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

Substantially, Google site verification is about proving that you own the site. Hence, you need to complete the Google Search Console verification process before managing your sites through Google tools.

Thankfully, this process is pretty uncomplicated, and there'due south a variety of ways to verify your website with Google Search Panel. This post will embrace nine different Google site verification methods, including manual ones and WordPress plugins.

Let'south get started!

five Manual Methods for Google Site Verification

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

To become started, access your Google Search Console dashboard. From here, y'all tin can open 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 to select a property type. You can enter a domain or a URL prefix. If you enter a domain name, y'all'll be able to verify your website via DNS. The URL prefix method volition permit you cull between four verification methods:

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

Either approach works just fine when it comes to site verification. All the same, nosotros recommend the URL prefix method because it gives you more options.

The following department will explore the 4 verification methods you tin can use to select the URL prefix property blazon. Then we'll show you how to verify your website via DNS at the finish (the Domain option). Become ahead and enter your site'due south URL under the URL prefix and click on CONTINUE.

Before Google lets you add your site, view its analytics, or submit its sitemap, information technology asks you to verify your site ownership ✅ Learn how to do that with this guide 👇 Click to Tweet

1. HTML Verification File

With this method, y'all need to upload an HTML file to the root directory of your website. Information technology'south simple, only the downside is that you volition need access to your server to upload the file, either via FTP/SFTP clients or something like cPanel File Manager.

Footstep 1: Download the Verification File

Later on you add your site to Google Search Console, you should see an pick 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 Panel.

Click on the button adjacent to Download the file. Relieve this file somewhere you'll call up — you'll need it in a minute.

Footstep 2: Upload the File via SFTP

Next, yous'll need to connect to your website via FTP/SFTP. Hither are instructions for how to use SFTP at Kinsta.

In one case y'all'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 folder, wp-config.php, etc.) At Kinsta, this folder is named public.

Subsequently uploading the file, information technology 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.

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

Step 3: Click the Verify Button in Google Search Console

Once you've uploaded the file to your site, go back to Google Search Console and click on the VERIFY button to consummate the process. Google Search Console will locate the file on your server and verify that you ain the website.

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

two. HTML Tag

With the HTML tag method, you need to add a simple meta tag to your site'due south <caput> section. If you're using WordPress, you tin can do this by:

  • Adding the tag direct to your kid theme's header.php file
  • Using a plugin to inject it into the header

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

Step 1: Copy the Meta Tag

To find the meta tag, you can become to the Other verification methods department 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 push to copy the meta tag in the box. Now, let's go ahead and add it to your WordPress website.

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

Adjacent, you tin install the gratuitous 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 Save to salve the changes to your website'south header, and that's it. You can also add the meta tag manually, but we recommend the plugin approach if you're not comfortable editing WordPress core files.

To finish the process, go back to the Google Search Console interface and click on the VERIFY button. If you added the code to your website, Google Search Console would exist able to identify it.

iii. Google Analytics

If you already have the Google Analytics asynchronous tracking code installed on your site, y'all can hands verify your site using Google Analytics. This procedure boils downwardly to ii 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 account verification screen.

If you added Google Analytics to WordPress using a plugin, the tracking lawmaking should be on your homepage. That ways that you tin get ahead and use this method.

four. Google Tag Manager

Just like Google Analytics, if you're already using Google Tag Managing director, y'all can verify your site with but a single click. You'll need to have the Google Tag Manager container snippet active on your site.

Once again, at that place's no deep or involved process necessary. Hither's all y'all need to practise:

  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 account.

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

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5. DNS Verification

If you want to verify your website using the Domain method, you'll need to add together a TXT record to your domain's DNS configuration. Here's what that verification window looks similar:

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

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

First, click on the Kinsta DNS pick. Then, select Manage for the site that yous 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 choice from the MyKinsta dashboard.

Side by side, you tin click on Add together DNS Tape and select the TXT choice under Type. Add your Google Search Console TXT record nether 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.

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

4 WordPress Plugins to Assist With Google Site Verification

If yous're using a WordPress SEO plugin, there's a good chance that your plugin of option offers an easy tool to help with Google site verification. We'll show y'all how to exercise information technology with the three popular WordPress SEO tools and one plugin direct from Google.

6. Yoast SEO

To complete the Google Search Console verification procedure with Yoast SEO, you tin can beginning by going to SEO > General in your WordPress dashboard and selecting the Webmaster Tools tab.

Next, find the Google verification code field and add together the code that you can get from Google Search Panel:

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 lawmaking, you lot tin can follow these three steps:

  1. Navigate to the Other verification methods section in the Google Search Console interface.
  2. Select the HTML tag choice.
  3. Copy the entire tag. Yoast SEO volition automatically strip out the extra details, leaving simply the lawmaking.
The window for finding your HTML tag for your Google verification code.
Where to detect Google verification code.

Now you can add together the code to your Yoast SEO settings page and relieve the changes to information technology. Return to the HTML tag tab in Google Search Console and click on the VERIFY button.

7. SEOPress

To verify your site in Google Search Console with the SEOPpress plugin, become to the SEOPress > Advanced department in your WordPress dashboard. Here, scroll down to discover the Google search verification entry.

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

You need to enter your Google site verification HTML meta tag here. It'll expect something like this: <meta name="google-site-verification" content="......." />. Add together your site verification meta tag and save the changes.

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

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

Finally, click on the VERIFY push under the HTML tag department in Google Search Panel.

8. Rank Math SEO

If you're using the Rank Math SEO plugin, you tin verify your website in Google Search Panel by going to Rank Math > General Settings > Webmaster Tools in your dashboard. Here, you'll come across 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 Panel verification code to Rank Math.

To find that verification lawmaking, you tin follow the exact instructions every bit with other WordPress SEO plugins. Navigate to the Other verification methods section in the Google Search Panel interface, so select the HTML tag pick. After you copy the unabridged tag, Rank Math will automatically identify the verification code.

Adjacent, render to Google Search Console and click the VERIFY push under the HTML tag. Search Panel should recognize your website now.

9. Site Kit by Google

The Site Kit by Google plugin enables yous to connect your WordPress website with Google services with merely a few clicks. It's an official plugin, and you can utilise information technology for complimentary.

Once y'all install and actuate 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 yous to verify website ownership and to connect information technology with Search Panel. To continue, click on Sign in with Google once more:

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

If you have multiple Google accounts, y'all'll be able to choose which 1 you desire to employ for the Search Console account connected with your website. Google will ask you to ostend 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'southward permissions.

After you click on Allow, Site Kit volition enquire you lot to confirm site buying for Google Search Console. Site Kit does this by adding a bit of HTML code to your website. All that you have to do 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 y'all own your website.

Moving on, Site Kit will enquire you for permission to and your Google account data and display it on your dashboard. Click the Allow push button over again. Then yous'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 you render to your Site Kit dashboard in WordPress, you'll see that information technology's continued to Google Search Panel. A new Site Kit > Search Console tab will announced in your dashboard, giving yous access to information from within your website.

Which Method Should You Utilize?

Adding a website to Google Search Console takes only seconds. However, it would help if you verified that you own the site, which can vary in complexity depending on your chosen verification method.

If yous're using Google Analytics or Tag Managing director, you lot already take some Google code on your site. Google Search Panel should identify that code and verify your website without you lot needing to add anything else to information technology. Alternatively, you tin can add an HTML file, include a tag, or use DNS verification (the best approach if you don't want to add more code to your site).

Finally, if you lot're using a WordPress SEO plugin, the most popular options include Google Search Console verification features. Those will assistance yous verify your website. All you lot have to do is enter a verification lawmaking.

Ready to take on the Google Search Console verification process? 👀 First here ⬇️ Click to Tweet

Summary

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

Just recall that Google will periodically check on your site'south verification. No matter which method you choose, information technology'southward essential to leave that method in place — y'all cannot remove it subsequently confirmation.

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

Exercise you lot have any other questions about the Google Search Console verification process? Leave a comment, and nosotros'll attempt to assistance!

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