Google Search Console is an important tool for website owners who want to understand how their websites appear in Google Search. It provides useful information about search traffic, indexed pages, keywords, links, and website issues.
Before you can use these features, you need to add your website to Google Search Console. The process is simple and can be completed in a few steps.
In this guide, you will learn how to add website to Google Search Console and how to complete the basic setup correctly.
What Is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is a free service from Google that helps website owners monitor their website’s presence in Google Search.
After adding your website, you can use Search Console to check important information such as search clicks, impressions, search queries, indexed pages, and indexing problems.
It can also help you understand which pages are appearing in Google Search and how visitors are finding your website.
If you are setting up Search Console for the first time, following the Google Search Console setup process can make the process much easier.
Step 1: Open Google Search Console
First, open Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account.
Use the Google account that you want to use for managing your website. After signing in, you will see the Search Console dashboard.
Look for the option called Add Property. Click it to start adding your website.
Step 2: Choose a Property Type
Google Search Console provides two main property types:
Domain
URL Prefix
The Domain property covers your entire domain. For example, if your website is example.com, you can enter example.com as the domain.
The URL Prefix property is more specific. It covers the exact URL and its related pages under that address.
For most website owners who want to monitor their complete domain, the Domain property can be useful.
Step 3: Enter Your Domain
After selecting your preferred property type, enter your website address.
If you choose the Domain option, enter your domain without https://.
For example, enter yourdomain.com.
If you choose URL Prefix, enter the complete website address, such as https://yourdomain.com/.
Check the website address carefully before clicking Continue.
Step 4: Verify Your Website
Google needs to confirm that you own or manage the website.
The verification method depends on the property type you selected.
For a Domain property, Google normally asks you to verify ownership through a DNS TXT record.
Google will provide a unique verification code. You need to copy this code and add it to your domain’s DNS settings.
If your website uses Hostinger, you can add the record through the DNS management section of your Hostinger account.
Step 5: Add the DNS Verification Record
Open your domain’s DNS settings and create a new TXT record.
In the Name or Host field, you will usually enter the @ symbol.
In the Value field, paste the complete TXT verification code provided by Google Search Console.
Make sure you copy the verification code correctly. Even a small mistake can prevent Google from verifying your website.
After entering the information, save the DNS record.
Do not remove other DNS records from your domain because they may be required for your website, email, or other services.
Step 6: Verify Ownership
After saving the DNS record, return to Google Search Console.
Click the Verify button.
Google will check your DNS settings and look for the verification record.
If Google finds the correct record, your website will be successfully verified.
Sometimes DNS changes can take some time to become available. If verification does not work immediately, wait a little while and try again.
Step 7: Submit Your Sitemap
After adding your website to Search Console, submitting a sitemap is another useful step.
A sitemap helps search engines discover important pages on your website.
Many WordPress websites automatically generate a sitemap. Depending on your setup, it may be available at a URL such as yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml.
Open the Sitemaps section in Google Search Console and enter your sitemap address.
Then click Submit.
Step 8: Check Your Search Performance
Once your website is connected, Google Search Console can provide useful search performance information.
The Performance report can show:
- Total clicks
- Total impressions
- Average position
- Search queries
- Pages appearing in Google Search
You can use this information to understand how your website is performing in organic search.
Keep in mind that a newly added website may not show much data immediately. Google needs time to crawl and process your website.
Common Problems When Adding a Website
Some website owners experience problems during the verification process.
The most common issues include entering the wrong domain, copying the verification code incorrectly, adding the DNS record to the wrong location, or trying to verify before the DNS changes are available.
If verification fails, check your domain name and TXT record carefully.
Also make sure that you are signed in to the correct Google account.
If you recently changed your DNS settings, wait for the changes to update and then try verification again.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to add website to Google Search Console is an important step for anyone who wants to monitor their website’s performance in Google Search.
The process involves adding your website as a Domain or URL Prefix property, verifying ownership, and then configuring useful features such as your sitemap.
After your website is verified, regularly check Search Console reports. They can help you understand search traffic, discover indexing problems, and identify opportunities to improve your website’s SEO.
