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How to Add a Website to Google Search Console (Step-by-Step Guide)

How to Add a Website to Google Search Console (Step-by-Step Guide)

calendar_today Published on 2025/03/06 by Gatien

Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool from Google that helps website owners monitor their site's performance in Google Search. By adding your website to GSC, you can track search analytics, submit sitemaps, fix indexing issues, and optimize your SEO strategy. You must use Google Search Console to use Better Search Console.

In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to add your website to Google Search Console and verify ownership.

Step 1: Sign in to Google Search Console

  1. Go to Google Search Console.Google Search Console

  2. Click the "Start Now" button.

  3. Sign in with your Google account.

Step 2: Choose a Property Type

Google offers two ways to add your website:

  • Domain Property: Tracks all URLs across different protocols (HTTP, HTTPS) and subdomains (e.g., www.example.com and blog.example.com).

  • URL Prefix Property: Tracks only the specific URL you enter (e.g., https://www.example.com).

Property type

Recommended: Use Domain Property for complete tracking.

Use domain property

Step 3: Verify Your Website

Google requires you to verify ownership of the website. The verification method depends on the type of property you choose:

For Domain Property (Recommended)

  1. Copy the TXT record provided by Google.TXT record

  2. Log in to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare).

  3. Add the TXT record in your DNS settings.DNS settings

  4. Return to Google Search Console and click Verify (it may take some time to update).Verify button

For URL Prefix Property

Google offers multiple verification methods:

  • HTML File Upload: Download and upload a file to your website’s root directory.Download fileUpload to public folder

  • HTML Meta Tag: Add a meta tag in the <head> section of your homepage.HTML tagInsert it in head

  • Google Analytics: Verify if your site is already connected to Google Analytics.Google Analytics

  • Google Tag Manager: Use an existing Google Tag Manager account for verification.Google Tag Manager

Choose a method and complete the verification process.

Sponge bob has done the tutorial

Step 4: Submit a Sitemap (Optional but Recommended)

A sitemap helps Google understand your website structure and index pages efficiently.

  1. In Google Search Console, go to "Sitemaps" in the left panel.

  2. Enter your sitemap URL (usually https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml).Submit sitemap

  3. Click Submit.

Step 5: Monitor Your Website’s Performance

Once verified, you can access essential reports in Google Search Console:

  • Performance Report: Track clicks, impressions, and search rankings.Google Search Console Performance Reports Data Lost & Won't Be Backfilled

  • Coverage Report: Identify and fix indexing issues.Google: The Search Console Index Coverage Report is now more accurate

  • Mobile Usability: Ensure your site is mobile-friendly.Google Search Console Testing A New Mobile Usability User Interface

  • Core Web Vitals: Improve page speed and user experience.Core web vitals

Conclusion

Adding your website to Google Search Console is crucial for improving your SEO and tracking website performance. Follow the steps above to verify your site and start optimizing it for search engines.

For more SEO tips and tools, check out Better Search Console. 🚀