Mapping a custom domain (such as www.blogmanual.com) to your Blogger site is a major publishing milestone. Cutting ties with the default .blogspot.com subdomain establishes immediate brand authority and professionalism.
However, a common misconception is that the setup process ends the moment your address loads in a browser. Pointing DNS records is only half the battle; leaving backend settings untouched risks breaking search indexing, exposing security warnings, and losing organic traffic.
In this beginner-friendly guide from BlogManual, we outline the vital technical steps you must execute immediately after connecting a custom domain to keep your site secure, indexable, and optimized for search rankings.
1. Turn On "Redirect Domain" (Naked Domain Fix)
Some visitors type www.blogmanual.com, while others type just blogmanual.com (known as the naked or apex domain). If your redirect setting is disabled, visitors hitting the naked version will encounter a DNS error.
- Go to your Blogger Dashboard and click on Settings.
- Scroll down to the Basic section and locate Redirect domain.
- Toggle this switch to ON to seamlessly route naked domain traffic to your secure
wwwaddress.
2. Enable HTTPS & Free SSL Certificate
Changing your domain name requires re-provisioning your security certificate. Leaving your site on unencrypted HTTP triggers browser security warnings.
- In Blogger Settings, locate HTTPS availability under the Basic section.
- Toggle the switch to Yes.
- Once Google provisions your free SSL certificate (typically taking 15 minutes to 2 hours), toggle HTTPS redirect to ON.
3. Update Google Search Console Property
When your site lived on your old address, Search Console tracked it under that specific property. Because you changed domains, Google views your site as a new entity.
- Add a New Property: Log into Google Search Console, open your property selector, and click Add Property for your custom domain root.
- Verify Ownership: Blogger domains verify automatically through DNS integration.
- Submit a Fresh Sitemap: Navigate to Sitemaps and submit
https://www.blogmanual.com/sitemap.xml.
4. Update Google Analytics (GA4) Stream
Ensure your analytics data stream reflects your new address to maintain session continuity:
- Open Analytics, navigate to Admin > Data Streams, and select your web stream.
- Update your website URL parameter to your new
https://www.blogmanual.comaddress.
5. Perform a Comprehensive Live Link Audit
Test your site experience in a private incognito browser window:
- Verify that typing your naked domain redirects correctly to your secure
wwwaddress. - Check navigation menus, archive pages, and footer links to ensure no internal URLs point back to old subdomains.
- Test mobile responsiveness on a smartphone.
Final Thoughts: Post-Domain Checklist
Completing this post-domain checklist ensures your technical architecture remains secure, properly indexed, and optimized for search performance.
Helpful Resources for Blogger Publishers
Explore our foundational guides and utilities as you build your publication:
- Follow the Master Blueprint: Read our full setup guide at Start Here: Blogger Roadmap.
- Curated Publisher Tools: Access vetted software on our Recommended Tools & Resources page.
- Search Domain Name Availability: Planning your next digital project? Check available
.comaddresses with our free Domain Checker. - Technical Support: Need assistance with theme or platform settings? Reach out directly via our Contact Page.
{getbutton} $text={Explore the Blogger Roadmap} $icon={link} $size={1}