Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up Google Search Console and Grant Access
Google Search Console (GSC) earlier known as Webmaster, is a free tool by Google that helps monitor and troubleshoot a website’s presence in search results. It provides insights into indexing status, search queries, website performance, and potential issues affecting rankings, thus, a crucial tools used in Google Search Engine Optimization.
If you haven’t set up Google Search Console for your website yet, follow this simple guide to get started.
Steps to Set Up Google Search Console
SETP 1: Go to Google Search Console
Visit Google Search Console and log in with your Gmail ID.
Step 2: Add a Property
Click on the “Start Now” button and choose between two options to add your website:
- Domain Property: Tracks all URLs across subdomains and protocols (recommended for full tracking).
- URL Prefix Property: Tracks specific URLs based on protocol (http/https) and subdomains.
Enter your website URL in the respective field and click “Continue”.
Step 3: Verify Ownership
Google offers different verification methods:
- DNS Record (Recommended for Domain Property): Copy the TXT record provided and add it to your domain’s DNS settings.
- HTML File Upload: Download the HTML file and upload it to your website’s root directory.
- Meta Tag: Copy and paste the given meta tag into the <head> section of your homepage.
- Google Analytics/Google Tag Manager: If GA or GTM is already set up, verification is done automatically.
Click “Verify” after adding the necessary details.
Congratulations You have successfully setup Google Search Console Property
Want an expert to setup your Google Search Console?
To help Google crawl and index your website efficiently submit your sitemap
Following steps are to be followed to submit your sitemap on Google Search Console
1. Go to “Sitemaps” in the left menu.
2. Enter your sitemap URL (e.g., https://yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml).
Incase you do not have a sitemap yet, kindly follow the below steps to generate a site map
- Use a Sitemap Generator Tool: If you’re using a CMS like WordPress, you can install plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to automatically generate a sitemap.
- Manual Generation: Use online tools like XML-Sitemaps to generate a sitemap and upload it to your website’s root directory.
- For Shopify/Wix/Squarespace Users: These platforms automatically generate a sitemap, usually accessible at yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml.
3. Click “Submit”.
How to Review Search Console Reports
Once set up, Google will begin collecting data on:
- Search traffic and queries
- Index coverage issues
- Mobile usability errors
- Security threats or manual actions
Monitor these reports regularly to optimize your website’s SEO performance.
Read More: Step-by-Step Process to Set up Google Analytics GA4
How to Grant Access to Google Search Console
If you want to share access with your team or SEO expert, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Google Search Console
Log in and select the website (property) you want to grant access to.
Step 2: Navigate to Settings
On the left panel, scroll down and click on “Settings”.
Step 3: Go to Users & Permissions
Click on “Users and Permissions” to view the list of users who already have access.
Step 4: Add a New User
Click on the “Add User” button in the top-right corner.
Step 5: Enter Email & Assign Role
- Enter the email address of the person you want to grant access to.
- Choose a permission level:
- Owner: Full access, including adding/removing users.
- Full User: Access to all reports and data but cannot manage users.
- Restricted User: Limited access to specific data.
Click “Add” to complete the process.
Summing Up
Google Search Console is an essential tool for monitoring website performance, fixing SEO errors, and optimizing for search visibility. By setting it up and managing user access efficiently, you can ensure your website stays in good health and ranks well in Google Search results.
At Growth Accelerators, we specialize in setting up and leveraging Google Search Console data to improve SEO rankings, resolve indexing issues, and enhance website performance. Let us help you optimize your website today!
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