How to Set Up Google Search Console

1/28/2019

Amy Prindle

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

Edits and additions by Jamie Jean Domm

Monitor how your website interacts with Google searches,
and determine if any errors are preventing users from finding your organization's website.

1. Go to Search Console and click “Sign In.”

2. Enter the email address & password associated with your organization’s website

3. Once you the enter email and password, you will see the welcome page.

4. First, add the name of your website and then, click “Add a property.

NOTE: The actual function of adding a property isn’t included in the NEW Google Search Console yet. That’s why Search Console automatically switches back to the old version where you can add your website. (Google Search Console recently updated and is slowly getting rid of the old format. We will provide an updated lesson with newer screenshots when Google permanently removes the old format.)

5. Next you'll be asked to verify if you own the website. Since you already have Google Analytics installed and are logged in to the same Google account, you may try the first recommended method of verification/ownership. Hit “Verify,” and then you’ll see a confirmation page.

NOTE: If this method of verification does not work, please see the next step for additional instructions. If you are using a CMS other than WordPress, this process will likely need an alternative method of verification.

6a. Just in case this process needs a few extra steps, it may be a good idea to have your website administrator/developer available for guidance or assistance. Note the recommended methods of verification:

HTML file upload—which requires ftp access to your website. Google will give you a file to download, and you will upload that same file to your ftp. Then come back to Search Console and click “Verify.”
HTML tag—There are plugins available to assist in this, such as Jetpack or Yoast SEO. This involves adding a meta tag to your site’s homepage. You may add this meta tag straight to your website theme’s header php file, though if you change your theme you’ll need to paste this meta tag back in.
Domain name provider—This involves signing in to your domain provider account to upload a file. Google will provide steps to walk you through this process.
Google Tag Manager—If you are using Google Tag Manager, you can utilize this process for verification. Tag Manager is not covered in this lesson.

If you are still having trouble verifying your website for search console, feel free to ask for help at [email protected].

6b. For WordPress users who use Yoast SEO we recommend using the HTML tag within the “Alternate methods.” You can easily copy this code and paste it into the “Webmaster tools” tab within the Yoast SEO plugin:

Place the copied code in the Google Search Console box. After saving this, you can return to Google Search Console and click on the “Verify” button to confirm.

7. Once your website ownership is verified, your Search Console dashboard should look similar to this

You will have to wait 5-7 days to see any meaningful data. Make sure to check back regularly—set calendar appointments to make sure you don’t forget!

After you’ve confirmed that both Analytics and Search Console are properly set up and working, the next chapters will show you how to start using these important tools.

If you want to keep learning more, here are some recommended videos:

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