How to add your website to Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that shows how your website appears in Google Search: which searches you showed up for, which pages were clicked, and whether Google has had trouble reading any of your pages. It does not change your ranking on its own. What it gives you is information you cannot get anywhere else, straight from Google.

This guide walks through the steps in plain language, explains the one choice that confuses most people, and covers what to do once you are in.

Before you start: what you need

• A Google account. Ideally one that belongs to the business, or a personal account you will keep. Whoever verifies the site becomes an owner, so avoid using an account that belongs to a contractor.
• Your website address. For example yourbusiness.com.au.
• Access to one of these: your domain provider (the registrar or DNS service where you pay for the domain), or your website platform's settings. Which one you need depends on the property type you choose below.

If you are not sure who controls your domain, read who should own your domain and hosting first. It is the most common thing that holds this job up.

Step 1: choose a property type

When you open Search Console and add a site, Google asks you to pick between two types of "property". This is the only decision that really matters.

Our suggestion: choose a Domain property if you can get into your DNS settings. You set it up once and it covers every version of your address, so you never miss data because Google happened to show the www version instead of the plain one. Choose URL-prefix if your DNS is locked away with someone else and you need to get started today.

Step 2: verify that you own the site

Google will only show you data once you prove the site is yours.

For a Domain property: add a DNS record

1. In Search Console, choose Add property, select Domain, and type your domain without www or https.
2. Google shows you a TXT record. Copy it.
3. Log in to your domain provider or DNS service and find the DNS settings for your domain.
4. Add a new TXT record. Paste the value Google gave you. For the name or host field, most providers use @ or leave it blank for the root domain. Save.
5. Back in Search Console, choose Verify.

DNS changes are not always instant. If verification fails the first time, wait a while and try again rather than adding the record twice. Google's documentation also says not to remove the DNS record after verification succeeds: Search Console checks again from time to time, and if the record has gone, access can expire after a grace period.

For a URL-prefix property: pick the easiest method

Type the full address, including https:// and the final slash. Then choose the method that suits your setup:

• HTML tag. Google gives you a short meta tag to paste into your homepage. Many website builders have a field for this in their SEO or site verification settings.
• HTML file. You upload a small file to your site.
• Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager. If one of these is already installed and you have the right access, Search Console can use it.
• DNS. The same TXT record method as above.

Whichever method you use, leave it in place. Removing the tag or the file later removes the verification.

Step 3: submit your sitemap

A sitemap is a file that lists the pages on your website. Most website platforms create one for you, and it usually lives at an address such as yourbusiness.com.au/sitemap.xml.

1. In Search Console, open Sitemaps in the menu.
2. Type the sitemap address and choose Submit.
3. Check back later: the report shows when Google read it and whether it found any errors.

Google describes a sitemap as a hint: it helps Google find your pages, but it does not promise they will be crawled or shown.

Step 4: give the right people access

If you verified the site, you are an owner. You can add other people through Settings, then Users and permissions, without sharing your password.

• Add your web designer or marketing help as a user with the level of access they need.
• Keep at least two owners inside the business if you can. Google notes that if every verified owner loses access, all users lose access to the property.
• When someone stops working with you, remove them, and remove any verification token they added.

What to look at once you are in

Data usually starts to appear within a few days, according to Google. After that, three reports cover most of what a small business needs.

• Performance. The searches your site appeared for, how many times it was shown (impressions), how many clicks it got and its average position. Look for searches that are relevant to what you sell but have few clicks: that often points to a page worth improving.
• Pages. Which of your pages are indexed and which are not, with a reason for each one. A page marked as not indexed is not always a problem, but your homepage and service pages should be on the list.
• URL Inspection. Paste in a single address to see whether Google has indexed it and when it last crawled it. You can also request indexing for a new or updated page. Google says requests are limited per day, that a request does not promise the page will be indexed, and that indexing often takes a day or so but can take longer.

Once a month is enough for most small businesses, plus a look after you launch new pages.

Common mistakes

• Adding the wrong address. A URL-prefix property for http:// when your site runs on https:// will show almost nothing.
• Verifying with a contractor's Google account and then losing touch with them.
• Deleting the TXT record during a later clean-up of DNS settings.
• Expecting Search Console to improve rankings. It reports. The improvements come from your pages, your Google Business Profile and the content you publish.

What we set up with every website

Every website we build comes with the local search basics, including Search Console with the sitemap submitted, and the account is handed over in your business's name. Prices in Australian dollars:

If you are planning a new site, what pages a small business website needs helps you map out the content, and a website care plan explains who keeps an eye on things like Search Console after launch. More on how we build in Websites and online shops.

Common questions

Is Google Search Console free?

Yes. It is a free tool from Google. You only need a Google account and access to your website or your domain settings to verify it.

Should I choose a Domain property or a URL-prefix property?

For most small businesses, a Domain property, because it covers http and https, www and non-www and every subdomain in one place. It needs a DNS record to verify. If you cannot get into your DNS settings, start with a URL-prefix property and add the Domain property later.

How long until data shows up in Search Console?

Google says data usually appears within a few days of adding the property. If there is still nothing after several days, check that you added the right address and that the site appears in Google at all.

Does adding my site to Search Console get it on Google?

Not by itself. It helps Google find your pages and shows you what is happening. It does not promise indexing or any position in the results.

Can my web designer set it up for me?

Yes. A designer can verify the site and then add your business Google account as an owner, so you keep access if you stop working together. Ask for this in writing at the start of the project.