Web store launch: Update TTL settings
In preparation for launching your site, there is one setting that you should modify to assist in the transition from your existing site to your new, called "TTL" (Time to Live).
You will need to contact your DNS provider (the company that hosts your web store URL e.g. www.example.com) and request they modify your TTL settings for you - ideally this should be set to 5 minutes.
What is TTL?
Name server changes usually take 24 to 48 hours to fully start working - i.e. changing where your URL points to. This period, called propagation, is the projected length of time it takes for root name servers and cache records across the entire web to be updated with your website's DNS information i.e. how long it will take for your site to transition from the old site to the new. Because of propagation, not all visitors will be directed to your new name servers on your new hosting account; some visitors will continue to be directed to your old name servers on your old hosting account until propagation is complete.
How quickly visitors are directed to the new name servers depends on their physical location, internet service provider and some luck; it is not something Retail Express or your DNS provider has control over. However in preparation for this, asking your DNS provider update the TTL settings to a shorter time frame assists in speeding up this propagation process.
What do I need to tell them?
You can contact your DNS provider and just explain to them exactly what it says above; that you need to modify your TTL settings to 5mins. They should be able to complete this for you and advise when this has been done (how long this will take varies from vendor to vendor).