Using The "Buy A Domain For Your Blog" Wizard

The Blogger "Google Custom Domain" product, which gives bloggers a much requested ability to use a non-BlogSpot URL with a Layouts template, was first offered over a year ago, in January, 2007. I've been writing about Custom Domains ever since - the basic procedure of setting one up, and about the problems involved, and even about the many improvements that it's received.

One of the many improvements noted was the "Buy A Domain For Your Blog" Wizard, which replaces (and greatly simplifies) the painfully tedious, and needlessly technical, setup process for many bloggers. Yet all of my writing about the wizard was purely from observation, and from analysis of the problem reports in the forums. Until today, I didn't actually setup a domain, using the wizard.

So, let's cut to the chase, Chuck. What's it like?

It started with a bit of apprehension. I decided to do this, as I do many things, based upon a practical goal. A goal of having my own personal domain - "nitecruzr.net". And the apprehension was two fold.

1. Maybe the wizard will hose my domain, as it has so many others.
2. Maybe I won't even be able to setup my domain. What if "nitecruzr.net" is already taken? Oh no, my own personal episode of "That URL is already taken.".

Ever mindful of the "Domibot" issue, I decided to not even check for availability, until I was ready to actually buy the domain, if available.

So this morning, I gathered myself together, and tackled the wizard. With credit card in hand, and disappointment in mind, I approached Settings - Publishing - "Switch to: • Custom Domain".


Select "Switch to: • Custom Domain".



Enter the domain name, and select the Top Level Domain. For TLD, we have the choice of "com", "net", "info", "org", or "biz".



Go for it. Check Availability.



Hooray! It's available. So, take it!



Of course, it's not free, like the rest of Blogger is.



Place The Order, Chuck.



Yay! We have "nitecruzr.net".



Oh no! Not that!!


Fortunately, all is not lost. Simply recycle the domain settings, using Google Apps.

Maybe the latter test result is what motivated Blogger to now put newly setup custom domains into a 72 hour "In Transition" period. Anyway, having setup the base custom domain, I am now able to add virtual hosts, and construct my domain cluster, Nitecruzr Dot Net, and include all of my blogs into one web site.

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