How To Add a Custom Domain Name To Blogger (Step By Step)

 From Head-Scratching to High-Fiving: How To Add a Custom Domain Name To Blogger

So, you've snagged that awesome custom domain name for your blog, and you're all set to take over the internet. But wait! How do you connect it to your site? You reach out to the domain service provider, and they start speaking in a language that sounds like it was invented by tech wizards—nameservers, DNS management, and no hosting. You reply to the ticket “Cool, that’s exactly my thoughts” hoping they don't notice you have no idea what they're talking about.

Feeling like you're trapped in a maze of acronyms, you turn to Google for help, only to find yourself in the rabbit hole of IT infrastructure. After watching 75 YouTube tutorials, you’re still scratching your head, wondering if you’ve accidentally enrolled in a computer science degree. Sounds familiar, right? Welcome to the world of being Clueless in the Cloud. But fear not! Together, we're going to tackle this beast and come out victorious.

What the Heck Are Nameservers, DNS Management, and Hosting?

Understanding IT infrastructure can feel like decoding the secret language of tech gurus. But don't worry, I'm here to break it down for you in a fun way. I’m still learning, too, so let’s explore these together, like Sherlock and Watson—minus the deer stalker hat, unless you’re into that.

What is an IP Address?

An IP address is the Internet’s version of your contact list—only less glamorous. It's a numerical identifier assigned to devices like your smartphone, computer, or even your smart fridge. Think of it as a mobile number for devices. This number ID is easy for computers to read but impossible for us humans to remember without going cross-eyed.

Picture this: Your phonebook is filled with over 100+ numbers, a mix of family, friends, work colleagues, the vet, Bumble dates, and your favorite pizza place. We exchange numbers everywhere—at work, in bars, on dating apps, and at social events. Instead of memorizing 100+ different numbers, we give them names like Dad, Mum, Tim from Bumble, or Do Not Pick Up! So instead of seeing an unknown number, we know exactly who is calling. We can even block and restrict IPs, just like we can manage mobile numbers.

What is a Nameserver?

A nameserver is like the librarian of the Internet, managing all the DNS records. It's the keeper of the scrolls, making sure everyone knows where to find the good stuff. For now, let's keep the understanding simple. We can revisit the DNS topic later when we’re feeling extra nerdy.

What is a Domain Name?

Your unique, human-readable web address is like ilovecats.com or cluelessinthecloud.com. It allows users to access websites without needing a secret handshake. Also, you can think of it as the domain name is assigned to your device's number, like the name in your contact list. You can purchase a domain name with or without hosting, like buying a private licence plate without car.

What is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the Internet's version of your smartphone's Contacts app. It translates your human-readable domain name into an IP address (yes, that annoying numerical string that only computers love). Think of DNS as your personal translator, turning gibberish into something you can actually use.

 For example, Google.com DNS would translate the domain name to 142.250.190.

What is DNS Management?

This is where you manage and configure your DNS records for your domain. It’s where the magic happens—adding or removing nameservers, editing or deleting DNS records. And it’s exactly what we’ll be doing in this tutorial. Cue the dramatic music!

What is Hosting?

Hosting is like the landlord of the Internet, offering a place to store your website's files (like images, videos, and coding). Your domain name is the address of your website's location—kind of like putting your flag down and declaring, "This is my territory!".

How Do I Point My Domain Name to Blogger?

Step 1: Get DNS Management

Since you've only purchased the domain name, you'll need to set up DNS management. For this tutorial, we'll use Cloudflare to set it up a free account, because why not, who doesn’t love free stuff?

1.  Create a Cloudflare account using your Gmail linked to your blog.

2.  Once you've verified your email, log in and select "Add Site" in the main dashboard.

3.  Add your custom domain name without the "www." and choose the Free Tier from the price plan.

4. Cloudflare will scan for DNS records, and since it's a new domain, there shouldn't be any records yet. We shall be adding records manually in this tutorial.

Step 2: Configure Your Domain Provider Nameserver

In Step 2, you will need to complete the NameServer Setup, this will tell the Registar to point to CloudFlare NameServers. 

1. In the new tab, go to your domain provider's website.

2. In your account settings, locate your domain; this may be nestled under the My Domains section.

3. Select your domain name, and the first thing we are going to do is unlock the registrar's lock. We do this by selecting Disable. The lock prevents your domain name from being transferred away without your authorization, but in this case, we are going to authorize it. Don't worry; we shall secure this again later.

4. Now, select Nameservers. You should see at least five fields named Nameserver 1, Nameserver 2, and so on. In the Nameserver 1 and 2 fields, you should see your default nameserver, and the rest of the fields should be empty.

5. For this step, we are going to replace the default nameservers with the ones now provided by Cloudflare.

6. Go to the Cloudflare website, copy the first Cloudflare nameserver, and paste this into the Nameserver 1 field of your domain provider settings. Now, copy the second Cloudflare nameserver and paste this into the field titled Nameserver 2 in your domain settings and click Save.

7. Now go back to your registrar lock and enable the lock once more. This will secure your domain name.

Okay, how do you feel, that was easy right? Let's keep going.

Step 3: Set Up Your Custom Domain in Blogger and Retrieve CNAME

After setting up DNS management, you'll need to set up your custom domain on Blogger and retrieve the CNAME.

1. In a new browser tab, open blogger.com and sign into your Blogger account.

2. In Blogger, click "Settings" in the left menu within your selected blog.

3. Under "Publishing," click "Custom domain.

4. Enter your domain URL and click save.

5. You should then see an error with two CNAMEs with a message prompting you to verify your authority to the domain. The message should look like this:

"We have not been able to verify your authority to this domain. On your domain registrar's website, locate your Domain Name System (DNS) settings and enter the following two CNAMEs: (Name: www, Destination: ghs.google.com) and (Name: ietoadt27hxd, Destination: gv-yphcl2gupdvbuc.dv.googlehosted.com)."

6. In the error message, locate CNAMEs, www, highlight and copy.

7. Now return to the Cloudflare website in the browser tab, and in the DNS management section, press Add Record. First, we need to add the CNAME Records. 8. In the Type drop-down field, select CNAME.

9. In the Name field, paste "www" into it.

10. Go back to the Blogger error, copy the destination ghs.google.com, and paste this into the Target field in your Cloudflare DNS Management.

11. Turn off the Proxy Status to DNS Only and Save.

12. Now, to add the second CNAME, follow the steps again: add a new record, select CNAME in the Type text field, and add the second CNAME, e.g. ietoadt27hxd and Destination, e.g. gv-yphcl2gupdvbuc.dv.googlehosted.com. Turn Proxy Status off to DNS Only and press Save again.

Now that you have added two CNAME records, we need to add the A records. Trust me, it's easier than pronouncing ' Worcestershire sauce.

Step 4: Create A Records

Now we need to add the A records from Google listed below (which can also be found here). IP Addresses:

216.239.32.21

216.239.34.21

216.239.36.21

216.239.38.21

1. You need to add all four A records pointing to your root domain (without www.). To do this, add another record in your DNS management settings. In the Type field, this time, select A record. 

2. In the Name field, add your domain name without the ‘www.’ e.g., ilovecats.com.

3. In the IPv4 field, copy and paste the IP 216.239.32.21 from the list above (or on the website) into the field, toggle off the Proxy Status to DNS Only, and Save.

4. Repeat the step for all the Google IP addresses. 

5. You should now have two CNAME records saved and four A records in your DNS Management.

6. Once completed, press the Continue button to go to the next page. 

7. Open a new tab in your browser; do not close any existing tabs that are open, as we still need them.

Okay, we are almost done—cue the victory dance!

Step 5: Add SSL

SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is a security protocol designed to establish encryption and authenticate your blog. Think of it as wrapping your blog in a cozy blanket of security. 

1. Now, go back to Cloudflare and follow the Quick Start Guide instructions. 

2. Keep the automatic HTTPS rewrites toggle enabled and Save. 

3. Enable "Always Use HTTPS." 

4. For ‘Auto Minify,’ you can select JavaScript, CSS, and HTML and Save. 

5. Keep ‘Brotli’ ON. Press Save and then Finish. 

6. You should now see the ‘Overview’ screen. Check over the configurations, and once you're happy with the details, scroll down to the bottom and click the Check Nameserver button. (Note: this process can take up to 24 hours. Go ahead and grab a coffee while you wait!). 

7. In your SSL/TLS encryption mode, it should say "Full." Select "Flexible" and scroll down. 

8. Make sure the SSL/TLS recommender is enabled. 

9. Now, go back to Blogger and select Settings. Underneath your custom domain, enable the ‘Redirect domain’ toggle. 

10. In the HTTPS section, enable both the ‘”HTTPS availability” and “HTTPS redirect” toggles. 

And there you have it! Your new domain should now point to your blog site! Give it a little time for everything to work—like planting a seed and waiting for your website flower to bloom. 

Let me know in the comments if you found this useful and how you found the process. Did you find it difficult, or did you find it easy, what would you add or change? I would love to know. After all, we’ve just crossed the finish line together!