Search Console

Introduction


search console

Search console previously known as Google Webmaster Tool is a basic SEO tool. It is a free service by Google that is used to verify, monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot the website and communicate with Google regarding any concerns through. It helps you to understand and improve how Google sees your site.


In order to publish our website, Google needs to verify the page by crawling, caching, and indexing the page. There are 5 methods in Search Console for Google to verify the page.


HTML Verification Method


This is the most recommended method for verification by Google. An HTML file is downloaded and uploaded in the website root directory. Google will then verify the page. The reason this is the most recommended method by Google is that while using the other methods for verification there is a chance the codes used for verification might be lost while the website is being edited or when a page is removed.


HTML Meta Tag Method


The ownership of the website is verified by adding a meta tag given by Google to the HTML head section code. Google will then verify if the tag exists and give information about the error if Google can't find it. 


Google Analytics Method 


While using Google Analytics to verify a website in Search Console, both of them should use the same Google ID. Before verifying the home page of the website should have the Google Analytics tracking code in the head section of the page. Although the analytics tracking code might work for analytics in the body section, for search console the code must be in the head section. This is only to verify site ownership and no analytics data will be accessed.


Google Tag Manager


Verification using Google tag manager is done by adding meta tags in the cPanel of websites. Cpanel is accessed by the web developer. In order to add the meta tags, the developer needs to login to the website. So each time a meta tag needs to be added, the developer needs to login to the website each time. In order to do avoid this, meta tags are added to Google tag manager and appropriate changes are made automatically to the websites added in the search console.


Domain Name Provider


Using this method verification is done by adding a .txt record file in the DNS records. Sign in to your domain name provider (eg. Godaddy.com) and copy the file provided by Google and paste it in the DNS configuration record file. Search console will then verify the page.


Adding Webpage In Search Console


adding property in search console

Click "Add property" to add the URL which needs to be verified by Google


adding url of webpage in search console

Add the URL in the space provided and click "Continue"


search console verification method

search console verification methods

Verify the ownership of the page by selecting any of the above methods. If the page and Search Console is logged in using the same Google ID there is no need for verification.


search console url inspection

search console url for inspection

After verification, click "URL Inspection" to add the webpage that needs to be indexed by Google


search console request indexing


After retrieving data from indexing, it will be shown as "URL is not on Google". Then click "Test Live URL".




After URL is available to Google, click "Request Indexing". 






Now the page has been crawled and cached and waiting for indexing. It may take some time before the result is shown on Google.



Other topics on SEO are discussed in my other blogs. Read more about On-Site/On-Page Optimization

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