Varies: You might see your old site, then new site, then old site again when refreshing
Geographic Differences: Visitors in different locations may have completely different experiences
This inconsistency is completely normal and temporary.
Email Service Interruptions
If your email service uses your domain name, expect some temporary disruptions:
Potential Issues:
Delayed email delivery
Occasional bounced emails
Inconsistent email access
Some emails routing to old servers, others to new
Minimizing Email Impact:
Avoid sending critical emails during peak propagation (first 24 hours)
Inform your team about potential delays
Have alternative communication methods ready
Check both old and new email systems if possible
Monitoring Your Transfer Progress
Checking Propagation Status
You can monitor propagation progress using online tools:
Recommended Tools:
WhatsMyDNS.net
DNSChecker.org
How to Use Them:
Enter your domain name
Select record type (NS for nameservers, A for website IP)
View global status with green checkmarks showing updated servers
When Propagation Seems Complete
Even when online tools show full propagation, you might still see your old website due to local caching.
Troubleshooting Steps:
Clear your browser cache and cookies
Clear your computer's DNS cache:
Windows: Open Command Prompt as Administrator, type ipconfig /flushdns
Mac: Open Terminal, type sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Restart your modem/router
Try accessing from a different network (mobile data)
Test from a different device
Post-Transfer Email Authentication
Once propagation completes, there's one final technical step: re-authenticating your email security settings.
DKIM and SPF Re-authentication
Your web developer will need to update your email authentication records (DKIM and SPF) to ensure your emails don't get marked as spam. This requires temporary access to your email service provider's admin panel.
Why This Happens:
When your DNS records move to new servers, email authentication tokens need to be regenerated and updated to match your new hosting environment.
Your Role:
Provide temporary admin access to your Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or other email service provider so these security settings can be updated.
Best Practices for Transfer Day
Timing Your Transfer
Recommended Schedule:
Friday at 5 PM: Initiate the transfer
Weekend: Allow 48 hours for propagation
Sunday Evening: Verify everything is working
Monday Morning: Full business operations resume
This schedule ensures any disruptions happen during non-business hours.
Communication Strategy
Before Transfer:
Notify your team about the upcoming change
Set expectations about potential email delays
Prepare alternative communication methods
During Transfer:
Monitor your website periodically
Avoid scheduling important email campaigns
Be patient with the process
After Transfer:
Test all website functionality
Verify email is working properly
Confirm third-party integrations are active
When to Contact Us
Normal Situations (Don't Panic):
Website appears intermittently
Some emails are delayed
Different people see different versions of your site
Contact Us If:
Website is completely inaccessible after 72 hours
All email stops working after propagation completes
Critical website functions aren't working after 48 hours
Conclusion
Website transfers involve complex technical processes, but understanding what happens behind the scenes helps you prepare and stay calm during the transition. DNS propagation is a normal part of the internet's infrastructure – not a sign that something is wrong.
The key to a successful transfer is patience and proper preparation. While the 24-48 hour propagation period might feel long when you're eager to launch your new site, this temporary inconvenience leads to a smooth, professional website that serves your business for years to come.