Verifying your site with a search console or search engine is one of the most important things you can do in order to give your site the push it needs to appear among the most trusted sites on the web. If your site is not verified, you risk not having the same preferences that other verified sites have and your search rank will suffer. Naturally, you might be wondering what exactly does it mean to verify your site with a search console. Verification establishes with the search console that you indeed own the site. Search consoles don’t want to give you power for editing or working on data about the site if you don’t own it. While the process may seem tedious, it is a very easy to complete when you use one of the five ways described below.
Before you start, make sure you have your SEO up to date and everything ready to go on the search engine itself. Once you’re ready, there are lots of different ways that you can verify your site with search engines, and everything from the domain registrar to the site map submission will help search engines understand that you actually own the site, which helps you establish credibility. Here are five ways to verify your site with Google.
Use your HTML File
Of all the different ways to verify your site with a search engine, using the HTML file is one of the easiest ways. Doing this is also really simple and does not require much in the way of technical expertise. Once you log onto the Google Search Console, Google will provide a small text file that you need to upload to your site via SFTP. Sometimes, there will be two files while other times there could be one. For example, the file is named “public” when you are using the Kinsta WordPress hosting platform. After uploading the file, you need to head to the Verify button found on the Google Search Console. Once you do this, you have submitted for verification and you should be all set.
Using an HTML Tag
The HTML tag method of verifying with a search console is another very simple way for you do this is with an HTML tag. The <head> section of your site is where a meta tag will be added, and that is the way that you can start the verification process. The first step is for you to copy Google’s Site Verification Meta Tag. All you do is copy what is in the box. The next step is adding this to the header and the footer areas of your site, specifically the scripts section that is found there. When you are all set with adding the HTML tag, all you need to do is click save, and then you can click the button that allows you to verify your site.
Use the DNS TXT Record
You can also verify your site using the TXT record from your DNS provider. The best part about this method is that in terms of performance, you’d be hard pressed to find a more efficient method. Getting a TXT record starts with going to the Alternate Methods tab in the verification area. If you have the ability to select your DNS provider, please do so at this point. Choose “Other” as an option if your DNS is not listed in this area. At this point, you will get instructions on adding your TXT record from your DNS provider. When you add the DNS record, make sure it is done in the TXT format. This will help you for the next step, which is making sure that you get the file so that you can verify your site. Once you upload it, all you need to do is submit it for verification.
Using Google Analytics
This is another simple way to make sure that you get the verification that you need. Because this ties right in with Google’s functions, it is easy and straight forward for sites that are already set up for Google Analytics. The key here is using Google Analytics already embedded in your site. The code is asynchronous, and that allows Google to verify. All you do for this method is go to the Alternate Methods tab, and then you will click on the Google Analytics button and after that, all that is left is to make sure that you click on the button to complete the verification process. It is as simple as that when you are using Google Analytics on your site—which you should be doing anyway.
Using Google Tag Manager
Similar to the Google Analytics method, Google Tag Manager also allows you to easily verify your site. Google Tag Manager works to help your advertising and marketing platforms, and that makes it a very effective tool for you. The process is similar to the Google Analytics process. You will go into the menu and then find the Alternate Methods tab. After using that tab, you will click the button that is next to Google Tag Manager. All that’s left to do after that is clicking the button to get your site verified. This is another very easy way to make sure that you get the verification you need for your site without having to work too hard.
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Verifying your site is literally the first most important step in SEO. Great guide!