How to Add a Custom Domain on Blogger

What is Blogger

Blogger is a Google platform for bloggers around the world. It's a multi-user platform where users can publish blog posts. It's a google hosted platform, so no hosting or domain is required to open a blogger account. That means you can have an a.blogspot.com domain name and host with a blogger dashboard for free. Blogger was first developed by Pyra Labs, which was bought by Google in 2003. 

How to Add a Custom Domain on Blogger

Though Google does offer a free.blogspot.com domain for free, users can add a custom top-level domain on Blogger. You don't need to pay hosting charges from now on.  

Add A Custom Domain on Blogger

Connect to your custom domain from Blogger. 

1. Sign in to the Blogger account.
2. Select the blog you want to add a custom domain.
3. On the left side, click on Settings.
4. Under "Publishing," click "+ Setup a 3rd party URL for your blog".
5. Type the URL of the domain you've purchased from the third party.
6. Add www. before your domain name.
7. Click on Save.

You'll see an error with two CNAME settings information.

Don't worry about the error; just go for two CNAME.

       -- Name, Label, or Host: Enter the name as the subdomain, like "blog." or "www." For the destination, enter "ghs.googlehosted.com."

       -- Destination, Target, or Points to; this is different for each person and specific to your blog and Google Account.

    8. Go to your domain provider, where you bought your domain. Find the DNS (Domain Name System) settings in the control panel of your domain provider.

    9. Under "Name, Label or Host," type the subdomain you entered in the previous step.

    10. Under "Destination," Target Points to," type "ghs.googlehosted.com."

    11. Enter details for the second CNAME specific to your blog and Google Account.

    12. Wait an hour for your DNS settings to activate.

How to Add www. to your Custom Domain

To change your newly added domain (example: howtodohacks.com) to www.howtodohacks.com, add A-records that point to Google IPs. Follow the steps: 

1. Go to your domain name provider’s website. In my case, I am going to NameCheap. 
2. Open your domain DNS settings.
3. Add four A-records that point to Google IPs, as shown in the Video.

216.239.32.21

216.239.34.21

216.239.36.21

216.239.38.21

    4. Go to your Blogger account.

    5. Select the blog you want to update.

    6. On the left, click Settings and then Basic.

    7. Under "Publishing," under "Blog Address," check Redirect [howtodohacks.com to www.howtodohacks.com].

Watch the Video on "How to Add a Custom Domain on Blogger" Or how to add third-party top-level domains in Blogger.

For more details on How to Add a Custom Domain on Blogger, watch the Video:

Summary

Connecting a top-level domain (TLD) to Blogger is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it adds a sense of professionalism to your blog, giving it a more credible and trustworthy appearance. A custom domain also allows you to establish a consistent brand experience across all your online platforms, aligning your domain name with your blog's niche or target audience. Moreover, using a custom domain grant your complete ownership and control over your blog's web address, eliminating reliance on a subdomain and providing more options for customization. In terms of search engine optimization (SEO), custom domains are preferred by search engines, which can enhance your blog's rankings and visibility.

A custom domain offers flexibility for future growth, as you can easily migrate your blog to a different platform or web hosting provider without changing your web address, ensuring continuity and minimizing reader impact. Lastly, a custom domain opens up monetization opportunities, attracting brands and advertisers more inclined to collaborate with bloggers with a professional custom domain. Connecting a TLD to Blogger enhances professionalism, branding, ownership, SEO benefits, flexibility, and monetization prospects for your blog.