How to Set Up Google Search Console
If you own a website, you need to have Google Search Console configured. It’s a vital tool for making sure your website can perform well for SEO.
Setting up Google Search Console is a straightforward process that will help you monitor and maintain your site’s presence in Google Search results. Follow these easy steps:
1: Sign In
- Open your web browser and go to Google Search Console.
- Click on the “Start now” button.
- Sign in with your Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you will need to create one.
2: Add a Property
- Once signed in, you will be prompted to add a property. You can add a website or a URL prefix.
- Enter the URL of your website. Make sure to enter the exact URL as it appears in the browser (including
httporhttps). - Click the “Continue” button.
3: Verify Ownership
To verify ownership of your website, Google provides several methods. Choose the one that works best for you:
HTML File Upload
- Download the HTML verification file provided by Google.
- Upload the file to the root directory of your website.
- Click “Verify” in Google Search Console.
HTML Tag
- Copy the meta tag provided by Google.
- Paste it into the
<head>section of your homepage HTML. - Click “Verify” in the Console.
Google Analytics
- If you use Google Analytics, ensure you have the “edit” permission.
- Select the Google Analytics option in Google Search Console.
- Click “Verify.”
Google Tag Manager
- If you use Google Tag Manager, ensure you have the “publish” permission.
- Select the Google Tag Manager option in Google Search Console.
- Click “Verify.”
Domain Name Provider
- Select your domain name provider from the list.
- Follow the instructions to add a TXT record to your DNS configuration.
- Click “Verify” in the Console once the record is added.
4: Confirm Successful Verification
Once you have completed the verification process, you should see a message confirming that your site has been verified.
5: Explore and Submit Your Sitemap
- After verification, you will be taken to the the console dashboard.
- To help Google understand your site structure, submit your sitemap. Go to the “Sitemaps” section under “Index.”
- Enter the URL of your sitemap (e.g.,
https://little-fire.com/sitemap_index.xml). - Click “Submit.”
Step 6: Review and Monitor
- Use the various tools and reports in the console to monitor your site’s performance, coverage, enhancements, and more.
- Regularly check for any issues and resolve them to maintain optimal site health.
That’s it! You have successfully set up Google Search Console.