Setting up Google Search Console (GSC) involves creating an account, adding a property (website), and then verifying ownership. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up GSC, verify a website, and manage multiple properties:
1. Create a Google Search Console Account:
- Visit the GSC Website:
- Go to the Google Search Console website: https://search.google.com/search-console.
- Sign in with Google Account:
- Sign in using your Google account. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create one.
- Add a Property:
- Click on the “Add Property” button.
- Enter your website URL (e.g.,
https://www.example.com) and click “Continue.”
2. Verify Ownership of Your Website:
Google provides several methods for verifying ownership. Choose the method that works best for you:
A. HTML Tag Verification:
- Select HTML Tag Method:
- Choose the “HTML tag” option under the “Recommended method.”
- Copy the HTML Tag:
- Copy the provided meta tag (a line of HTML code).
- Add Meta Tag to Your Website:
- Go to your website’s HTML source code.
- Paste the meta tag in the
<head>section of your homepage (between the<head>and</head>tags).
- Verify in GSC:
- Go back to GSC and click “Verify.”
B. Domain Verification (Alternative):
- Select Domain Method:
- Choose the “Domain” option if you have access to your domain’s DNS settings.
- Add DNS TXT Record:
- Add the provided TXT record to your domain’s DNS configuration.
- Verify in GSC:
- Click “Verify” in GSC after adding the DNS record.
3. Manage Multiple Properties:
If you have multiple websites or variations of your domain (e.g., HTTP/HTTPS, www/non-www), you can manage them as separate properties within GSC.
- Go to GSC Dashboard:
- Once logged in, you’ll see the GSC dashboard.
- Add a New Property:
- Click on the “+” button to add a new property.
- Follow Verification Steps:
- Repeat the process of adding a property and verifying ownership for each additional website or variation.
- Switch Between Properties:
- Use the dropdown menu at the top to switch between different properties.
4. Additional Tips:
- Property Sets: If you want to view combined data for multiple properties, you can create a property set. This is useful for analyzing data across different versions of your site.
- User Permissions: In the settings, you can add users and grant permissions to specific individuals. This is useful for collaboration, especially in cases where multiple people are managing a website.
- Notifications: Set up email notifications to receive alerts about critical issues, manual actions, or other important updates related to your website.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to set up Google Search Console, verify ownership of your website, and efficiently manage multiple properties. Regularly use GSC to monitor the performance of your site, identify potential issues, and optimize for better search visibility.
Go to the next chapter. The Dashboard