How to Migrate from SiteGround to Google Workspace?

Web hosting is the backbone for new businesses and emerging startups. There is no better way to advertise your services and tell the world that you can do something than to establish a strong online presence, showcasing your offering and bringing in potential clients. Fortunately, many competent and reliable web hosting providers offer domain registration, email services, etc. to help you get your business off the ground. SiteGround is one such organization that has been a prominent provider in the web hosting space since 2004. It has seen substantial growth since its inception and currently hosts over 3 million domains worldwide.

Although it is not a full productivity suite on its own, the service provider supports integration with Google Workspace, providing access to all the applications an organization might need for its daily operations. But now you might be wondering, why are people using SiteGround when Google can handle everything they need (except for domain registration/hosting which is handled by Squarespace on Google’s behalf). When comparing SiteGround’s in-built mail service to Gmail, the Google application is widely recognized for its superior performance, top-of-the-line security features, and seamless collaboration abilities.

Sticking with SiteGround’s mail service only makes sense if your organization has been recently set up and does not need all the functionalities that make Gmail/Workspace so popular. However, if you are part of a business that has outgrown SiteGround and are looking to make the transition to a more feature-rich productivity suite, say Google Workspace, then you have come to the right place. In the following sections of this blog, we will explore the reasons for migrating from SiteGround to Google Workspace and outline the essential steps to facilitate this process.

Exploring the Advantages of Google Workspace over SiteGround

By Google Workspace we mean Gmail over here, since it is kind of hard to compare an entire productivity suite against a web/domain hosting service. Although SiteGround provides a decent email service that gets the job done at a cost-effective price point, it lacks the advanced features, user-friendly interface, and robust integration capabilities that Gmail offers. The following points highlight this difference and clearly demonstrate why Google Workspace is the superior alternative to SiteGround.

Google Workspace offers a robust professional email service through Gmail, which includes advanced email management features and comprehensive spam protection.
With Google Workspace, users benefit from substantial storage capacity, providing up to 5TB per user, and ensuring ample space for emails and attachments.
Gmail is renowned for its high deliverability rates and minimal downtime, ensuring that your important emails are reliably sent and received without interruption.
Users have access to a suite of productivity applications, including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, enabling real-time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Google Drive provides secure cloud storage, allowing users to store, access, and share files effortlessly from any device.
Google Meet and Google Chat facilitate efficient communication through video conferencing and instant messaging, making team collaboration easy and effective.
Google Workspace allows for shared calendars, simplifying the process of scheduling meetings and managing time across teams.
With features like two-factor authentication (2FA), Google Workspace offers advanced security protocols to safeguard user accounts from unauthorized access.
Google employs advanced machine learning technology to filter out more than 99.9% of spam, phishing attempts, and malware, providing users with a secure email experience.
The platform supports a wide range of third-party integrations, allowing users to connect with essential tools and services like Slack, Zoom, and more through Google Workspace Add-ons.

Siteground to Google Workspace Pre-Migration Considerations

To ensure a smooth transition from SiteGround to Google Workspace, it’s crucial to undertake several preparatory steps. Here are the essential actions to consider:

Assess Data Volume: Examine the total size of your inbox and the number of emails that need to be migrated. This evaluation will help you allocate the necessary time and resources for the migration process.
Identify Key Emails: Pinpoint any important emails or folders that require special handling during the migration.
Backup Emails: Use SiteGround’s email export function to save your emails, providing a safety net in case any issues arise during the migration.
Set Up Your Google Workspace Account: If you haven’t already, create your Google Workspace account and configure the necessary organizational settings.
Enable Gmail for Users: Make sure that Gmail is activated for all users transitioning from SiteGround.
Plan Your Migration Timeline: Since larger mailboxes may take considerable time to migrate, develop a timeline that minimizes disruption during business hours.
Communicate with Users: Keep all users informed about the migration process, including timelines and expected downtime.
Conduct a Test Migration: Prior to migrating all data, perform a trial migration with a small sample of emails to identify and resolve any potential issues.

By meticulously following these preparatory steps, you can significantly improve the chances of a seamless transition from SiteGround to Google Workspace, reducing the risk of data loss and downtime.

Steps to Migrate Email Data from SiteGround to Google Workspace

To move emails from your SiteGround webmail to Google Workspace, follow these steps for a smooth transition:

Step 1: Access the Google Admin Console

Sign in to your Google Admin account through your Google Workspace client area. Use the credentials of your Workspace account to log in.

Step 2: Start the Email Migration

Inside the Admin console, navigate to Data > Data import & export on the left menu. If this option isn’t visible, select Show more. Once located, proceed to initiate the migration setup.

Step 3: Configure Email Source Settings

In this step, specify the following settings for the email source:

Source Type: Choose “Other IMAP Server.”
Data Type: Select “Email.”
Connection Method: Use the recommended “Auto Select.”
Source Credentials: Enter the username and password of the email account on SiteGround that you are migrating.

Once you’ve filled out the details, click Start to begin.

Step 4: Set Migration Preferences

After the system connects to the source account, you can adjust your migration preferences:

Start Date: Define the starting point for transferring emails.
Email Options: Decide whether to include deleted or junk emails in the transfer, or if you’d like to skip certain folders.

Once these options are set, click Select Users.

Step 5: Assign the Target User(s) and Begin the Transfer

For a single email transfer, select Add User and re-enter the credentials of the SiteGround account you’re moving. For multiple accounts, opt for Bulk Migrate by uploading a CSV file.

In the final step, specify which Google Workspace user will receive the migrated emails. Click Start to initiate the migration. The time taken will depend on the size of your email data. Once the transfer is done, the status will be marked as “Complete.”

Post-Migration: Evaluating Your SiteGround to Google Workspace Migration Outcome

Confirm that all emails have migrated successfully to Gmail, checking for any missing or incorrectly transferred messages. If you haven’t done so already, import your contacts into Google Contacts, ensuring they are accurately organized.
Update your domain’s MX records to direct new emails to your Google Workspace account. Additionally, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records can be configured to enhance email deliverability and security.
If you utilize email clients such as Outlook or Thunderbird, set them up to work with your new Gmail account. Ensure that your mobile devices are also configured to access your new Gmail.
Inform your contacts of any changes to your email address and update your email signature accordingly. Be sure to revise your email address for any subscriptions or services you are using.
Provide training for users on how to effectively utilize Google Workspace tools, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Meet. Share best practices to optimize the use of these applications.
Monitor email flow to ensure everything is functioning as expected and be ready to assist users with any issues they may encounter during the transition.

By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth transition from SiteGround to Google Workspace while maximizing the benefits of your new productivity platform.

Partner with Apps4Rent for Seamless SiteGround to Google Workspace Migration

Migration is the way of life when dealing with things as rapidly evolving and changing as software applications. Businesses grow, organizational needs expand, services cannot perpetually keep up with an organization’s growth, etc. – there are many reasons why you might be looking to migrate from SiteGround to Google Workspace. Regardless of the motivation behind your decision to switch services, Apps4Rent’s expert migration engineers are here to simplify your transition.

Apps4Rent is a Google Cloud Partner that has helped numerous organizations transition to an optimized and more productive digital ecosystem. Our Google Workspace migration experts are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to ensure that your migration to the Google productivity suite is smooth, efficient, and minimally affects your day-to-day functioning. With Apps4Rent by your side, you can focus on what matters most – growing your business while we handle the technical details. Contact our dedicated customer support staff over chat, call, or mail to learn more.