Choosing a Professional Domain Name and Linking it to Blogger
🟢 Introduction
The importance of a domain in building a professional digital identity cannot be overstated. A domain name is the front door to your blog — the first thing users will see and remember.
It plays a critical role in shaping your brand identity and overall blog appearance. A well-chosen domain builds trust, improves search engine visibility, and enhances user experience.
This section provides a quick overview of the steps involved in choosing a suitable domain and connecting it to your blog.
For more on why domains matter in branding, visit this external guide on domain strategy.
🟠 Second: Criteria for Choosing a Suitable Domain
- Clarity and Simplicity
- Easy to remember, pronounce, and type.
- Avoid complex numbers and symbols.
- Relevance to Blog Content
- Choose a name that reflects your niche (e.g., tech, travel, education).
- Read more about branding tips here.
- Choosing the Right TLD (Top-Level Domain)
- Understand the difference between
.com
,.net
,.org
,.me
,.blog
, etc. - When should you choose each? Here's a helpful.
- Understand the difference between
- Domain Availability
- Brand Identity and Uniqueness
- Make sure the domain doesn’t infringe on any trademarks.
- Build a name that stands out.
🟣 Third: Buying a Domain
There are several popular and reliable domain registrars where you can purchase a domain at competitive prices. Here are some of the most trusted platforms:
- Namecheap – Affordable and user-friendly for beginners.
- GoDaddy – Offers domains, hosting, and marketing tools.
- Google Domains – Integrated with other Google services (now moved to Squarespace).
- Bluehost – Great if you're also planning to host a WordPress blog.
💡 Tip: Always compare prices for different domain extensions (.com
, .net
, etc.) before buying.
Steps to Create an Account and Purchase a Domain
- Visit your preferred domain registrar's website.
- Search for your desired domain using the domain search tool.
- Check availability and choose the best TLD for your blog niche.
- Create an account using your email address and password.
- Add the domain to your cart and proceed to checkout.
- Enter payment details and complete the purchase.
- Verify your domain ownership via email (mandatory step).
Once purchased, you can proceed to connect your domain to your blog.
🔵 Fourth: Connecting the Domain to Your Blog
- If You Are Using Blogger
- Go to Settings in your Blogger dashboard.
- Under Publishing, click "Custom domain" and enter your purchased domain.
- Blogger will generate two CNAME records.
- Login to your domain registrar (e.g., Namecheap) and open DNS settings.
- Add the two CNAME records and point them to Blogger's servers.
- Save changes and wait for DNS propagation (can take a few hours).
- If You Are Using WordPress
- Know the difference:
- WordPress.com: Hosting and domain in one place. You can buy or connect a custom domain through their dashboard.
- WordPress.org: Self-hosted. You will need a hosting provider like Bluehost or SiteGround.
- To connect a domain:
- Login to your hosting provider's control panel.
- Go to Domains or Addon Domains.
- Enter the domain name and assign it to your website directory.
- Visit the official WordPress documentation for detailed steps.
- Know the difference:
- General DNS Settings
- CNAME Record: Points subdomains (like www) to another domain (e.g., ghs.google.com).
- A Record: Points the root domain (yourdomain.com) to an IP address.
- To set them up:
- Log in to your domain registrar's DNS management panel.
- Add an A Record with your hosting provider's IP.
- Add CNAME records based on platform requirements.
- More on DNS basics: Cloudflare DNS guide.
🟤 Fifth: Testing and Configuring the Domain
After purchasing and connecting your domain, it’s important to make sure everything is working smoothly. Here are the essential steps to finalize the setup:
1. Verify Domain Functionality
- Visit your blog using the custom domain (e.g.,
www.yoursite.com
). - Ensure that it redirects properly and loads without errors.
- Use tools like DNS Checker to confirm global DNS propagation.
2. Enable HTTPS / SSL Certificate
- HTTPS secures your site with encryption, boosting both security and SEO.
- For Blogger: Go to Settings > HTTPS and enable HTTPS availability.
- For WordPress (self-hosted): Use plugins like Really Simple SSL or activate SSL from your hosting control panel.
- You can test your SSL status at SSL Labs.
3. Mobile and Cross-Device Compatibility
- Visit your blog from mobile, tablet, and desktop devices to check responsiveness.
- Use the Google Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure your blog is optimized for all screens.
- Fix layout or speed issues using responsive design tips and tools like PageSpeed Insights.
Once these tests are complete, your domain setup is solid and ready for visitors 🚀
🟢 Conclusion
🔁 Summary of the Steps
- Choose a clear, relevant, and brandable domain name.
- Check domain availability and register through a trusted registrar.
- Connect the domain to your blog via DNS or hosting settings.
- Enable HTTPS for security and verify functionality.
- Test compatibility across different devices and screen sizes.
⚠️ Final Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes
- Avoid very long or complicated domain names.
- Always activate domain privacy protection if available.
- Double-check DNS settings and allow time for propagation.
- Don’t forget to renew your domain before it expires!
🛠 Recommended Tools to Track Domain Performance
- Google Search Console – Monitor indexing, search traffic, and site performance.
- Google Analytics – Track user behavior and traffic sources.
- PageSpeed Insights – Analyze loading speed and performance.
- SSL Checker – Verify SSL status and certificate details.
By following these steps and tools, your blog will be well-positioned for a strong and secure online presence. 🌐💡
✅ Optional Appendices
🌐 Useful Websites for Domain Registration
- Namecheap – Great for beginners with low prices and free WHOIS protection.
- GoDaddy – A well-known registrar with frequent discounts.
- Google Domains – Clean interface and easy integration (now via Squarespace).
- Hover – Focused on simplicity and transparency.
📝 Domain Name Ideas & Templates
- Business Name Generator – Generates brandable domain ideas instantly.
- Namelix – AI-powered tool for creative domain name suggestions.
- Shopify Name Generator – Great for e-commerce and blog domains.
🎥 Explainer Video (If Available)
Watch this helpful video that walks you through choosing and connecting a domain to your blog: