How to Connect Google Search Console to Your Website
Figuring out the confusing, and usually frustrating world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can be like banging your head against a wall. I’ve banged my head against a wall for the both of us, so in this Blog, I will go over 4 simple steps to connect Google Search Console to your website.
Step 1: Sign up or Log in to Google Search Console
Wait, what is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is a free tool created by Google that is key to optimizing your SEO. It provides valuable insights into how your website is performing in search results and helps you optimize on SERP’s (Search Engine Results Page). This is the lowest-hanging fruit to grab in terms of success in SEO.
Open a separate tab to wherever your website is hosted (i.e. GoDaddy, Namecheap, Squarespace)
In Google Search Console, select “Start Now” Login, or Create a New Account to continue.
Step 2: Add Property (Your Website)
After signing in, click on the "Add Property" button within the Search Console dashboard. You'll be prompted to enter your website's URL (e.g., https://www.yourwebsite.com). Click "Continue" to proceed.
Make sure you select the “Domain” option, not the “URL prefix” option to give access to all of the content on your site.
Step 3: Verify Ownership of Your Website
Google requires verification to ensure that you're the owner of the website you're trying to connect. There are several methods available for verification, including adding an HTML tag to your website's homepage, uploading an HTML file to your website's root directory, verifying through your domain provider, or using Google Analytics. I recommend verifying through your domain provider.
You will be given a piece of code to add to your site.
Navigate to the platform your website is hosted on in the separate tab that is already opened and open Advanced DNS.
Add a new TXT record.
Paste the piece of code from Google Search Console and “Save”.
Return to Google Search Console and select “Verify”. This may take some time to verify.
Step 4: Access Your Website's Data
Once your ownership is verified, you'll gain access to the Google Search Console dashboard for your website. Look around and explore! There are a bunch of different reports and features available. You'll find valuable insights into how users are interacting with your website through Google Search, including information on search queries, traffic, indexing status, and more.
Am I Done with SEO Now?
I really wish this was it, but…
No, not even close. Connecting your Google Search Console to your site is the first step in a long journey of optimizing the SEO of your website. But, this is a great start! You will now be able to see key metrics and analytics of your website. The next steps involve arranging your Google Search Console correctly. Check out what to expect when starting SEO.