How to Add a Custom Domain to Blogger: A Complete Guide

Owning a custom domain can significantly boost your blog’s brand and credibility. If you’re using Blogger, Google’s free blogging platform, and want to give your blog a professional touch, adding a custom domain is one of the best ways to do it. A custom domain transforms your blog from a default blogspot.com URL to something that better reflects your brand, like www.yourblogname.com. This guide will walk you through the entire process of adding a custom domain to Blogger.

Why Should You Add a Custom Domain to Blogger?

There are several benefits to using a custom domain for your Blogger blog. These include:

1. Professionalism: A custom domain shows that you take your blog seriously. It adds a level of professionalism that a free blogspot.com domain can’t match.
2. Branding: A custom domain allows you to create a unique brand identity. Visitors will remember a custom domain better than a long subdomain like yourblogname.blogspot.com.
3. SEO Benefits: Custom domains tend to perform better in search engine rankings. It signals to search engines that you own your site, and it’s more likely to attract backlinks and other SEO signals.
4. Ownership: With a custom domain, you have more control over your website. Even if you decide to move away from Blogger in the future, you can take your domain with you.

Now that you understand the benefits, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of adding a custom domain to your Blogger blog.

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How to Add a Custom Domain to Blogger

Step 1: Purchase a Domain Name

Before you can add a custom domain to Blogger, you’ll need to purchase a domain. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Choose a Domain Registrar: A domain registrar is a service that sells domain names. Some popular options include:
   • Google Domains
   • Namecheap
   • GoDaddy
   • Bluehost
2. Search for Domain Availability: Enter your preferred domain name and see if it’s available. Choose a name that’s relevant to your blog, easy to remember, and reflects your brand.
3. Purchase the Domain: Once you’ve found the right domain, proceed to purchase it. Domain names typically cost between $10 and $20 per year, depending on the extension (like .com, .net, .org, etc.).

Step 2: Access Blogger’s Settings

Once you’ve purchased your domain, it’s time to integrate it with your Blogger blog. Here’s how:

1. Log in to Blogger: Go to Blogger.com and sign in with your Google account.
2. Access the Settings: From your Blogger dashboard, click on the blog you want to add the domain to. Navigate to the “Settings” section on the left-hand side.

Step 3: Set Up Custom Domain in Blogger

1. Go to Custom Domain Settings: Scroll down to the “Publishing” section in the settings. You’ll see an option labeled “Custom Domain”. Click on it.
2. Enter Your Custom Domain: In the custom domain field, type in the domain name you purchased, including www (e.g., www.yourdomain.com). Click “Save”.Note: If you try to save the domain, you’ll likely receive an error message stating that Blogger cannot verify your domain. This is normal and requires DNS configuration.

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How to Configure DNS Settings for Blogger

To complete the custom domain setup, you’ll need to configure your DNS settings with the domain registrar.

Step 1: Access Your Domain Registrar’s DNS Settings

1. Log in to Your Domain Registrar: Go to the website where you purchased your domain (e.g., Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.).
2. Locate DNS Settings: Look for the DNS or Domain Management settings. This is where you can add custom records for your domain.

Step 2: Add CNAME Records

Blogger requires two CNAME records to verify and connect your domain. These are provided in the error message you saw earlier. The records are typically:

1. First CNAME: Name: www, Destination: ghs.google.com.
2. Second CNAME: This will be unique to your blog. You’ll see a string of letters and numbers (e.g., abcd1234) for the Name field, and a similar string for the Destination field.

To add these records:

1. Click Add Record in your DNS settings.
2. Select CNAME as the record type.
3. Input the values as shown above for both CNAME records.

Step 3: Add A Records (Optional but Recommended)

To ensure that your blog works without typing www before the domain, you should add A records as well. These are the IP addresses that point your domain to Blogger.

Add the following A records in the DNS management section:

• 216.239.32.21
• 216.239.34.21
• 216.239.36.21
• 216.239.38.21

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Final Steps in Blogger

Step 1: Save Your Settings in Blogger

After you’ve added the DNS records, go back to your Blogger dashboard. Return to the Custom Domain settings, enter your domain again, and click “Save”.

Blogger will now verify your domain, which may take a few minutes to several hours. Once verified, your custom domain will be active.

Step 2: Redirect Non-www Traffic to www (Optional)

To ensure all traffic is directed to your domain with www, you can enable the non-www redirect option. In the Custom Domain section, check the box that says “Redirect yourdomain.com to www.yourdomain.com“.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, you may encounter errors or delays when adding a custom domain to Blogger. Here are some common issues and how to fix them.

Error: Domain Not Verified

If Blogger can’t verify your domain, double-check your CNAME and A record settings in your domain registrar. Ensure that all values are correctly entered and that you’ve waited long enough for the DNS changes to propagate (which can take up to 48 hours).

Error: Too Many Redirects

This error typically occurs if you have conflicting redirection rules in your DNS settings. Ensure that your A records and CNAME records are correctly set up to avoid this problem.

Domain Not Accessible without www

If your domain doesn’t work without the www prefix, make sure you’ve added the correct A records to your DNS settings. The four IP addresses mentioned earlier should resolve this issue.

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Best Practices for Using a Custom Domain on Blogger

Adding a custom domain is a great start, but there are other things you can do to optimize your blog for performance and SEO.

1. Enable HTTPS

HTTPS is crucial for security and SEO. To enable HTTPS for your custom domain:

1. Go to Blogger Settings.
2. In the “HTTPS” section, enable the option to “Redirect to HTTPS”.

2. Use SEO-friendly URLs

Blogger automatically generates URLs based on your blog titles, but you can edit them. Make sure your URLs are concise and include keywords relevant to the post.

3. Optimize for Mobile

Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites. Make sure your blog’s theme is responsive and performs well on mobile devices.

4. Submit Sitemap to Google Search Console

To help Google index your custom domain blog faster, submit your sitemap to Google Search Console. Here’s how:

1. Go to Google Search Console.
2. Add your domain property.
3. Navigate to “Sitemaps” and submit the following URL: yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.

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Conclusion

Adding a custom domain to your Blogger blog is an essential step for growing your brand, increasing your blog’s credibility, and boosting your SEO efforts. While the process might seem technical at first, this guide provides everything you need to make it as simple as possible. By purchasing a domain, configuring the DNS settings, and making a few tweaks in Blogger, you’ll have a custom domain up and running in no time.

So, what are you waiting for? Take your Blogger blog to the next level with a custom domain today!

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