Website migrations are complex. They’re risky. And they can go wrong in countless ways.
For web design agencies, smooth migrations aren’t just convenient — they’re essential for client satisfaction and business reputation.
What happens when a small agency needs to handle complex website migrations efficiently? How can they ensure client websites transition seamlessly without disruption?
Team 218 Web Services knows this challenge well. This web design agency faced tedious, manual site migrations before discovering a game-changing solution.
Enter Duplicator — the tool that transformed how Team 218 Web Services handles migrations, staging environments, and backups for clients.
In this case study, I’ll show you how Team 218 Web Services uses Duplicator to cut migration time and deliver flawless results for their clients!
An Introduction to Team 218 Web Services
Team 218 Web Services is an Iowa-based web design agency. Ever since 2014, they’ve been on a mission to help local businesses and nonprofits take their services online.
Chuck and Kim Hersey are the driving force behind Team 218 Web Services.
Chuck brings years of experience in computer networks, databases, and programming. What started as helping friends with website issues in 2004 evolved into something much bigger.
Kim’s eye for design and content creation completed the perfect partnership!
What makes them different? Their passion for local businesses.
“We LOVE what we do — and we think you will too!” says Chuck, who approaches each project with genuine enthusiasm.
Team 218 doesn’t just build websites. They create tailored online solutions for businesses across Iowa and beyond.
Their mission?
“To empower businesses and nonprofits with exceptional web solutions that drive growth, engagement, and success. We believe every organization deserves a website that reflects its identity and values. Our goal is to provide accessible, high-quality digital solutions that help you stand out in your industry.”
It’s this commitment that has helped Team 218 build a reputation for excellence in website development, SEO services, and digital solutions for the past decade.
The Challenge of Tedious Manual Website Migrations
Remember the days of manual website migrations? Team 218 Web Services does.
They used to do everything the hard way. Copying files. Exporting databases. Making manual adjustments. Troubleshooting unexpected errors.
For Chuck and Kim, this process wasn’t just tedious, it was time-consuming. What should have been a straightforward task often became an hours-long ordeal.
“When we started developing websites we did everything the manual way. If we needed to move a website or create a staging site to work on, it was a tedious process to copy files and databases and then upload them again.”
The challenges multiplied with larger, more complex sites. More pages meant more files. Custom websites like e-commerce stores introduced additional variables.
Team 218 knew there had to be a better way.
Their clients deserved seamless transitions without downtime or data loss. Their team needed a more efficient process to focus on what they do best — creating exceptional websites.
They needed a solution that could handle:
- Moving websites to new hosting environments
- Creating staging sites for development work
- Implementing comprehensive backup strategies
- Managing complex sites with large databases
That’s when they discovered Duplicator.
Streamlining Website Migrations with Duplicator
What happens when you find the perfect tool for a challenging job? Everything changes.
Team 218 Web Services started with Duplicator’s free version. It was a revelation compared to their manual processes.
Creating backups became simple. Migrations became predictable.
But when they encountered that first large, complex website project, they needed more muscle.
“After using it on several website projects, we ran into a fairly large, complex site that required more muscle. That’s when we upgraded to the Duplicator Pro version.”
The difference was immediate and significant. Let me show you how Team 218 leverages Duplicator Pro in their daily operations.
For client Hardy Lawn Furniture in Iowa City, Team 218 executed a flawless migration while implementing SEO improvements.
Their journey began by installing Duplicator Pro on the client’s existing WordPress site and creating a comprehensive backup stored securely offsite.
This initial step established a safety net for the entire project.
With the backup secure, they set up new web hosting and connected it to a newly registered domain name.
Using the Duplicator backup, they seamlessly replicated the original site on the new hosting environment without missing a single file or database entry.
To ensure visitors wouldn’t encounter broken links, the team implemented 301 redirects to the new domain. This critical step maintained the client’s search engine rankings during the transition.
The magic of Duplicator really shone when Team 218 created a staging environment to begin working on SEO improvements and design enhancements. This allowed them to make changes without impacting the live site, giving their client peace of mind throughout the process.
Once all updates were completed and approved by Hardy Lawn Furniture, they pushed the staging version live with a single action. The transition was smooth and instantaneous.
As a final precaution, they ran another Duplicator Pro backup and archived it off-site.
The result? A seamless transition the client never had to worry about.
“Duplicator Pro played a key role in making this transition efficient and trouble-free. It’s a powerful tool we rely on exclusively for handling site migrations and large-scale updates across all our web projects.”
What used to take hours now takes minutes. What once required tedious manual steps now happens almost automatically!
Results
With Duplicator, Team 218 Web Services was able to:
- Cut migration time from hours to minutes
- Eliminate manual processes for file and database transfers
- Successfully handle over 50 projects with zero failures
- Simplify staging environment creation for client approvals
- Reduce technical troubleshooting during migrations by nearly 100%
- Maintain consistent site performance during transitions
- Establish reliable offsite backups for client security
The impact extends beyond just time savings. Client satisfaction has increased as projects move forward without unexpected delays or technical issues.
For Team 218, Duplicator Pro isn’t just a tool — it’s a competitive advantage.
“Duplicator is one of those indispensable utility tools you might not use every single day—but when you need it, nothing else comes close. It’s been a lifesaver for Team 218 more times than we can count. Whether we’re setting up staging environments, migrating full websites, or just moving content between installs, we trust Duplicator to get it done right.”
The Right Migration Tool Changes Everything
Time is valuable, and client trust is irreplaceable.
Team 218 Web Services understands these principles well. That’s why Duplicator has become an essential part of their toolkit since 2015.
“What used to be a multi-step, manual process is now streamlined and repeatable — making Duplicator one of the first tools we reach for in nearly every project. After nearly a decade of use, it’s earned a permanent spot in our WordPress toolkit.”
Whether you’re a web design agency handling multiple client sites or a business owner managing your own online presence, migration challenges are universal. The right tools make all the difference.
For Team 218, Duplicator Pro eliminated the stress of website migrations, allowing them to focus on what they do best — creating exceptional websites that tell their clients’ unique stories.
Are you ready to simplify website migrations for your clients? Duplicator Pro is the solution you’ve been searching for!
While you’re here, I think you’ll like our other case studies:
Joella is a writer with years of experience in WordPress. At Duplicator, she specializes in site maintenance — from basic backups to large-scale migrations. Her ultimate goal is to make sure your WordPress website is safe and ready for growth.
