Herself’s Webtools

I was asked to help set up a website for a local non-profit. Last time I set up a custom domain name for Blogspot with GoDaddy it was totally painless. It sure wasn’t this time. 404 errors, name servers that wouldn’t update and Google’s directions on Blogger just don’t work.

Here is what does work.

1) Log onto Google
- go to your blog
- go to settings then publishing
Your domain = http://www.yourdomain.com
Be sure to put in the www
Do not check the box for the redirect.
Save settings.

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2) Log onto your GoDaddy Account
- go to Domains then My Domains
- check that the name servers are ‘Default Parked Nameservers

3) Go to Total DNS Control and MX Records
- under cnames set host www to points to ghs.google.com

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4) Go to Forwarding
- Forward Enabled
- Forward To: http://www.yourdomain.com
- Redirect type 301 Moved Permanently

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That’s it. If everything is correct all should be well in a couple of hours. Possibly as long as two days but I’ve never had it take more than a couple of hours. Just replace herselfsgreenthings.com with your domain name in each of the three pictures.

[ I just set that up temporarily to solve this problem. That domain will probably be reverted to its proper home by the time you read this. ]