What preparations should I make before changing my Blogspot domain name to ensure a smooth transition?

To ensure a smooth transition when changing your Blogspot domain name, consider these preparations: 1. **Backup Your Blog:** Always back up your blog content (posts, pages, comments) from Blogger's 'Settings' > 'Manage Blog' > 'Backup content' option. This provides a safety net. 2. **Purchase and Prepare Domain:** Have your desired custom domain name purchased and ready with your chosen registrar. Understand how to access and modify its DNS settings. 3. **Notify Your Audience (Optional):** If you have an established audience, consider posting a notice about the upcoming domain change to manage expectations and avoid confusion. 4. **Update Internal Links:** While Blogger's redirects are good, it's a good practice to review your blog for any hard-coded internal links that still point to your old `blogspot.com` URL and update them to the new custom domain after the change. 5. **Google Search Console & Analytics:** Be prepared to add and verify your new custom domain as a separate property in Google Search Console and submit its sitemap. Also, ensure your Google Analytics tracking code is correctly configured for the new domain.