Introduction to Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a web service implemented by Google which helps to see the site's traffic, performance and therefore the visibility of its website. It is a free website It also helps the webmasters to monitor troubleshoot this site's visibility in search results. From May 20,2015 Search Console was called Webmasters Tools.
Features of Webmasters tools:
- Submit the sitemap
- Verify that Google can find and crawl your website.
- View Google search traffic data for the website; Checks whether how the site appears in Google search results.
- Write and check a robots.txt file. It helps to discover pages that were blocked in robots.txt file.
- Receive alerts when any spam, indexing or other issues occur in your site
- It lists the external and internal pages which to be linked to a website.
- It gives detailed information about what keyword searcher searches on google being listed in the SERPs, and it acquires the total clicks, total impressions.
- We can add or remove the property of the web.
Add and Verify the site ownership using Search console :
If we are new to Google Search Console, first need to add and verify your sites. When adding and verifying the site in Search Console proves to Google that you are the owner of the site or webmaster. After that, the Search Console gives detailed information about the site's performance. Google doesn't share the information with anybody from outside.
- The first step needs to log into your search console account using Search google.com/webmaster/tool.
- Then the Home screen appears and there is an option to "Add Property". Enter the URL of your website to it. So, the site is added to the Search Console account.
- The next step is to verify your site.
Some verification steps needed to verify the website in Search Console :
- Adding an HTML tag.
- Uploading an HTML file
- Verifying using Domain Name Provider
- Adding Google Analytic Code
1.Adding an HTML Tag
This verification method is the best method who had knowledge in HTML code. From the Search Console, Verify the added property. So, google approves the ownership of the site. Then copy the HTML Meta tag from the HTML tag verification, paste the code to the <Head> section of the HTML code.
After verification code has been added, save and publish the code that is updated and then view the source code of the home page of your site. .The verification code will appear in the Head section.
2. Uploading an HTML file
While using this method, you should upload files to a site's root directory. Select "Manage site" from the search console and "verify this site".The HTML file will be listed under the "Alternative method".
When selecting this method, you need to download an HTML file. After downloading the file upload it. After the HTML file upload, verify if everything has been uploaded exactly the same. Then gets a window with the message that your site has been verified.
3.Verifying using Domain Name Provider
The Domain name provider can be called as a company in which the Domain name has been purchased where the website is hosted.his verification method is entirely different from the HTML verification method. When verifying a website in search console using Domain Name Provider, It proves you are the owner of the main domain, subdomains, subdirectories related to it. This verification method is a good option if you own a larger website.
4.Adding Google Analytics Code
Google Analytics used for monitoring the site's traffic. Firstly checks out if the Google Analytics code is placed to the <Head> section of your source page codeIf the Google Analytics is not placed in the <head>section, follow some other steps; Select "Manage site ", after it verifies the site. If it doesn't hold any Google Analytics tracking code" under the recommended method, go to the Alternate method, then select Google tracking method, Some instruction will appear. After verifying do not remove the Google analytic code.if you remove it it will affect the website and results become unverified.
5. Using Google Tag Manager
Google Tag Manager is a free tag management system that gives marketers to track the data easily by adding snippets code to the website. It helps to track conversions, website analytics. If the marketers use Google Tag Manager for their site, it will be easier to verify their site. When using Google tag manager, you need to "view, edit and Manage" the permissions which enable for the google tag manager account. As we did on Google Analytics, check if the Google tag manager code is placed in the <Body >tag. Then select "Manage Site", and verify the site. If you don't see Google tag manager is the recommended method, then it will appear in the Alternate method".
Select "Google Tag Manager "then verify it. If the google tag manager code is found, A new window appears as your site has been verified.if you remove it it will affect the website and results become unverified.
Hope you got an informative piece from My blog Get Started with Search Console. You can also visit my previous blog An Ultimate Guideline for On-page and Off-page Optimization.
