Are you struggling to verify ownership of your WordPress website on Google Search Console? You have landed in the right place.
Verifying Google Search Console for a WordPress website is not a difficult one. It is SUPER EASY! I will walk you through the steps I took to successfully verify my WordPress website.
My blog is a self-hosted WordPress website on Bluehost. I faced some confusion during the verification process and I think it would be super useful to share the steps I took to make it a breeze for you.
You will learn all about Google Search Console, why Google Search Console is important for bloggers, Google Search Console Verification methods, and how to verify bluehost domain.
This post is all about how to verify Google Search Console for WordPress Bluehost Website.
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console acts as a backstage pass to the world of search engines, providing insights into how Google perceives your WordPress website. It allows you to understand your site’s performance in Google’s search results, offering a glimpse behind the scenes at which pages are part of Google’s index. It gives you an idea of where you stand compared to others.
Why do you need Google Search Console as a blogger?
As a blogger, having Google Search Console is essential, especially if you aim to rank high on Google’s Search Engine. Here are five reasons why you need to get your website verified:
- Know Your Reach: Google Search Console tells you how frequently your blog pops up in search results and where you stand in the rankings. With this information, you can work hard on improving your blog to rank higher.
- Fix the Bugs: This is super helpful if you start to notice that a specific blog post is not showing up on Google. Search Console will be able to help you troubleshoot the problem. This will allow you to fix it and increase your blog’s visibility.
- Mobile-Friendly: In the age of smartphones, having a mobile-friendly website is key. Google Search Console steps in if it detects your blog isn’t mobile-friendly, giving you the chance to improve the mobile experience for your readers.
- Detect Security Issues: Nobody likes uninvited guests, especially the sneaky ones. Search Console will alert you if it detects any security issues on your blog, so you can take swift action to protect your readers from cyber mischief.
- SEO: If you are thinking of monetizing your blog, SEO is the key. The higher you rank, the more visits you have, the more CHA-CHINGs you will have. Google Search Console gives you insights into keywords, helping you understand what people are searching for so you can tweak your content to be easily discovered.
Google Search Console Verification Methods
Google Search Console offers various verification methods, including:
- HTML file upload
- HTML tag
- Google Analytics tracking code
- Google Tag Manager
- Google Sites, Blogger, or Domains account
- Domain Name Provider
Resources for you: Other Verification Methods
Here is my thought process:
- Option 1 and 2 require me to edit HTML files, which I am not comfortable doing. I was afraid that any WordPress updates might erase them, and the connection would break.
- Option 5 is out for me because I wasn’t using any of those.
- Among 3, 4, and 6, I initially tried verification using options 3 and 4, but both attempts were unsuccessful.
- Hence, I was left with option 6, which was swift.
4 Steps to Verifying Google Search Console on Bluehost Website
I opted for the Domain Name Provider method, which involves adding a DNS record to your domain provider’s record list to prove website ownership. You will need to take note that verifying ownership of the main domain automatically verifies ownership of all subdomains, but not vice versa.
Resources for you: Domain Name Provider Verification Method Details
Here are the 4 exact steps I took to verify my self-hosted WordPress website.
Step 1: Decide which DNS record format to use
There are 2 main ways to add a DNS record: via CNAME or via TXT.
To decide which to use, you first need to check if your website is found in the CNAME record here.
Under the CNAME tab, enter your property’s domain name.
Look at the results. If a CNAME record is found and the ‘TARGET’ is the parent domain of what you entered, follow the CNAME method. If not, use the TXT method.
Step 2: Sign in to the Bluehost account
Under Domains > Advanced tools, click ‘Manage’ and continue
Step 3: Add the DNS Record
Retrieve your unique verification code from Google Search Console.
Step 4: Verify your website
Return to Google Search Console and complete the verification process. Don’t worry if your website does not get verified straight away. Mine only got verified after waiting around 30 minutes or so.
Resources for you: Search Console Help | Google Admin Toolbox for CNAME Verification
This post is all about providing you with the 4 simple steps you can take to verify Google Search Console for your WordPress blog today!
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- 3 Tips to Make Your Blog Posts Appear on Google Search
