How to add Google Search Console to Your Website?

What is Google Search Console?

Google Search Console is an essential tool for website owners, developers, and digital marketers, offering insights into your site's performance on Google Search. By verifying your domain, you can access valuable data that helps improve your website's visibility and monitor search performance. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to add Google Search Console to your website and ensure that you can fully leverage its features for better SEO and website management.

A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to add Google Search Console to your website

Step 1: Sign in to Google Search Console

• Go to the Google Search Console website.

• Sign in using your Google account.

Step 2: Add Your Property (Domain)

• Once signed in, click on the “Add Property” button.

• You’ll be asked to enter the domain name you want to verify (e.g., example.com). Make sure to use the correct domain name, including www if applicable.

• Choose “Domain” as the property type (this includes all subdomains, including www or any other subdomain like blog.example.com).

Step 3: Verify Ownership of Your Domain

Google will need to verify that you own the domain. Here’s how to do it using DNS verification:

• After adding the domain, Google will provide you with a TXT record.

• Copy this TXT record to your clipboard.

Step 4: Add the TXT Record to Your Domain’s DNS Settings

• Go to your domain registrar’s website (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, or your hosting provider).

• Log in to your account and access the DNS settings or DNS management section for the domain you’re verifying.

• Paste the TXT record that Google gave you into your DNS records. It may look something like this:

  google-site-verification=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

• Save your DNS settings.

Step 5: Confirm the Verification in Google Search Console

• Once the TXT record is added, return to Google Search Console and click the “Verify” button.

• Google will check for the TXT record and verify your domain ownership. This process may take some time (usually up to 48 hours), but you can check back for confirmation.

Step 6: Start Using Google Search Console

• After successful verification, you’ll be able to access data for your domain in Google Search Console.

• You can now submit sitemaps, monitor your website's search performance, fix issues, and track indexing.

Tips:

• DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate, so you may need to wait a while before verification is successful.

• Make sure the TXT record is added to the correct DNS zone for your domain.