You Cannot Buy A Domain From Blogger

One of the odder examples of naivete, seen occasionally in Blogger Help Forum: How Do I?, involves the custom domain purchase.

How do I buy a domain from Blogger?

or alternately

How do I have Google host my domain?

The immediate answer, properly stated, is simple.

You cannot buy a domain from Blogger. Neither Blogger, nor Google, is a registrar.

The full answer, however, is a bit more complex.

Blogger / Google provides the "Buy a domain for your blog" wizard, which simplifies the purchase and setup of non BlogSpot URLs, for our Blogger blogs - when we are able to make certain concessions in the purchase process. The "Buy a domain" wizard is simple, with some subtle restrictions.

The "Buy a domain" wizard should not be interrupted, as it cannot be restarted.
A major bank issued credit card, in working order, is required.
Only specific generic Top Level domains are offered.
- .biz
- .com
- .info
- .net
- .org
No country Top Level domains are offered.
The "Buy a domain" wizard uses partner registrars eNom and GoDaddy, selectable at purchase.
If you already have an account with eNom or GoDaddy, you will end up with a second account. There is no opportunity to purchase using an existing account.
"Buy a domain", when used, produces one and only one of the three standard domain models.

If you are able to live with the restrictions - and you are the one asking the original question

How do I buy a domain from Blogger?

chances are that you, Blogger / Google, and your readers will all be better off with you using "Buy a domain". Just please, plan the blog migration, before starting.

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What's The URL Of My Blog?

We see the plea for help, periodically I need the URL of my blog, so I can give it to my friends. Help! Who's buried in Grant's Tomb, after all? No Chuck, be polite. OK, OK. The title of this blog is "The Real Blogger Status", and the title of this post is "What's The URL Of My Blog?".

Where's The Dashboard?

We see this confusion, a couple times a week, in Blogger Help Forum: How Do I? . Where is the dashboard? In the Classic Blogger GUI, the display which contained the "Blog List" (at the top), and the "Reading List" (at the bottom) was labeled "Dashboard". Many people also called the "Settings" / "Template" screens for the various blogs, linked from the Blog List, the dashboard. The New Blogger GUI has no page with the label - and no links "To The Dashboard". The Navbar (another unlabeled feature) has two links - "Design" and "New Post" - which lead to different dashboard sections, when you are appropriately logged in to Blogger . And, the "B" logo at the far left of the navbar will, similarly, take you to the Blog List / Reading List.

What Is "ghs.google.com" vs. "ghs.googlehosted.com"?

With Google Domains registered custom domains becoming more normal, we are seeing one odd attention to detail, expressed as confusion in Blogger Help Forum: Learn More About Blogger . My website uses "ghs.google.com" - am I supposed to use "ghs.googlehosted.com", instead? It's good to be attentive to detail, particularly with custom domain publishing . This is one detail that may not require immediate attention, however.

The Real Blogger Status

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