If you want your blog to be taken seriously by brands, readers, and Google, you need to lose the .blogspot.com extension.
While a free subdomain is great for starting, a custom domain (like www.yourblog.com) turns a "hobby" into a "brand." The best part? You can usually grab a domain for under $12 a year, and the setup only takes about 10 minutes.
Here is your step-by-step guide to connecting a custom domain to Blogger using the two most popular registrars: Namecheap and GoDaddy.
Phase 1: Get Your "Secret Codes" from Blogger
Before heading to your domain registrar, you need to tell Blogger which domain you bought.
Log in to your Blogger Dashboard.
Go to Settings > Publishing.
Click on Custom domain.
Type in your domain (you must include the
www., e.g.,www.yourname.com) and click Save.An error message will appear. Don't panic! This is exactly what we want. It will provide two CNAMEs (Name and Destination/Target).
First CNAME: Name:
www, Destination:ghs.google.comSecond CNAME: This is a unique code generated just for your blog. Copy both of these down.
Phase 2: Updating DNS Records
This is the part that looks "techy," but it’s just copy-pasting. Open a new tab and log in to where you bought your domain.
For Namecheap Users:
Go to your Dashboard > Domain List.
Click Manage next to your domain.
Click the Advanced DNS tab.
Click Add New Record.
Select CNAME Record. Host:
www, Value:ghs.google.com.
Click Add New Record again.
Select CNAME Record. Host: (Paste your unique short code), Value: (Paste your unique long destination code).
Crucial Step: Click "Add New Record" and select A Record.
Host:
@Value: (Use Google’s IP addresses provided below). Repeat this 4 times for all four IPs.
For GoDaddy Users:
Go to My Products > click DNS next to your domain.
In the Records section, look for a CNAME with the name
www. Click the pencil icon to edit it.Change "Points to" to
ghs.google.com.
Click Add. Select CNAME.
Name: (Your unique short code), Value: (Your unique long destination code).
Crucial Step: You must also add "A Records" so your site works without the "www" prefix.
Phase 3: The "A Records" (Don't Skip This!)
To make sure yourblog.com (without the www) works, you must point your domain to Google’s IPs. Add four A Records with the host @ pointing to these four addresses:
216.239.32.21216.239.34.21216.239.36.21216.239.38.21
Phase 4: Finalize in Blogger
Go back to your Blogger Settings.
Wait about 5–10 minutes (DNS takes time to update), then click Save on the Custom Domain box again. This time, it should work!
The Final Switch: Toggle "Redirect domain" to ON. This ensures that if someone types
yourblog.com, they are automatically sent towww.yourblog.com.Ensure "HTTPS availability" is set to Yes.
Troubleshooting Tips
"It says my domain isn't verified": DNS changes can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 24 hours. If it doesn't work instantly, grab a coffee and try again in an hour.
Site is "Not Secure": After connecting a domain, Google needs a few minutes to issue a new security certificate. Check back in 30 minutes.
Congratulations! You now own a professional piece of internet real estate. Ready to make it look expensive? Next, we'll talk about installing premium templates for free!