Looking for a way to connect your blogger blogs to a custom domain?
Depending on your domain registrar, the methods to connect a custom domain to blogger is simple and in this article, I will be explaining how you can connect your blogger blog to a custom domain from Namecheap. You don't have to worry about the techy aspect anymore, I tried to make this article as simple as possible with a step by step images.
Before we proceed.
Open your notepad on your computer and note down these IP
Open Notepad by pressing the Windows key (or Ctrl-Esc) and N. You can also open it by pressing the Windows key and R (if necessary), typing notepad.exe, and pressing Enter.
Copy those IP down in a new note and press Ctrl + S (Windows) to save the file. All Done minimize and let's continue.
- 216.239.32.21
- 216.239.34.21
- 216.239.36.21
- 216.239.38.21
Log in to your Blogger account and click on settings, Basic Settings
You should be able to see your Blogger Blog URL in the Blogspot domain extension like this.
Click on the Set up a third-party URL for your blog link and in the next page add your new custom domain from your domain registrar like this:
Click on Save and you should be able to get an error message telling you Google couldn't verify the authority of your new domain name.
Don't get confused, you're almost there, just about be done and have a new domain setup, you need to verify you own the domain you're trying to connect and add the Google given CNAMES, So what do I do next? In the picture above I made a numbered list of some important information provided by Blogger on how to connect our new domain to the blog, Google has given us HOST and a Target URL for our new domain.
Open your Notepad once again, Windows key (or Ctrl-Esc) and N. You can also open it by pressing the Windows key and R (if necessary), typing notepad.exe, and pressing Enter.
We need to save the code in our text file as ordered above.
- www
- ghs.google.com
- secretkey
- secretKey7um.dv.googlehosted.com
Note: In 3 and 4 I protected my blog unique ID, this is just for security and this article purpose, but I'd rather you keep whatever your secret codes seem to be, to yourself, and until your blog is live and the domain is connected.
Open a new tab on your browser and log on yo your NameCheap hosting account.
Click on Domains, Now on the domain, you are trying to connect Click on Manage
You should have the domain panel expanded with some clickable tabs, you need to click on Advanced DNS
Once you get to the advanced DNS page, you should notice some default A Records and a URL redirect leading to the NameCheap default hosting page.
Now it is time to add our CNAMES record and redirect IP.
After registering your domain, decide if you want to use a particular subdomain for your blog. For example, blog.mydomain.com instead of www.mydomain.com.
Curious why we have to add this strange IP's when you didn't even get them from Blogger or why do you have to add this when it was not included when I was trying to add the custom domain? Add this IP's addresses is very essential for your blog, many people including me are too lazy to write the www most of the time when trying to visit a URL, it is much easier going with Google.com than writing www.google.com in my browser, if those IP's aren't set up properly, visitors who left out www in the URL of your blog won't be able to have access or see your blog content.
Click on ADD NEW RECORD {continued}
Open a new tab on your browser and log on yo your NameCheap hosting account.
Click on Domains, Now on the domain, you are trying to connect Click on Manage
You should have the domain panel expanded with some clickable tabs, you need to click on Advanced DNS
Once you get to the advanced DNS page, you should notice some default A Records and a URL redirect leading to the NameCheap default hosting page.
Now it is time to add our CNAMES record and redirect IP.
What a CNAME is?
A CNAME, or Canonical Name, is an entry within the Domain Name System (DNS) that specifies where someone can find your web pages. You'll use the CNAME to associate your custom domain with your blog.After registering your domain, decide if you want to use a particular subdomain for your blog. For example, blog.mydomain.com instead of www.mydomain.com.
How to add CNAME records?
On you are in the advanced DNS tab page, locate HOST RECORDS and click on ADD NEW RECORD {paused for a coffee break}
Remember we saved four different IP at the beginning of this article, we need those IP's now, Open the saved text file and minimize it.
Click on ADD NEW RECORD {continued}
- Type: A Records
- Host: @
- Value/Target: 216.239.32.21
You need to repeat this 3 more times, but each time changing the target/value to the four IP addresses given at the beginning of this article Watch below pic for example:
Click on ADD NEW RECORD {continued}
SAVE CHANGES
Now look for anything you didn't add in that list and shred them away, I mean delete them craps right away. Save and check if you have something like below on your end too:
Save your settings and close the tab, wait for at least 36 hours, then try adding your new custom domain again in Blogger >> Settings >> Basic Settings
If anything fails, check if you have done everything correctly and wait for 8 hours more if the problem still persists contact your domain service provider for help, But I am sure, if you follow this Pictorial guide, you'll be having your new custom domain name on your blog in no time, let me know what issues you're having in the comment section and how we can help.