If you're wondering how to use blogger with your own host and domain name, you're ready to take your blog to the next level. Using Blogger's back-end technology with your own online identity is both easy and efficient.
How to Use Blogger With Your Own Host and Domain in Three Steps
There is nothing complicated about the process, and it involves several things that you've probably done before. You're doing it this time for your own blog, however, so there are a few things to pay special attention to.
1. Pick Out a Great Domain
There are many ways to purchase a domain from sites like GoDaddy or Joker, and even a few ways to get a free domain name. Blogspot will also sell you a domain name for $10, as you'll see below. If you're looking for a professional kind of site, you need to actually be willing to shell out the money for your own name. This gives you the opportunity to come up with something catchy, something uniquely associated with the content of your blog. It will also let other people easily spread the word about your site: "Hey, did you read the latest BloggingBananas?" If that is referring to BloggingBananas.com it's going to be much easier than BloggingBananas.Blogspot.com.
A quick tip: it's better to make your domain name all one word, with no hyphens or underscores, just so that people can easily say it. For the same reason, it's better to avoid "clever" misspellings. If your blog gets popular, you may also want to secure the .net and .org domains or other combinations in addition to the .com.
If you're going to be purchasing the domain from Google's hosting service (which is usually fairly cheap as domains go) there is a link to take you through the Google checkout process. Of course, you'll have to check for the domain's availability, but that's part of the fun and can also be done right there on Blogger.
2. Log into Your Blogger Account
This is assuming that you already have an account on Blogger. If you don't, setting one up is very easy, and it means you have the power of Google and a proven content management system behind your blog.
Once you're logged in, go to your account settings and then click on the "Publishing" tab. Most likely it is saying that you are using the free hosting at BlogSpot.com. Right underneath it gives you a link to "Switch to: Custom Domain." That's where you want to go, so click the link.
3. Configure the Domain Settings
If you've already purchased through another host, you will have to set up the domain name settings on that site. This is possibly the most complex part of the process, but Google has a pretty clear set of instructions at their support page.
The good news is that if you purchased the domain through Google right on the Blogger website, all of that is already set up for you. In fact, by the time you type in your full domain name you'll probably already see the content there! However, in some cases it takes a while for the new DNS settings to propagate throughout the Internet. Be patient, as it will take, at most, a couple of days. You can spend the time creating your business cards and letterhead with your new spiffy domain name.
The Domain Name Switch Is the Easy Part
Remember that the catchiest domain name is only as good as the content that's on it. While it's always tempting to spend a lot of time tweaking and customizing your blog once you've learned how to use Blogger with your own host and domain name, the really important thing is to post quality content on a regular basis. That is the big secret of successful bloggers, and it will make your readership grow and build a faithful following that keeps coming back for more.
