Submitting a website in Google search console is the most important and first step in SEO, because it’s a bridge of communication between your websites indexing status, crawling, and performance on search engine, like google. So, let’s dive in and learn how to add your website to Google Search Console in a few straightforward steps.
3 Steps to Add Your Website to Google Search Console
Step 1: Visit Google Search Console
Head to the Google Search Console website: https://search.google.com/search-console/about. You’ll need a Google account to access it. If you don’t have one, creating one is quick and easy.
Step 2: Add Your Property
Click the bright blue “Add property” button and choose the method that best fits your website:
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- URL Prefix: This is the most common choice. Enter your website’s main URL, for instance, https://www.yourwebsite.com/. This method gives you control over all the pages under your domain. But, make sure your website link should be accurate, do not miss a single letter even a /, non-www, or non-https can create a different property.
- Domain: If you want to manage all subdomains under your main domain (like Example.com, this is for you. Simply enter the root domain, like Yourexample.com.
Step 3: Verify Your Ownership
Google needs to confirm you’re the rightful owner of the website. They offer a few verification methods:
A. HTML verification (For the faint of code):
- Choose “HTML verification” during the verification step. Google will provide a meta tag snippet.
- Copy the snippet. This is a short line of code that starts with
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="...">. - Access your website’s code editor or theme settings (depending on your platform).
- Locate the section for the website’s
<head>section (usually at the beginning of your website’s code). - Paste the copied meta tag snippet within the
<head>section. - Save the changes to your website’s code.
- Head back to Google Search Console and click “Verify.” Google will attempt to detect the verification tag on your website.
B. DNS verification (For the DNS savvy):
- Choose “DNS verification” during the verification step. Google will provide specific instructions and two unique TXT records.
- Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel (the company you purchased your domain name from).
- Locate the DNS management section within your control panel.
- Follow your registrar’s instructions for adding new TXT records. You’ll typically need to enter a hostname (often left blank), record type (set to TXT), and the two unique values provided by Google.
- Save your changes in the DNS management section.
- DNS changes take time to propagate across the internet (usually a few hours). Google Search Console will automatically check for verification once you’ve added the TXT records.
C. File upload (For those comfortable with file management):
- Choose “File upload” during the verification step. Google will provide a downloadable verification file.
- Download the file to your computer.
- Access your website’s hosting file manager. This is usually provided by your web hosting company and allows you to manage files on your website’s server.
- Locate the root directory of your website. This is often the public_html or www folder.
- Upload the downloaded verification file to the root directory of your website.
- Head back to Google Search Console and click “Verify.” Google will attempt to detect the verification file on your website’s server.
Awesome! Now your website is successfully connected with Google search console.
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Frequently asked questions.
why should I be careful when adding my website URL in Google search console, under URL prefix?
Adding your website to Google Search Console is like labeling your property.
Google treats each slightly different URL as a separate property. Here’s why it’s important to be exact:
With or Without www: Including “www” in your website address (like https://example.com/) creates a different property from one without www (https://www.example.com/).
HTTPS vs. Non-HTTPS: Adding your website with a URL prefix like [http://example.com/] will only track the non-secure version, even if your site uses HTTPS in future (like https://example.com/).
/ Slash: Leaving out the slash at the end (like https://example.com) creates a different property from one with a slash (https://example.com/).
What’s the best way to submit a website link on Google search console?
Here are some tips:
Copy Directly: Grab the exact website URL from your browser’s address bar when you’re on your website’s homepage. This ensures you capture the complete and accurate address.
Secure Your Site First (Highly Recommended): Consider getting an SSL certificate before adding your website.This adds an extra layer of security (HTTPS) that encrypts data transfer, making your website more trustworthy for visitors. With an SSL certificate, you can then add your website using the HTTPS version for better tracking and user trust.
Choose the Right Method: If you only want to track specific sections of your website (like a blog), use the URL prefix method and enter the specific subdirectory address. For example, if your blog section is at https://example.com/blog/, you can add that specific URL prefix.
Remember: It’s generally best to choose one consistent version of your website URL (with or without www and with HTTPS if possible) and stick to it when adding your property to Google Search Console. This helps avoid creating duplicate properties and gives you a clearer picture of your overall website performance.
Is Google search console for free?
Yes! Google search console is 100% free. A product by Google to help you optimise your website for its system.
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