It can save you money on hosting fees, give you a break from maintaining the site, and allow you to focus your attention on other projects. But before you hit the button, there are a few things you should consider.
Make sure you have a backup
This is the most important step! Make sure you have a recent backup of your website before you shut it down. That way, if you ever want to bring it back, you have all of your content and files ready to go.
Notify your visitors
If you have a loyal following, it’s only fair to let them know that the site is shutting down. You can do this with a simple message on the home page, or even an email to your subscribers.
Redirect your domain
If you’re not planning on bringing the site back, you can redirect your domain to another website or to a’coming soon’Â page. This will help prevent visitors from landing on a dead site, and it can also help you keep your domain name if you plan on using it for another project in the future.
Delete your social media accounts
If you have social media accounts associated with your website (such as a Facebook page or Twitter profile), be sure to delete them as well. There’s no point in keeping them active if the website is no longer around.
Cancel your hosting account
Once you’re sure you don’t need the hosting account anymore, go ahead and cancel it. This will stop you from being charged, and it will free up the domain and/or hosting space for someone else to use.
Shutting down a website can be a difficult decision, but it’s often the best thing to do when a site is no longer active. Just be sure to take the necessary steps to back up your data, notify your visitors, and redirect your domain before you hit the ‘off’Â switch.