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United Kingdom – Health officials are advising the public on how to manage symptoms and prevent spread as two new COVID-19 variants are fueling a rise in cases across the UK this autumn. The variants, officially designated NB.1.8.1 and XFG but nicknamed 'Nimbus' and 'Stratus' respectively, now account for almost 90 per cent of all recorded COVID cases in the United Kingdom. According to data released last month by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the 'Stratus' variant (XFG) and its sub-lineages were responsible for 77 per cent of cases. The 'Nimbus' variant (NB.1.8.1) made up another 11 per cent, cementing their dominance as the country heads into the colder months. While the number of infections is increasing, the UKHSA has moved to reassure the public. In a recent blog post, the agency stated, "Current data does not indicate that these variants lead to more severe illness than other variants in circulation". The agency emphasis...

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Level Up Your Blogger Blog: Connect a Custom Domain in Simple Steps

Want to give your Blogger blog a more professional and memorable online presence? Ditching the default "blogspot.com" address and using a custom domain is the way to go. While it might sound intimidating, connecting your own domain name to Blogger is a fairly straightforward process. This guide will walk you through the steps, using your domain provider's DNS settings.



What You'll Need:

  • A Blogger blog
  • A registered domain name (e.g., from Easily.uk, Squarespace, or other registrar)
  • Access to your domain provider's DNS settings controls (usually found within your account dashboard on their website)

The Key: DNS Records

The secret sauce to connecting your domain to Blogger lies in manipulating DNS records. These records act like a roadmap, telling web browsers where to find your blog. You'll need to add four A records and two CNAME records.


1. Adding the A Records

A records point your domain to a specific IP address. Google provides the necessary IP addresses for Blogger.


Find the A Record Host Data:


Add the A Records in Your DNS Settings: Using your domain provider's DNS control panel, add four A records.

The "Name", or "Host" field should be your domain name (usually represented by "@" or left blank if possible). You might label these records as "A1", "A2", "A3", and "A4" for clarity. The actual name is less important than including the correct IP address.

  1. 216.239.32.21
  2. 216.239.34.21
  3. 216.239.36.21
  4. 216.239.38.21

The "Value", "Data", or "Points To" field should be the IP addresses listed on the Google help page.

Note: Sometimes the name is important in other usage, such as automatic forwarding scenarios on Squarespace, when using domain forwarding, e.g., "@" would be used to automatically set forwarding A records, and "www" used to auto-set a forwarding CNAME.


2. Adding the CNAME Records

CNAME records point your domain to another domain. This is needed for the "www" version of your domain and for Blogger's internal verification.

Log into Blogger: Go to Blogger and log in to your account.
Access Your Blog's Settings: In Blogger, navigate to Settings for the blog you want to connect the domain to.
Add Your Custom Domain: Under the "Publishing" section, enter your desired domain name (e.g., "yourdomain.com").
Note the CNAME Data: Blogger will likely display an error message and provide the necessary data for the two CNAME records you need to add. This data will include a "Name/Host/Alias" and a "Value/Points To/Destination". It will be specific to your blog and domain.
Add the CNAME Records in Your DNS Settings: Return to your domain provider's DNS control panel and add two CNAME records using the data provided by Blogger.


3. Completing the Connection in Blogger

Try Again: After adding the A records and CNAME records in your DNS settings, go back to Blogger's settings and try adding your custom domain again. It might take a few minutes for the DNS changes to propagate across the internet. Success! If all went well, Blogger should now accept your custom domain.


4. Final Touches

Enable Redirect for "www": In your DNS settings, make sure the CNAME record you created for the "www" subdomain is set up to redirect to the non-www version of your domain (e.g., from "www.yourdomain.com" to "yourdomain.com"), and it could be already, by default. 

Next, turn on the redirect in Blogger's settings. You may be able to do this straight away.


Enable HTTPS: In Blogger's settings, enable HTTPS for your blog to ensure a secure connection for your visitors. Patience is Key!


DNS propagation can take a little time, from a few minutes to up to 48 hours in some cases. Don't panic if your domain doesn't immediately redirect to your Blogger blog. Just be patient and check back periodically.

Voila!

With a little patience and by following these steps, you've successfully connected your custom domain name to your Blogger blog. Enjoy your more professional and personalised online presence!

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