How to Add and Verify Website Ownership in Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a very important tool for website owners, webmasters, and SEO professionals. This tool allows you to monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your website’s presence in Google Search results. However, first, you have to add and verify your website in the Google search console before you can access all Google Search results data for your website.

Importance of Adding and Verifying Website Ownership in Google Search Console

Adding and verifying website ownership in Google Search Console (GSC) is crucial for several reasons, enhancing your website’s visibility and performance in Google search results. Here’s why it’s essential:

• Indexing Control: GSC provides insights into how Google indexes your site. Verifying ownership ensures you have control over what gets indexed, helping in the exclusion of unwanted content.
• Search Performance Analysis: Gain access to valuable analytics about your website’s search performance, including keywords driving traffic, click-through rates, and user engagement. This data is crucial for refining your content and SEO strategy.
• Error Identification and Resolution: GSC alerts you to potential issues such as crawl errors, mobile usability problems, and security issues. Timely identifying and resolving these problems contribute to a better user experience and higher search rankings.
• Sitemap Submission: Verifying ownership allows you to submit your XML sitemap directly to GSC. This helps Google understand your site structure better and ensures all relevant pages are crawled and indexed.
• Structured Data Insights: GSC provides information about structured data on your site. This is vital for ensuring that rich snippets and other rich search results are displayed correctly, improving your site’s appearance in search results.
• Security Monitoring: Ownership verification enables you to receive security alerts from Google in case your site is compromised, helping you take immediate action to secure your website.
• Enhanced Communication: GSC acts as a direct communication channel between website owners and Google. Important messages and notifications are sent through GSC, ensuring that you stay informed about critical updates and changes that may impact your site’s performance.

How to Add and Verify Website Ownership in Google Search Console

Steps to Add Your Website to Google Search Console

Here are the steps to add your website to Google Search Console:

• Sign in to Google Search Console. You can do this by going to the Google Search Console website and clicking the Sign in button.
• Click the Add property button. This button is located in the top left corner of the page.

• Select the property type that you want to add. You can choose from the following options:
  • Domain: This type of property includes all of the pages on your website, including subdomains.
  • URL-prefix: This type of property includes all of the pages on your website that start with a specific URL prefix.
  • Google-hosted site: This type of property includes Google-hosted sites, such as Blogger and Sites.

• Enter the URL of your property and click Continue.  

In the next step, you have to verify your website and once you verify your property, you will be able to use Google Search Console to monitor and improve your website’s performance in SERP.

Steps to Verify Website Ownership in Google Search Console

DNS Record Verification

1. Sign In:
   • Go to the Google Search Console website and sign in with your Google account. Create an account if needed.
2. Add Property:
   • Click “Add Property” on the dashboard.
   • Enter your website URL and click “Continue.”
3. Choose DNS Record Verification:
   • Select the DNS record verification method.
4. Copy TXT Record:
   • Copy the TXT record provided by Google Search Console.
5. Access DNS Configuration:
   • Log in to your domain registrar or DNS hosting provider’s website.
   • Locate the DNS management section.
6. Add TXT Record:
   • Add a new TXT record with the copied verification code.
   • Save changes. Note: DNS changes may take time to propagate.
7. Return to Google Search Console:
   • Go back to Google Search Console.
8. Verify Ownership:
   • Click “Verify” in Google Search Console.
   • The system will check for the TXT record. Verification may take some time due to DNS propagation.
9. Success Confirmation:
   • Once the TXT record is detected, you’ll receive a success message confirming ownership verification.

HTML Tag Verification

Step 1: Sign in to Google Search Console

• Go to the Google Search Console website (https://search.google.com/search-console).
• Sign in with your Google account. If you don’t have an account, create one.

Step 2: Add Your Property (Website)

• On the Search Console dashboard, click “Add Property.”
• Enter your website URL and click “Continue.”

Step 3: Choose HTML Tag Verification

• Select the HTML tag verification method.
• A meta tag will be provided.

Step 4: Copy the HTML Meta Tag

• Copy the entire meta tag provided by Google. It typically looks like <meta name="google-site-verification" content="your-unique-code">.

Step 5: Paste the Meta Tag into Your Website’s HTML

• Open your website’s HTML code.
• Paste the meta tag into the <head> section, usually between the <head> and </head> tags.
• Save the changes to your HTML.

Step 6: Return to Google Search Console

• Go back to Google Search Console.
• Click “Verify” to confirm the HTML tag has been added.

Step 7: Verification Confirmation

• If successful, you’ll see a confirmation message indicating that ownership has been verified.

Google Analytics Verification

1. Sign In:
   • Go to the Google Search Console website (https://search.google.com/search-console) and sign in with your Google account.
2. Add Property:
   • On the dashboard, click “Add Property.”
   • Enter your website URL and click “Continue.”
3. Choose Google Analytics Verification:
   • Select the “Google Analytics” verification method.
   • Ensure that your Google account has the necessary permissions to access the Google Analytics account associated with your website.
4. Select Google Analytics Property:
   • Choose the Google Analytics account and property associated with your website from the provided list.
   • Click “Verify.”
5. Complete Verification:
   • Google Search Console will check the permissions and confirm the association with the selected Google Analytics property.
   • Once confirmed, the ownership verification process is complete, and you will see a success message.

Make sure, you follow the specific instructions for the chosen verification method. Once completed, you should see a success message indicating that ownership has been verified.

The Closure

In conclusion, verifying website ownership in Google Search Console is a fundamental step toward understanding and optimizing your site’s performance in Google search results. Whether through the HTML tag, DNS record, or the convenient Google Analytics method, this process ensures accurate data reporting and grants access to essential tools.