how to: redirect a blogger blog to a new URL


A few months ago, I made the drastic decision to change my URL - and everything that follows. This was potentially extremely risky because 1) all traffic could disappear 2) people could get lost on their way through redirects and give up trying to find this here blog and 3) Awkward Donkey was my baby, I'd had the URL for three-ish years, and it's what people had come to know me as. However, I had been unhappy with my URL for some time, and felt that a change of scene could only be a good thing.

I lost 4,500 readers in one month.


Okay, I am being slightly dramatic. But last month's stats on this blog only reached 1,593, whereas my old URL fluctuated dearly. Hopefully, 1,593 of you guys followed my haphazard link to this blog, but what happened to the other 3,000ish of you??

So, long story short, I decided to set up a redirect on my old URL, so that anyone looking for Awkward Donkey would just have to click my old link and sit back whilst the internet pushes them down the e-slide to this here blog. How did I do it?

step one
Open up your blogger account, and click the old blog from your dashboard. Once you're on the average 'edit' page, you will see a sidebar like shown to the left. Click 'template'.

step two
On the main section of the screen, you will see two boxes, one labelled 'live on blog' and one labelled 'mobile'. Under 'live on blog' click 'edit HTML' (as illustrated to the right).

step three
You will then be faced with a (very complicated-looking) box full of HTML text. Locate the part the says '<head>' (shown below).

step four
Copy and paste the following text a line below <head>, changing 'yourbloggerurl' to your URL, and editing the '2' to however many seconds you would like the redirect to wait for.

<meta content='2;url=http://www.yourbloggerurl.com/' http-equiv='refresh'/>


And that is literally all you have to do! It took me centuries to work out how to do this, and so I hope that by sharing my divine knowledge I can save you guys time, effort, and page views.

Have a good day people!~~

84 comments:

  1. This is so helpful, thank you so much for sharing! ♥
    Amy xx

    Perfect Imperfections

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  2. Thanks for sharing! I'll definitely keep this in mind :)

    Eileen @ BookCatPin

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  3. I imagine this will be very helpful for others! When I went from blogger to wordpress I got my blog redirected as well, except someone did it for me and I didn't know how hah.

    Thanks for sharing, Amy! <33

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  4. Very helpful post, it might be useful in future :)

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  5. Ahhh! I haven't been here since you changed your design, and I have one thing to say. It's FABULOUS! It looks amazing, and the title is a fresh new change (although I will miss Awkward Donkey). That's weird about your reader count though... maybe they didn't recognize your blog? Anyway, congrats on the new look, and I can't wait to see what you have up for us next :)
    - July, http://julyaemmance.blogspot.com/

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  6. I love your blog URL but changing it sounds so difficult for both you and your followers. But hey, I guess it's not starting from scratch, right? And you clearly still have loads of followers. So thanks for the tutorial. If I ever decide I'm unhappy with my URL, I might just use it.

    -M
    The Life of Little Me

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    Replies
    1. Yeah it was, but it's all good aha, awesome :3

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  7. Lovely post

    Love Vikee
    www.slavetofashion9771.blogspot.com

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  8. This is a great tip! I bookmarked this page. Followed you with GFC please follow back! :)

    www.fashion-board.blogspot.com

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  9. Thanks for commenting on my blog! xo I loved your old blog but this one is nice, too. The design is great, too.

    Anyway, this is really helpful! I really want to change my URL, too, but I'm really scared of losing my readers and once it's changed there's no way back. <3 Great to know that this is an option, though, and it's not as difficult as I'd thought.

    Also, you asked me about a box? *embarrassed* Could you explain what you meant because I have no idea!! Sorry ~

    Cloudy Dreams

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    Replies
    1. No problem aha c: And thank you! The box that you used in your thumbnail things? It's sort of faded and has text over it and fits above a photo of something?

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  10. Sure, I'm following you now on GFC :) I'm waiting for u ♥

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  11. Hi Amy, thank you for sharing this. It'll be really helpful in the future if I'd like to change the URL of a blog. Great that you managed to work it out. Happy blogging. :)

    Dian
    The Happy Candle

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    Replies
    1. No problem aha c; And thank you, back at you!

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  12. More than helpful.
    Nice blog.
    xx
    Iza

    vintageiz.blogspot.com

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  13. Well with gfc, it was a dead end anyway since it no longer fed into an rss reader so those people you lost probably weren't really following anyway just numbers you know? but great that you got your redirect going hopefully that helps!

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    Replies
    1. I have no idea what that beginning bit means sorry xD And fingers crossed!

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  14. Oh thats very usefull! Great note

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  15. very interesting sharing dear
    I wish you an happy day
    http://tr3ndygirl.com

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  16. Love the new look of your Blog! This post is definitely a useful one!!! Will visit your page again if I planning to change my blog URL! xx
    Thanks for sharing! xx
    Sherina - ChocoChipChic.

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  17. Aw such a lovely post, thanks for sharing!
    xx
    cvetybaby.com

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  18. Yep, this is exactly what I did too. WELL DONE. I actually saw someone asking how to do this the other day and now I can direct them to your post. ;-)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you!! But wasn't it a lot more difficult to change to WordPress?? And aw yay that sounds good ><

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  19. That's great of you to share :) I guess it's true about the traffic- it's necessary to let people know a few months beforehand :) xx Maja
    - http://modern-muffin.blogspot.com/

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    Replies
    1. Even with that I've still lost half my reads, but I think they were from redirect links or something?

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  20. I found you again if that is weird! I have see your blog in such a long time and I am so glad I am back I love your blog even more great colour green. This is such a great guide for if ever I want to change my URL
    Thankyou,
    I recently did a blog post I would love you to look at and maybe be a part of ;)
    Another Teen On The Web

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  21. This post is so useful, thank you! Also, you look absolutely beautiful in the picture on your sidebar. Wow, I wish I looked like you!

    Bethan
    xxxxxx

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    Replies
    1. It's okay aha, and aw aw thank you so much :3

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  22. I won't be changing my URL anytime soon, but I wish this post was around last summer when I changed to my current one haha! :)

    aglassofice.blogspot.co.uk

    x

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  23. I've changed by blog url three times because I always get bored of my 'name' and this happens to me every time! This will be so helpful for the next time I change it (if I do!)
    http://whiteshirtchic.blogspot.co.uk/

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    Replies
    1. Awh ahah I can so related to that xD Let me know if you do use my tips some day c:

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  24. Sorry to learn that you lost a part of your followers. I'm scared of changing this kind of things on my blog.

    Jasmine x
    For a Real Woman

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    Replies
    1. You shouldn't be scared - if you ever decide that a dramatic blog change is for you and that it'd be better with it then take the leap and go for it! ><

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  25. I am sorry to hear that. I'm sure you will get them back. :) You're blog looks really pretty. Thank you for dropping by my blog. You just got one new follower. Love the blog! x

    Sammie
    sammiethestargirl.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. It's okay aha, and thank you :3 Also that's really lovely, I think I've already been following you for a while ahah xD

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  26. Nice tip, thanks for sharing
    xx

    http://losaway.blogspot.com

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  27. i'm so sorry for you ;(
    www.mrsnoone.it
    kiss

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  28. I'm really sorry for that dear, but nevertheless a really helpful post!

    Hope you had a nice weekend!
    xxx
    Bianca

    http://madamebalti.blogspot.com

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  29. I just changed my URL on my fitness blog and did this exact same thing :)

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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    Replies
    1. Ohmygosh yay, I'm so glad I could be of help!! ^^

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  30. I remember thinking how daunting it would be to redirect when I changed my URL, but man, it really is so simple. Great to put this up for people so they can know how quick it is :)

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  31. Amy I experienced the same situation three months ago! You did a great job darling!!
    Baci,
    Coco et La vie en rose - Valeria Arizzi

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  32. This is actually really helpful since I may need to change my url soon. Great post! Love the new blog too! catchy name :)

    Xoxo. Alexis @ Lexi Swoons

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  33. I know what you mean, it's difficult when you change url or simply the provider. I did the same one year ago and It wasn't simple. You are doing great.
    xxx
    mari
    www.ilovegreeninspiration.com

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    Replies
    1. Totally, and I've never tried changing the provider but I would have thought that that would have been crazy difficult >< And thank you ^^

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  34. I've been thinking about changing my URL but haven't decided on it yet. This has been so helpful though. Will definitely keep this in mind if I ever decide to do it.

    www.jeannechristinemarie.blogspot.com

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  35. This is such a helpful tutorial Amy! I won't be redirecting my blog once my other one is made, only because I'm all about that "fresh start" ha ha!
    Lovely post, though! I'm definitely going to Pin it when I find time! xx

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    1. Thank you dude c;

      And aw I totally know what you mean, I think I'll be king that with my travel blog ^^

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  36. So helpful! I have long been wanting to change my (stupid) url and now I feel I have the courage to do so .... but to what, that is the question! I will have to have a think.

    Anyway thanks for your lovely comments on le blog of Emily, and I'm SORRY for not having been around for the past month but I had no internet! A frightening time it was too, I don't know how I coped ... anyway I'm back now and should be posting v soon. (Oh, and I've put your new button on my Better Blogs page as requested.)

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    1. AWH DUDE YOUR URL IS NOT STUPID, but if you were to change it we'd all totally support you c;

      That's totally cool, a lack of internet is just the worst, right??

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    2. Hmm I have to disagree, I don't know why I chose it, like, I don't wish I was northern at all, MIDLANDS AND PROUD. Thanks :)

      Right! Anyway I'm back in the game ;)

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    3. Oh... well then I totally understand c;

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  37. I've done it! It worked! WHAT A HERO! ALL HAIL AMY!

    New url:

    sparrowsflysouth.blogspot.co.uk

    A THOUSAND THANKS!

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    Replies
    1. OHMYGOSH YAY WOOP WOOP I AM A GENIUS.

      I'll check it out now c;

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  38. i have thought of changing my current url
    but discouraged by the thought what if I wrongly do in the html coding and my whole blog gone
    may i know if changing the url
    will that we lose the gfc and google plus followers as well?
    hope u reply me back at my blog
    thank you
    MY-Emily

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    Replies
    1. Yeah I know what you mean! No, you wouldn't lose your GFC and Google+ followers, but your views might drop for a few months.

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