If Search Console setup is included in your Website Bakery project, I'll help you verify your website and get started with the reports. Your business keeps control of its Google account. You won't need to share your password with me.
What This Guide Helps With
Search Console helps you see which pages Google has found, whether any have indexing issues, and how your website performs in Google Search. It doesn't place ads or guarantee a ranking.
Connect your website to Search Console
Open https://search.google.com/search-console and sign in with the Google account your business will use to access its reports.
Choose Add property. A URL-prefix property covers the specific address you enter, such as https://www.example.com/. A Domain property covers more versions of your domain but requires verification through DNS (your domain settings).
Enter the web address your customers use. If you're unsure whether to include www, open the live website and copy the address shown in your browser. If you already have a verified property, you may be able to request access instead of creating another one.
Choose one of the verification methods Google offers. Some website platforms can handle this automatically. Others need a verification tag, file, or DNS record, which your developer or domain manager can help with.
Follow Google's verification instructions. If verification is part of your Website Bakery project, I'll help with the website or DNS changes. You can keep your Google login private.
Once your site is verified, open URL Inspection and enter your homepage address. A brand-new site might not have any results yet; that doesn't automatically mean something is wrong.
Understand your sitemap and search reports
A sitemap is a list of website pages that can help search engines discover them. Many websites already create one automatically. Submitting a sitemap is useful in some cases, but it doesn't guarantee that Google will index every page.
- Check whether your website already has a sitemap. A common address is https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml, but the location can vary. If you're unsure, ask whoever built your site.
- If you have a valid sitemap, open Sitemaps in Search Console and submit its address using the field shown there.
- If Search Console shows an error, check that the sitemap address is correct and publicly accessible. Ask for help if the file needs to be fixed; resubmitting the same unchanged sitemap won't solve the underlying problem.
- Check the indexing and Performance reports occasionally. They can show which pages Google knows about and which searches lead people to your site. New reports may take time to populate.
- If you make a significant change to a page, URL Inspection may offer Request indexing. You can use it for an important page, but repeated requests won't speed up Google.
Common Questions
Do I need Search Console to appear on Google?
No. Search Console helps you monitor your site, but Google can also discover public pages without a Search Console account.
Does submitting a sitemap put me at the top of search results?
No. A sitemap can help Google discover pages, but it doesn't guarantee indexing or a higher position in search results.
What if the verification check fails?
Check that you entered the correct address and followed the verification instructions. A tag or file may be missing, or a DNS change may need more time. Your developer or domain manager can help troubleshoot it.
Do I need to share my Google password?
No. Keep your password and verification codes private. Website access can be arranged through approved verification methods or account permissions.
Should I submit the same sitemap after every small change?
Usually not. Google periodically revisits sitemaps it can access. Larger changes may be a reason to resubmit.