Practise y'all want to add your site to Google Search Console? Earlier Google lets you add your site, view its analytics, or submit its sitemap, information technology asks yous to verify your site ownership.

Essentially, Google site verification is about proving that you ain the site. Hence, y'all need to consummate the Google Search Console verification procedure before managing your sites through Google tools.

Thankfully, this process is pretty simple, and there's a diverseness of ways to verify your website with Google Search Console. This postal service will encompass ix different Google site verification methods, including manual ones and WordPress plugins.

Permit's get started!

5 Manual Methods for Google Site Verification

These manual Google site verification methods work for all websites, including WordPress sites.

To get started, access your Google Search Console dashboard. From here, you can open up your property list to the left and click Add property to verify a new website:

Adding a property to Google Search Console with an arrow pointing to the "Add property" button.
Adding a property to Google Search Console.

Search Panel will ask you lot to select a holding type. You lot tin enter a domain or a URL prefix. If you enter a domain name, you'll exist able to verify your website via DNS. The URL prefix method volition allow you choose betwixt 4 verification methods:

Selecting a property type in Search Console with the "Domain" option in focus.
Selecting a property blazon in Search Console.

Either approach works just fine when it comes to site verification. However, we recommend the URL prefix method because it gives you lot more options.

The following section volition explore the four verification methods y'all can utilize to select the URL prefix property type. Then we'll evidence you how to verify your website via DNS at the cease (the Domain option). Get ahead and enter your site's URL under the URL prefix and click on CONTINUE.

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1. HTML Verification File

With this method, you need to upload an HTML file to the root directory of your website. It'due south uncomplicated, but the downside is that you will demand admission to your server to upload the file, either via FTP/SFTP clients or something similar cPanel File Director.

Stride i: Download the Verification File

Later you add together your site to Google Search Console, y'all should run across an option to download an HTML verification file in the Recommended verification method tab:

A window showing the option to download a verification file from Google Search Console.
Download a verification file from Google Search Console.

Click on the push button side by side to Download the file. Salvage this file somewhere you'll recall — you'll need it in a infinitesimal.

Footstep 2: Upload the File via SFTP

Next, you'll need to connect to your website via FTP/SFTP. Here are instructions for how to employ SFTP at Kinsta.

Once you lot've successfully connected, upload the file that you downloaded from Google to the root binder of your site (this is the folder that contains the wp-content binder, wp-config.php, etc.) At Kinsta, this folder is named public.

Later uploading the file, it should look something like this:

An SFTP application open to show a file transfer with an arrow pointing to an example .html file.
Upload verification file via FTP/SFTP.

Once the file is in your site's root folder, return to Google Search Console. It's time to verify your property.

Footstep 3: Click the Verify Button in Google Search Console

Once you've uploaded the file to your site, go back to Google Search Panel and click on the VERIFY button to complete the procedure. Google Search Console volition locate the file on your server and verify that you own the website.

You can use that same method to verify the Kinsta Content Delivery Network (CDN) with Google Search Console. Verifying your CDN on Google Search Console volition enable the search engine to crawl and index your images.

2. HTML Tag

With the HTML tag method, you demand to add a uncomplicated meta tag to your site's <head> department. If you're using WordPress, you tin do this by:

  • Adding the tag directly to your child theme'south header.php file
  • Using a plugin to inject it into the header

We'll show you lot how to do this using the plugin method, simply it'southward also OK to add information technology directly to your theme as long as you're using a child theme (if you lot don't use a child theme, you'll lose your Google site verification every fourth dimension you update your theme).

Step 1: Copy the Meta Tag

To observe the meta tag, you can get to the Other verification methods section in the Google Search Console interface:

The HTML meta tag window showing highlighted boxes around "HTML tag" and the resultant tag code.
The HTML meta tag.

Use the Copy button to copy the meta tag in the box. Now, let'due south become ahead and add it to your WordPress website.

Step ii: Add the Meta Tag Using Insert Headers And Footers

Next, y'all tin can install the costless Insert Headers and Footers plugin on your site. Navigate to Settings > Insert Headers and Footers and paste the meta tag in the Scripts in Header box:

The WordPress option to add an HTML meta tag to Insert Headers and Footers plugin, with an arrow pointing at the menu option.
Add HTML meta tag to Insert Headers and Footers plugin.

Click on Salvage to save the changes to your website'due south header, and that's it. You lot can also add together the meta tag manually, merely we recommend the plugin approach if you're non comfortable editing WordPress cadre files.

To finish the process, get dorsum to the Google Search Panel interface and click on the VERIFY push button. If you added the code to your website, Google Search Console would be able to place it.

3. Google Analytics

If you already have the Google Analytics asynchronous tracking lawmaking installed on your site, you tin can hands verify your site using Google Analytics. This process boils down to two simple steps:

  1. Select Google Analytics under Other verification methods.
  2. Click on VERIFY.
The Google Analytics verify account screen with a highlight box around the "Verify" button.
Google Analytics business relationship verification screen.

If you lot added Google Analytics to WordPress using a plugin, the tracking code should be on your homepage. That means that you tin can become alee and use this method.

iv. Google Tag Manager

Just like Google Analytics, if you lot're already using Google Tag Manager, you can verify your site with just a single click. You'll need to accept the Google Tag Manager container snippet active on your site.

Again, there's no deep or involved process necessary. Here's all you need to do:

  1. Select Google Tag Manager under Other verification methods.
  2. Click on VERIFY.
The screen to verify your Google Tag Manager account with the "Verify" button highlighted by a box.
The screen to verify your Google Tag Manager business relationship.

If you're using Google Tag Manager, this method volition enable you to verify your website on Search Console most immediately.

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5. DNS Verification

If you lot desire to verify your website using the Domain method, y'all'll need to add a TXT record to your domain'due south DNS configuration. Here's what that verification window looks similar:

TXT record highlighted for verifying ownership via DNS
Google DNS Verification Modal

If you're using Kinsta DNS, you tin can add this TXT record directly from your MyKinsta dashboard.

Get-go, click on the Kinsta DNS choice. And so, select Manage for the site that y'all want to verify with Google Search Console:

The Kinsta DNS option from the MyKinsta dashboard with an arrow pointing at the "Manage" button.
The Kinsta DNS option from the MyKinsta dashboard.

Next, you tin click on Add DNS Tape and select the TXT option nether Type. Add together your Google Search Console TXT record under Content:

The window for adding a TXT record through MyKinsta with an arrow pointing at the "Add DNS Record" button.
Add TXT record at Kinsta.

Go on in listen that this process will vary depending on which domain provider you're using. If you want to transfer your domain name to Kinsta to manage it using our DNS, you can follow these instructions.

4 WordPress Plugins to Help With Google Site Verification

If you're using a WordPress SEO plugin, there'southward a good take chances that your plugin of choice offers an easy tool to assist with Google site verification. Nosotros'll show yous how to practice it with the three popular WordPress SEO tools and 1 plugin directly from Google.

half dozen. Yoast SEO

To consummate the Google Search Console verification process with Yoast SEO, yous can start by going to SEO > General in your WordPress dashboard and selecting the Webmaster Tools tab.

Next, find the Google verification code field and add the code that you tin can become from Google Search Console:

Google site verification in Yoast SEO in WordPress with a highlight box around the "Google verification code" form label.
Google site verification in Yoast SEO.

To find your Google Search Panel verification code, you can follow these three steps:

  1. Navigate to the Other verification methods section in the Google Search Console interface.
  2. Select the HTML tag option.
  3. Re-create the entire tag. Yoast SEO will automatically strip out the extra details, leaving just the lawmaking.
The window for finding your HTML tag for your Google verification code.
Where to find Google verification lawmaking.

At present you can add the code to your Yoast SEO settings page and save the changes to it. Return to the HTML tag tab in Google Search Panel and click on the VERIFY button.

7. SEOPress

To verify your site in Google Search Console with the SEOPpress plugin, go to the SEOPress > Advanced section in your WordPress dashboard. Here, gyre down to observe the Google search verification entry.

SEOPress Advanced settings simplify the Google site verification process.
SEOPress simplifies the Google site verification process.

Yous need to enter your Google site verification HTML meta tag here. Information technology'll look something like this: <meta proper name="google-site-verification" content="......." />. Add your site verification meta tag and save the changes.

Nosotros've discussed how to become this meta tag for your site (or "belongings" as Google calls it) in the HTML Tag section above.

Now, the plugin volition automatically add this HTML tag to all your site'due south pages.

Finally, click on the VERIFY button under the HTML tag section in Google Search Console.

8. Rank Math SEO

If you lot're using the Rank Math SEO plugin, you tin verify your website in Google Search Console by going to Rank Math > General Settings > Webmaster Tools in your dashboard. Hither, you'll meet a field that reads Google Search Console, which is where your Search Console verification code goes:

Adding the Search Console verification code to Rank Math with a highlight box around where the input should go.
Adding the Search Console verification lawmaking to Rank Math.

To find that verification code, you lot tin follow the exact instructions as with other WordPress SEO plugins. Navigate to the Other verification methods section in the Google Search Console interface, and so select the HTML tag option. Subsequently y'all re-create the unabridged tag, Rank Math will automatically place the verification lawmaking.

Adjacent, return to Google Search Console and click the VERIFY button nether the HTML tag. Search Console should recognize your website now.

9. Site Kit by Google

The Site Kit by Google plugin enables you to connect your WordPress website with Google services with only a few clicks. Information technology's an official plugin, and you tin use it for free.

Once you install and activate the plugin, navigate to Site Kit > Dashboard in your dashboard and select the SIGN IN WITH GOOGLE option:

Signing in with Google through the Site Kit plugin.
Signing in with Google through the Site Kit plugin.

Google will prompt you to verify website buying and to connect it with Search Console. To continue, click on Sign in with Google one time more than:

The Site Kit setup wizard welcome screen that says
The Site Kit setup magician.

If you have multiple Google accounts, you'll be able to choose which one y'all want to use for the Search Console account connected with your website. Google will enquire you to confirm that you're comfy with Site Kit having access to the following types of data:

A list of Site Kit permission requirements with options to "Allow" or "Cancel".
An overview of Site Kit's permissions.

After y'all click on Allow, Site Kit will ask yous to confirm site ownership for Google Search Panel. Site Kit does this by adding a bit of HTML code to your website. All that you have to exercise is select Proceed:

The option to enable Site Kit to verify that you own your website with an arrow pointing to the "Proceed" button.
Enable Site Kit to verify that you own your website.

Moving on, Site Kit will enquire you lot for permission to and your Google account data and brandish it on your dashboard. Click the Allow button once more. Then y'all'll see a success message telling you that your website is verified on Google Search Console:

A Site Kit setup success message saying
A Site Kit setup success message.

When y'all return to your Site Kit dashboard in WordPress, you lot'll see that it's connected to Google Search Console. A new Site Kit > Search Console tab will appear in your dashboard, giving you access to data from within your website.

Which Method Should You Utilize?

Adding a website to Google Search Console takes but seconds. Even so, information technology would aid if you verified that yous own the site, which can vary in complication depending on your chosen verification method.

If you're using Google Analytics or Tag Manager, you already have some Google lawmaking on your site. Google Search Panel should identify that lawmaking and verify your website without you needing to add together anything else to information technology. Alternatively, y'all can add an HTML file, include a tag, or utilise DNS verification (the all-time approach if yous don't want to add together more than code to your site).

Finally, if you're using a WordPress SEO plugin, the almost pop options include Google Search Console verification features. Those will help yous verify your website. All you have to practice is enter a verification code.

Set up to have on the Google Search Console verification process? 👀 Kickoff here ⬇️ Click to Tweet

Summary

Congratulations! You lot now know all you need to get started with your Google site verification.

Merely think that Google will periodically check on your site'southward verification. No matter which method you choose, it's essential to leave that method in place — you cannot remove information technology after confirmation.

It's now time to start scaling your website traffic.

Practice you have any other questions nearly the Google Search Console verification procedure? Go out a comment, and we'll try to help!


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