WordPress Google Search Console Install Guide

In this guide I am going to walk you through how to install GSC on your WordPress website. While there are many ways to do this, I am going to show you using the HTML tag method.

To help you follow along, I’ve included screenshots and a step by step video also walking you through how to do it.

1. Login into Search Console through any Google account:

Login Into Google Search Console

2. Enter Your URL Prefix in Property Type:

Google Search Console Verifying Process

Quick tip:

Type in your domain as such:

  • https://domainname.com

(Be sure to replace “domainname” for your specific domain.)

So for Bounce Rank it would behttps://bouncerank.com”

3. Copy the HTML Tag:

It would be a good idea to copy your tag to a word doc or a spreadsheet.

That way you don’t loose it when you are moving around things on your website!

How To verify with HTML Tag Google Search Console

4. Add the Tag to Your Website:

Now you need to copy and paste the code into your header.

You can you use the insert headers and footers free plugin to do it.

Here’s how to install it and use it:

Login into WordPress, go to plugins and then press “add new”.

Add Plugin to wordpress

I highlighted in the screenshot the plugin I am talking about.

How To add New Plugin WordPress

Press “install now”

Once installed move on to the next step:

Now it is installed navigate to “settings” and then click “Insert Headers and Footers”:

How To Add Html Tag To Website

Now take that HTML tag you had from Search Console and paste it into your header.

Insert HTML Tag in Header

5. Press Verify

Don’t forget to press save!

Once the code is copied and pasted, spin back on over to Search console and press verify.

Verify Completed

If it doesn’t work check to see if you entered the code correctly.

Alternatively, you can verify via DNS lookup, This may take longer but it is still just as effective.

Okay, now that you verified your website, here are somethings that you may be asking yourself once you login.

Why is my dashboard not showing anything?

The reason your dashboard may be blank is because your website either doesn’t have enough data (this is common for newer websites) or the data may just take some time to come in.

Typically, it can take Google a few business days or a week to populate ranking data. So don’t worry just give it some time!

The data is pretty accurate, but Google does hide some of your keyword data for user privacy reasons. In fact, Ahrefs did a study that found that Google actually hides 45.6% (ahrefs). So I would not overly stress about it. Look and see what keywords you show up for, and then use those to further optimize your content.

 

Roggie (Raj) Clark is a Senior SEO Manager, specialist & career mentor with 8 years of experience. He has worked with a wide range of clients in many industries including B2B, SaaS, Fintech, home improvement, tech-startups, dentistry, and eye care. He started the blog; Bounce Rank, as a way to help business owners grow their website traffic and to help people who want to get a job in SEO.

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