Expanding your online presence often involves creating distinct sections for different types of content. One effective way to achieve this, especially for users on the Blogger platform, is by leveraging subdomains. Understanding how to create subdomains in Blogger can significantly enhance your site’s structure, making it easier for visitors to navigate and for you to manage diverse content categories.
Subdomains allow you to branch off from your main domain, creating separate, yet related, web addresses. For instance, if your main site is ‘yoursite.com’, you could have ‘blog.yoursite.com’ or ‘portfolio.yoursite.com’. This article will guide you through the process, ensuring you can confidently implement subdomains for your Blogger site.
Understanding Subdomains and Their Benefits for Blogger
Before diving into the technical steps of how to create subdomains in Blogger, it’s crucial to grasp what subdomains are and why they are beneficial. A subdomain is essentially a subdivision of your primary domain name. It operates as a separate website or a distinct section of your main site, yet it remains under the umbrella of your main domain.
Why Use Subdomains for Your Blogger Site?
Content Organization: Subdomains are excellent for segmenting different types of content. You might use one for a specific product line, another for a portfolio, and another for a dedicated blog, all while maintaining your main domain as the central hub.
Improved Navigation: For your visitors, subdomains can make it easier to find specific information without getting lost in a sea of content on a single site.
SEO Advantages: While opinions vary, subdomains can sometimes help with SEO by allowing you to target specific keywords for different content silos. Each subdomain can potentially rank independently for its niche.
Brand Consistency: Despite being separate entities, subdomains retain your main brand identity, reinforcing your overall online presence.
Prerequisites for Creating Subdomains in Blogger
To successfully learn how to create subdomains in Blogger, you need a few key elements in place. These prerequisites ensure a smooth setup process and prevent common roadblocks.
A Custom Domain: You must have a custom domain (e.g., yoursite.com) already associated with your Blogger blog. Subdomains cannot be created directly from a blogspot.com address.
Access to Your Domain Registrar: You’ll need login credentials for the service where you purchased your domain (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains). This is where you will modify your DNS (Domain Name System) settings.
A Blogger Account: Naturally, you need an active Blogger account and the specific blog you wish to link to the subdomain.
Step-by-Step Guide: How To Create Subdomains In Blogger
The process of how to create subdomains in Blogger involves two primary stages: configuring your domain’s DNS records and then updating your Blogger settings. Follow these steps carefully.
Step 1: Access Your Domain Registrar and DNS Settings
Your first task is to log into your domain registrar’s control panel. This is where you will add new DNS records that point your chosen subdomain to Blogger.
Log In: Go to your domain registrar’s website and log into your account.
Locate DNS Management: Navigate to the section for DNS management, DNS settings, or advanced DNS. The exact name varies by registrar.
Identify Existing CNAME Records: You might already have CNAME records for your main domain pointing to Blogger. You will be adding new ones for your subdomain.
Step 2: Add CNAME Records for Your Subdomain
This is a critical step in learning how to create subdomains in Blogger. You need to add two CNAME records for each subdomain you wish to create.
First CNAME Record:
Host/Name: Enter your desired subdomain name (e.g., ‘blog’, ‘shop’, ‘portfolio’).
Points To/Value: Enter ‘ghs.googlehosted.com’.
Second CNAME Record:
Host/Name: This will be a unique, randomly generated string provided by Blogger when you attempt to add a custom domain (even for a subdomain). You will get this string in Step 3.
Points To/Value: This will be another unique string, typically ‘gv-[random_string].dv.googlehosted.com’, also provided by Blogger.
Important: You will initially only add the first CNAME record. The second one will be added after you attempt to add the subdomain in Blogger, as Blogger generates the specific values you need.
Step 3: Configure Blogger Settings for Your Subdomain
Now that you’ve set up the initial DNS record, it’s time to tell Blogger about your new subdomain.
Go to Blogger Dashboard: Log into your Blogger account and select the blog you want to associate with the subdomain.
Navigate to Settings: Click on ‘Settings’ in the left-hand menu, then ‘Custom domain’ under the ‘Publishing’ section.
Enter Subdomain: In the ‘Custom domain’ field, type your full subdomain (e.g., ‘blog.yoursite.com’) and click ‘Save’.
Retrieve Second CNAME: Blogger will likely display an error message at this point, but it will also provide the two unique CNAME values (the ‘Host’ and ‘Points To’ for the second CNAME record) that you need to add to your domain registrar. Copy these values carefully.
Return to Registrar: Go back to your domain registrar’s DNS settings and add the second CNAME record using the values provided by Blogger.
Save Changes at Registrar: Ensure you save all changes in your domain registrar’s panel.
Re-save in Blogger: Go back to your Blogger settings and click ‘Save’ again for your custom domain. If all records are correctly propagated, it should now save successfully.
Step 4: Verify Your Subdomain
DNS changes can take some time to propagate across the internet, typically a few minutes to several hours, and sometimes up to 48 hours. Patience is key when learning how to create subdomains in Blogger.
Check Your Subdomain: Once the propagation is complete, try typing your new subdomain (e.g., ‘blog.yoursite.com’) into your web browser. It should now load your Blogger content.
Enable HTTPS: In your Blogger settings, under ‘HTTPS availability’ and ‘HTTPS redirect’, ensure these are enabled for secure browsing.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you encounter problems while trying to create subdomains in Blogger, here are some common troubleshooting tips:
Typo Check: Double-check all CNAME record entries for any typos. Even a single character can prevent the connection.
Propagation Time: Give it more time. DNS changes are not instant.
Conflicting Records: Ensure there are no old or conflicting DNS records for the same subdomain.
Contact Support: If you’re still stuck, your domain registrar’s support team can often help verify your DNS settings.
Conclusion
Successfully learning how to create subdomains in Blogger empowers you to build a more organized and professional online presence. By following these detailed steps, you can effectively segment your content, enhance user navigation, and potentially improve your site’s visibility. Subdomains offer a flexible way to manage various aspects of your brand under one central domain. Take the leap and start structuring your Blogger content more efficiently today!