Everything I need from you to move your website smoothly, step by step.
Before you start, you will need:
1. A computer (not a phone or tablet)
2. The Google or Gmail account connected to your website
3. My email address: dialbridgeai@gmail.com
Your student section (the subdomain) will not be affected. It will stay exactly where it is.
Time needed: about 15 to 20 minutes total.
| # | What | Why I Need It |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Analytics access | To see which pages get the most traffic |
| 2 | Google Search Console access | To see which Google searches bring people to your site |
| 3 | Domain registrar login | To point your website address to the new site |
| 4 | Current hosting details | To keep your student section running |
| 5 | Email information | To make sure your email keeps working |
This lets me see your website traffic data. I will only have Viewer access, which means I can look at reports but cannot change or delete anything.
Open your web browser (Google Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge).
In the address bar at the top, type: analytics.google.com
Press Enter. If it asks you to sign in, use the Google or Gmail account connected to your website.
If you are not sure which account to use, try your business email first. If that does not work, try any other Gmail accounts you have.
Look at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
You will see a small gear icon with the word "Admin" next to it. Click on it.
You may need to scroll down on the left side of the screen to find it.
After clicking Admin, you will see a page with settings.
In the left column (under the word "Account"), look for "Account Access Management". Click on it.
In the upper-right area, you will see a blue button with a "+" sign. Click it.
A small menu will appear. Click "Add users".
A panel will slide open on the right side.
You will see a box that says "Email addresses".
Type in: dialbridgeai@gmail.com
Double-check that the email is spelled correctly.
Below the email box, you will see a list of roles with checkboxes.
Make sure only "Viewer" has a checkmark. If any other boxes are checked, click them to uncheck them.
"Viewer" means I can look at your data but cannot change or delete anything.
Click the blue "Add" button in the upper-right corner of that panel.
Done! I will receive an email from Google confirming I have access.
Section 1 complete. You have granted Google Analytics Viewer access.
Google Search Console is a separate tool from Analytics. It shows me the actual words people type into Google before they find your website. I need this to make sure your new site keeps showing up for the same searches.
In your browser, go to: search.google.com/search-console
Sign in with the same Google account you use for your website.
If you see your website listed, click on it.
If you have never set up Search Console, you will see a setup screen instead of your website. That is okay. Just let me know and I can set it up for you.
In the left sidebar (the menu on the left side of the screen), look near the bottom.
Click on "Settings".
On the Settings page, you will see a list of options.
Click on "Users and permissions".
Click the blue "Add user" button.
Type in: dialbridgeai@gmail.com
For the permission level, select "Full" (this lets me see all search data).
Click "Add".
"Full" access in Search Console only means I can see all the data. I still cannot make changes to your actual website.
Section 2 complete. You have granted Google Search Console access.
Your domain registrar is the company where your website address (like yoursite.com) is registered. This is where I will need to make a small change to point your website address to the new site. Your student section subdomain will not be affected.
Common domain registrars include:
GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains (now Squarespace Domains), Network Solutions, 1&1 (IONOS), Hover, Cloudflare, Wix, Squarespace
Not sure which one you use? Check your email for a yearly renewal notice. It usually comes once a year with a subject like "Domain Renewal" or "Your domain is expiring." That email will tell you which company holds your domain.
Think about where you bought your website address (yoursite.com).
If you do not remember, search your email inbox for "domain renewal" or "domain expir".
The company name in that email is your domain registrar.
If your previous web developer set this up, they may know. You can also ask me and I can look it up for you.
I will need the following:
a) The name of the registrar (for example, "GoDaddy" or "Namecheap")
b) Your username or email used to log in
c) Your password
After I make the DNS changes, you can change your password if you would like.
What I will do with this: I will update the DNS settings so that your main domain (yoursite.com) points to the new website. Your student section subdomain will continue pointing to your current WordPress hosting. Nothing about the student section will change.
Section 3 complete. You have identified and shared your domain registrar information.
Your student section lives on a subdomain that is hosted on your current WordPress hosting. I need to know where that is so I can make sure it stays running when we move the main site.
Common WordPress hosting companies include:
Bluehost, SiteGround, HostGator, DreamHost, GoDaddy Hosting, WP Engine, Flywheel, A2 Hosting, InMotion, Hostinger
This may or may not be the same company as your domain registrar.
This is the company that stores your actual website files (where WordPress is installed).
If you are not sure, search your email for "hosting" or "WordPress" and look for a monthly or yearly bill.
It could be the same company as your domain registrar, or it could be different.
I need these details about your current hosting:
a) The hosting company name (for example, "Bluehost" or "SiteGround")
b) Your hosting login (email/username and password)
c) The WordPress admin login for the student section (the address is usually something like students.yoursite.com/wp-admin)
After the migration is complete, you can change your password if you would like.
Why I need this: When I point your main domain to the new website, I need to make sure the student subdomain keeps pointing to this hosting account. Having the hosting login lets me verify everything is set up correctly so your students do not lose access.
Section 4 complete. You have shared your hosting information.
This is very important. If you use an email address that matches your website (for example, you@yoursite.com), changing DNS settings could temporarily disrupt your email if I do not set it up correctly. I need to know about your email setup to prevent this.
Please let me know the answers to the following:
a) Do you use an email address that ends with your website name? (for example, you@yoursite.com rather than a Gmail or Yahoo address)
b) If yes, where is your email hosted? Common options include: Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), Microsoft 365 (Outlook), your hosting company (Bluehost, SiteGround, etc.), or you are not sure.
c) How many email addresses do you have on your domain? (for example, info@yoursite.com, admin@yoursite.com, etc.)
If you only use a Gmail address (like yourname@gmail.com) or a Yahoo/Outlook.com address, you can skip this section entirely. Those will not be affected.
Why this matters: Email that uses your domain name (you@yoursite.com) relies on the same DNS settings I will be updating. If I know where your email is hosted, I can make sure the email settings (called MX records) stay correct so your email continues working without interruption.
Section 5 complete. You have shared your email information.
Here is everything in one place. You can use this as a checklist to make sure you have completed and sent everything.
| # | Item | What to Send / Do | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Analytics | Add my email as a Viewer (Section 1 steps) | ☐ |
| 2 | Google Search Console | Add my email with Full access (Section 2 steps) | ☐ |
| 3 | Domain Registrar | Company name + login credentials | ☐ |
| 4 | WordPress Hosting | Company name + hosting login + WP admin login | ☐ |
| 5 | Email Details | Domain email? Where hosted? How many addresses? | ☐ |
What will NOT change:
Your student section subdomain will continue to work exactly as it does now. It will stay on your current WordPress hosting. Your students will not notice any difference.
Your email (if you have domain email) will keep working. I will make sure the email settings are preserved during the transition.
If you have any questions or get stuck on any step, just reach out and I will walk you through it.