You’ve clicked "Create Blog," picked a template, and maybe even drafted your first post. Congratulations! But before you hit the "Publish" button and share your link with the world, there is some "under-the-hood" maintenance you need to perform.
The default settings on Blogger are designed for casual hobbyists, not professional creators. If you want to rank on Google and provide a smooth experience for your readers, you need to tweak these 10 critical settings right now.
1. Enable HTTPS Redirection
Where: Settings > HTTPS
Google prioritizes secure websites. By default, Blogger provides an SSL certificate, but you must ensure "HTTPS redirection" is toggled ON. This ensures that if someone types http, they are automatically sent to the secure https version of your site. It builds trust and helps your SEO.
2. Craft a Keyword-Rich Meta Description
Where: Settings > Basic > Description
This isn't the title of your blog; it’s the short snippet (max 500 characters) that appears under your site name in Google search results.
- The Fix: Don’t just say "My personal blog." Use keywords related to your niche, like "Step-by-step gardening tips for beginners and urban farmers."
3. Set Your Time Zone Correctly
Where: Settings > Formatting > Time Zone
If you plan on scheduling posts for the future (a pro move!), your time zone must be accurate. If it’s set to Pacific Time and you’re in London, your "morning" posts will go live while your audience is asleep.
4. Enable "Visible to Search Engines"
Where: Settings > Privacy
It sounds obvious, but double-check this. If this is toggled OFF, Google’s bots are legally told to ignore your website. Ensure this is green/on.
5. Customize Your "Post Per Page" Limit
Where: Settings > Posts
Blogger defaults to 7 posts on the main page. If your posts are image-heavy, this will make your site load slowly on mobile.
- The Fix: Set this to 5 or 6. It keeps your homepage snappy while still giving readers plenty to look at.
6. Moderate Your Comments
Where: Settings > Comments > Comment Moderation
The internet is full of spam bots. If you leave moderation "Never," your comment section will quickly fill up with links to shady websites.
- The Fix: Set this to "Always" or "Sometimes." You’ll get an email when someone comments, allowing you to approve the genuine ones and delete the spam.
7. Enable Search Descriptions for Individual Posts
Where: Settings > Meta Tags > Enable search description
This is a "hidden" setting. Once you turn this on, a new box will appear on the right side of your post editor called "Search Description." This allows you to tell Google exactly what each specific post is about. This is the #1 SEO trick for Blogger.
8. Set Up a Custom 404 Page
Where: Settings > Errors and redirects > Custom 404
When a reader clicks a broken link, they usually see a boring "Page Not Found" screen and leave.
- The Fix: Write a friendly message like, "Oops! That page moved. Click here to go back to the homepage." This keeps people on your site even when things go wrong.
9. Optimize Your "Formatting" for Images
Where: Settings > Posts > Image Lightbox
Ensure the Image Lightbox is toggled ON. This allows readers to click on your images to see them full-screen without leaving the article. It’s a much better user experience.
10. Disable "Meta Tags" for Labels (Advanced)
Where: Settings > Crawlers and indexing
While you should leave "Enable custom robots.txt" alone unless you are an expert, make sure you don't accidentally "noindex" your whole site. For beginners, the most important thing here is to ensure your Google Search Console is linked (which we will cover in a future post).
The Bottom Line
Blogger is a powerful tool, but it requires a little bit of manual "tuning" to compete with professional websites. By spending 10 minutes fixing these settings today, you are saving yourself months of frustration later.
Did you find a setting you hadn't noticed before? Let me know in the comments!