Migrating from GoDaddy to a Static Site: 7 Critical Mistakes to Avoid

Introduction

It often starts with a letter or an email: “Your products renew in 30 days.” For many UK business owners, opening that notification reveals a “renewal shock”—a price hike where introductory rates vanish, replaced by significantly higher fees for hosting, SSL, and email. This financial frustration, combined with slow loading speeds and security concerns, is why many businesses are shifting away from mass-market builders.

The move toward high-performance static sites is driven by the need for technical excellence, iron-clad security, and predictable costs. However, the technical procedure of migrating from GoDaddy to a static site is more than a simple “copy-paste” exercise. It is a precise operation that, if executed incorrectly, can jeopardize your digital identity, causing business email outages and the loss of hard-won SEO rankings.

Written by Jamie Grand, an expert web developer who has rescued numerous UK businesses from failed DIY migrations, this guide exposes the seven most common and costly mistakes made during this process. Below is a clear, safe protocol to follow, specifically tailored for the UK market, ensuring you retain control of your assets without disrupting your business.

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👤 Written by: Jamie Grand Reviewed by: Jamie Grand, Expert Web Developer & SEO Specialist Last updated: 12 January 2026

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ℹ️ Transparency: This article details the technical process of migrating from GoDaddy based on professional experience and publicly available data. Our goal is to provide accurate, helpful information to prevent common business disruptions. Some links may connect to our managed services, which offer a solution to the challenges discussed.

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Mistake 1: The "Email Blackout" (The MX Record Trap)

The most catastrophic mistake when leaving GoDaddy is changing your nameservers to a new host (like Netlify or Vercel) without first migrating your email’s MX records. This action will immediately and completely shut down your business email.

The problem stems from how GoDaddy bundles services. Often, your domain DNS and your email hosting are tied together in the same panel. Generic AI tutorials frequently miss this nuance, instructing users to simply “update nameservers,” which cuts the connection to the email server instantly.

Understanding the Risk

MX (Mail Exchange) records are the signposts that tell the internet where to deliver your emails. If you switch your nameservers to a new host, you are effectively removing these signposts. Until you set them up again on the new host, every email sent to your business will bounce.

The Safe Fix: "The Hybrid DNS Method"

To prevent downtime, we recommend the Hybrid DNS Method for the initial transition. This approach keeps your DNS management at GoDaddy while pointing your website traffic to the new host.

1. Do NOT change nameservers yet. Keep them set to GoDaddy’s default nameservers.
2. Locate your new IP. Log into your new host (e.g., Netlify, Vercel) and find the Load Balancer IP address for your new static site (this is the value for your ‘A’ record).
3. Access DNS Management. Go to your GoDaddy DNS management panel.
4. Update the ‘A’ Record. Change only the ‘A’ record (@) to point to your new static site’s IP address.
5. Leave MX Records Untouched. Ensure the MX, TXT, and CNAME records related to email remain exactly as they are.

By following this method, godaddy email not working becomes a non-issue. Your website traffic is directed to the new, fast static server, while your email traffic continues to flow uninterrupted through GoDaddy’s existing configuration.

The Alternative

If you must move your DNS management entirely (for example, to use Netlify DNS), you must copy every single MX, TXT, and CNAME record from GoDaddy and replicate them in the new host’s DNS panel before you switch the nameservers.

For a UK business, an email blackout during trading hours (9-5 GMT) can result in lost client trust, missed orders, and operational chaos. Ensuring your MX records are secure is the first line of defense.

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Mistake 2: The "Hidden Unlock" (Navigating GoDaddy's UI Maze)

GoDaddy frequently updates its user interface, often making the options to “Unlock Domain” and get your “Transfer Authorization Code” difficult to find. Outdated online guides, often used by AI, will lead you to dead ends.

The 2026 Verified Path

To successfully transfer domain away from godaddy, you need to navigate the specific menu structure currently in place. Follow this verified path to locate your authorization code:

1. Log in to your GoDaddy Account and go to My Products.
2. Select your specific domain name to enter the Domain Settings page.
3. Scroll down to the section labeled Additional Settings.
4. Select the text link labeled Transfer domain away from GoDaddy.
5. Follow the prompts to “Continue with transfer” (you may need to decline an offer to stay).
6. Click to reveal your Authorization Code.

(Note: As shown in Fig 1, the ‘Additional Settings’ section is often located at the very bottom of the domain management page.)

Common Hurdles

Be aware of the 60-day transfer lock. If you have registered the domain or transferred it within the last 60 days, ICANN regulations prevent you from moving it. Additionally, ensure you have disabled “Domain Privacy” if instructed by your new registrar, as this can sometimes block the transfer request.

If you are not ready to move the domain registration itself, you can simply cancel godaddy hosting keep domain. This allows you to pay GoDaddy only for the domain name renewal while hosting your site elsewhere, saving on the monthly hosting fees.

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Mistake 3: Ignoring UK Data Sovereignty & GDPR

A common mistake during migration is deploying your static site to default US-based servers (like us-east-1). For a UK business serving UK customers, this can create unnecessary GDPR compliance risks regarding data transfer.

The GDPR Issue

While data transfer to the US is possible under current frameworks (like the UK-US Data Bridge), hosting data locally in the UK or EU is the simplest, safest, and fastest approach for your users. The growth of the UK’s tech sector, as highlighted in the UK Government’s 2024 AI Sector Study, underscores the increasing importance of adhering to local compliance and infrastructure standards to build trust [1].

Conversely, the risk of inadequate security is significant. In November 2025, the UK’s ICO fined LastPass UK Ltd over £1.2 million for failing to implement appropriate security measures, leading to a data breach affecting 1.6 million UK customers [5]. This enforcement action highlights the legal duty under UK GDPR to maintain secure web infrastructure.

The Fix: Region Selection

When setting up your static website hosting uk environment, you must manually configure the region:

• Netlify/Vercel: While their CDNs are global, any serverless functions processing form data (like “Contact Us” forms) should be configured to a UK/EU region. Look for region settings and select eu-west-2 (London) or eu-central-1 (Frankfurt).
• AWS S3/Cloudfront: When creating an S3 bucket for hosting, explicitly select the London (eu-west-2) region.

The Performance Benefit

Beyond compliance, hosting locally offers a tangible performance benefit. Data travels faster over shorter distances. By hosting in London or Frankfurt, you significantly reduce latency for your UK customers, improving Core Web Vitals and the overall user experience. This aligns with the security benefits of static sites, which rely on decentralized, secure infrastructure.

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Mistake 4: Needlessly Paying for SSL (The "Certificate Tax")

A major financial mistake is continuing to pay for an SSL certificate after migrating. GoDaddy charges significant annual fees for SSL, whereas modern static site hosting platforms provide it for free, automatically.

The Cost Breakdown

• GoDaddy: The typical godaddy ssl certificate cost is often between £60 and £80+ per year. These prices frequently increase at renewal, adding to the “renewal shock” mentioned earlier.
• Static Hosting (Netlify, Vercel, etc.): These platforms utilize Let’s Encrypt to provide free, auto-renewing SSL certificates as a standard feature. The cost is £0.

The "Why"

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is now a non-negotiable standard for security and SEO. Modern web infrastructure treats it as a core utility, not a luxury add-on. By migrating to a static host, you immediately eliminate this unnecessary annual “tax,” contributing to a lower total cost of ownership.

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Mistake 5: The "Export & Pray" Myth (Builder Lock-In)

You cannot reliably “export” a website built with GoDaddy’s Website Builder. The platform is a closed ecosystem designed for lock-in, and any attempt to export the HTML will result in a broken, non-functional site lacking critical code and assets.

Busting the Myth

A common search query is export godaddy website to html, but the reality is disappointing. GoDaddy’s builder relies on proprietary CSS and JavaScript that resides on their servers. If you use a browser “Save As” function or a scraping tool, you will get a visual copy, but forms, navigation, and mobile responsiveness often break immediately upon redeployment.

The "Rebuild" Mindset

When migrating from GoDaddy to a static site, you should reframe the project from a “migration” to a “rebuild.” This is an opportunity to improve, not just copy.

• Performance: A manual rebuild creates a clean, lightweight static site, free of GoDaddy’s heavy code bloat.
• Modernization: It allows you to update the design and user experience to modern standards.
• Control: You gain complete ownership of your source code and digital assets.

Pitching the Solution

For business owners who lack the time or technical skill to perform a manual rebuild, professional services offer a bridge. Our “Zero Upfront” rebuild service is designed specifically for this scenario, handling the technical reconstruction of your site without the high initial capital outlay usually associated with custom development.

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Mistake 6 & 7: Forgetting DNS Propagation and 301 Redirects

Mistake 6: Panicking During DNS Propagation

After you update your DNS records, your site may appear offline or show the old version for a period. This is known as DNS propagation. In the UK, godaddy dns propagation time typically ranges from 1 to 4 hours, though it can officially take up to 48 hours.

The Tip: To speed this up, lower the TTL (Time To Live) setting on your GoDaddy DNS records to the minimum (e.g., 600 seconds) at least 24 hours before you make the migration. This tells servers around the world to check for updates more frequently.

Mistake 7: Losing SEO Juice with Broken URLs

If your new static site has a different URL structure from your old GoDaddy site (e.g., changing /about-us to /about), you risk losing the SEO authority of the old page.

The Fix: You must use a website migration checklist that includes 301 redirects. A 301 redirect permanently tells search engines that the page has moved. On platforms like Netlify, this is handled via a _redirects file. On Vercel, it is configured in vercel.json. Failing to do this results in “404 Not Found” errors, which can harm your search rankings.

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Pre-Flight Checklist: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I move my website away from GoDaddy without losing email?

The safest way is to use the “Hybrid DNS Method”: keep your domain’s DNS managed at GoDaddy and only change the ‘A’ record to point to your new website’s server IP. This leaves your MX (email) records untouched, guaranteeing zero email downtime. Do not change your nameservers until you’ve confirmed your email migration plan.

Can I export my GoDaddy website builder to HTML?

No, you cannot reliably export a functional website from GoDaddy’s Website Builder. While a browser can save the HTML, it will be missing critical CSS and JavaScript files tied to GoDaddy’s platform. The correct approach is a manual “rebuild” of the site on the new host, which results in a much cleaner and faster end product.

Why is my GoDaddy renewal price so high?

GoDaddy’s renewal prices are high because their business model relies on low introductory offers followed by significant price increases for renewals and essential add-ons like SSL and email. This “renewal shock” is a primary reason many users migrate to platforms with more transparent, all-inclusive pricing, such as static site hosts where SSL is free.

How long does GoDaddy DNS propagation take in the UK?

DNS propagation for GoDaddy in the UK typically takes between 1 to 4 hours, but can officially take up to 48 hours. The exact time depends on various internet providers’ caching policies. To speed this up, you can lower the TTL (Time To Live) on your DNS records at GoDaddy 24 hours before making the change.

Is GoDaddy SSL free?

No, GoDaddy SSL certificates are typically not free with their basic hosting plans. They are sold as a premium add-on, often with a low introductory price that increases significantly upon renewal. In contrast, modern static hosting providers like Netlify and Vercel include free, auto-renewing Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates as a standard feature.

Transfer domain away from GoDaddy checklist

Here is a quick checklist: 1. Ensure the domain is over 60 days old. 2. Verify your contact email is correct. 3. In GoDaddy settings, unlock the domain. 4. Request the transfer authorization code. 5. Initiate the transfer at your new registrar. 6. Approve the transfer via the confirmation email. Always handle email migration before starting this process.

GoDaddy vs Netlify for small business

For small businesses, GoDaddy is an all-in-one builder for beginners, while Netlify offers superior performance, security, and scalability for modern websites. GoDaddy has higher long-term costs and platform lock-in. Netlify provides free SSL, a global CDN, and better developer workflows, making it a more professional and cost-effective choice for growth-focused businesses.

Does GoDaddy support ALIAS records?

Yes, GoDaddy’s DNS management supports ALIAS records, although they may refer to them as “ANAME” or simply allow you to point an A record at a hostname. This is useful for pointing a root domain (e.g., yourdomain.co.uk) to a CDN or platform that doesn’t provide a static IP, which is a common requirement for modern static hosting.

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Limitations, Alternatives & Professional Guidance

While this guide covers the most common migration scenarios, it is important to acknowledge that complex setups may present additional challenges. Websites with extensive e-commerce integrations, active forums, or custom web applications often rely on server-side databases that cannot be directly replicated on a static site. These features require a “headless” architecture, where the front end is static but communicates with APIs for dynamic functionality.

If a full migration seems too daunting, an alternative approach is to improve the existing GoDaddy site, though this is often limited by the platform’s constraints on performance and cost. Another option is moving to a managed WordPress host. While this may be simpler than a static rebuild, it typically does not offer the same level of security and speed benefits as a pure static site architecture.

For businesses that rely heavily on their website for daily revenue, or those managing sensitive customer data, a DIY migration carries significant risk. In these cases, we strongly recommend seeking professional consultation. Expert guidance helps ensure a seamless transition with zero downtime, specifically safeguarding your email continuity and preserving your SEO rankings during the move.

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Conclusion

A successful project migrating from GoDaddy to a static site prioritizes email continuity, avoids hidden costs, and respects UK data laws. The risks of a DIY approach—ranging from email blackouts to lost SEO rankings—are significant and can disrupt business operations. However, the benefits of a well-executed move are equally powerful: enhanced speed, superior security, and lower long-term costs.

Instead of risking your revenue and time on a DIY migration, consider a professional solution. Jamie Grand’s “Zero Upfront” managed static site service handles the entire technical rebuild and migration for you. We ensure a seamless, risk-free transition, included as part of our predictable £45/mo plan. Get in touch today to secure your digital future.

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References

1. UK Government AI Sector Study 2024
2. The Mechanics of Trust (UCL Research)
3. Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market 2024
4. OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024 (Volume 2)
5. ICO Enforcement Action: LastPass UK Ltd