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Questions about moving to a custom domain

Posted by jefftompkins71 • 3/15/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: blogger, custom domain

I am thinking about moving to a custom domain, but still using Blogger
as the host. I have a few questions for anyone who might know.

1. Will this reduce my Google ranking and blog search engine
popularity that I have attained using Blogger?

2. I have a list of archived popular posts on the blog. Will I have to
change all of them from blogspot.com to the customdomain.com in each
link?

3. Will I have to change the feed URL, and notify all the blog forums
I have registered with?

4. How reliable is this method? Has anyone done this and experienced
problems with the blog being available b/c of using custom domain with
Blogger?

5. Basically, if anyone has any warnings or reasons NOT to do this,
I'd like to know.

Thank you for any input.

User Comments

3/15/09

codesucker

1 - Yes, it's a new domain - also please note that Blogger is taking care of all your SEO, sitemaps and other things you will need to take care of yourself with a custom domain.

2 - Yes. Not only your popular posts but everyone of your 'friends' that have linked to your blog whether blogrolls or static links will have to change their link to you to include your new domain. This is a major headache.

3 - Yes.

4 - I've never tried, but hear horror stories about this using blogger, it's the main reason lots of folks use wordpress.

5 - If you are well linked (lots of linkbacks) don't even do this. It's too much of a headache to get everyone to update your links. If your blog is relatively new then yes I would rather see it on your own domain.

[reply]
1. 3/15/09
  
  jefftompkins71
  
  Blogger still handles the SEO. I checked.
  
  I hope this doesn't turn into a Wordpress vs. Blogger debate. sigh
3/15/09

maxisangry

I did it, and it's got problems:

1) Your site will only work as www.customdomain.com, and not customdomain.com.

2) Also, yourdomain.blogspot.com will occasionally not work, even though it's supposed to.

The good things:
1) It's incredibly easy and cheap at only $10. It requires almost no effort. Changing to another host is a pain in the arse.
2) You don't have to worry about changing your feed URL wherever you've submitted it. You probably should, but you don't have to. I haven't and it seems to work just fine.
3) Anybody who has your old blogspot address will still get to your site (except when it's not working, see above).

Overall, I recommend it if you're lazy like I am.

[reply]
1. 3/15/09
  
  codesucker
  
  Thanks Maxis -
  
  They charge you $10? Thats so evil, I never read anything like that when setting up my blog but knowing google, I should have anticipated some kind of sillyness.
  
  just want to challenge one thing -
  
  2) You don't have to worry about changing your feed URL wherever you've submitted it. You probably should, but you don't have to. I haven't and it seems to work just fine.
  
  You do have to worry about it if you want the links from your feed to point to your new address (and feed it pagerank!) So yes you should and if you're worried about pagerank you have to.
2. 3/15/09
  
  jefftompkins71
  
  The domain registration is $10 to get a .com or .net address, just like you'd have to pay for any site.
3/15/09

ThriftShopRomantic

I did this on Thursday through Blogger, and it's transitioning pretty well.

Keep in mind, it will take about three days for the new URL to populate with the various Internet systems, so people won't necessarily transition to the new URL instantly.

I didn't have to change all of the subpages individually-- they all became changed through the Blogger system.

And Blogger is now automatically rerouting anyone who clicks on Google links for my old Blogspot to the new custom domain.

[reply]
1. 3/15/09
  
  jefftompkins71
  
  Thanks for the feedback. Good news.
2. 7/23/09
  
  hinioman
  
  How long does that happen in the forwarding? I purchased my custom domain through blogspot and in 12 hours, I have both domains working but the forwarding has not happened yet.
  
  old: techtheman.blogspot.com
  new: www.techtheman.com
  
  I read somewhere that it takes 48 hours?
3/15/09

jefftompkins71

For more information regarding the comment above about problems pointing to your site WITHOUT the "www"...I did a little research and found this very helpful step-by-step: www.consumingexperience.com/2008/02/blogger-how-to-use-www-custom-domain.ht...

[reply]