Learn how to set up Google Search Console to find out exactly where your organic traffic is coming from. Make sure you have all the steps covered for setting up the Google search console for you site. There are 2 crucial steps you are probably missing!
We all know that search traffic is extremely important, and it’s just as important to be able to accurately see all the traffic you are getting so that you can make blogging and content creation decisions accordingly.
When I first set up my Google search console several years ago, I simply added my domain to the console list and called it good! Turns out there were 2 more crucial steps that I had missed out on completing.
If you’ve never set up the Google search console for your site, or just want to make sure you did everything correctly, double check the steps below to ensure you’re getting the most from your organic traffic!
How to set up Google Search Console
Set up Google Analytics first, it makes adding Google Search Console much easier.
- Go to Google Search Console.
- First you will need to log in. If you have Google Analytics, log in using the same info as you do for your Analytics account. You can also log in with a Google account (needs to be the same one your analytics is attached to though). If you don’t have one, you will have to create one before you can continue on.
- Once you have logged in, click the “Add A Property” button at the top of the page.
- Enter the URL of your website, then click continue.
- Next you’ll be asked to verify that you own the website. You have 4 options for how to do this:
- If you have access to the root of your website you can upload a html file.
- If you manage your hosting yourself, you can verify via your hosting provider.
- If you use Google Tag Manager, you can verify via Google Tags.
- Or, the easiest method, verify ownership via your Google Analytics Tracking ID.
If you already have a Google Analytics Tracking ID installed, then setting up Google Search Console is very easy. Simply click the Verify button, and that’s it!
But Wait! There’s More!
You may not know it, but Google actually views each version of your website address as a completely different property!
Say what? Each version? Yep. Here are all the possible versions of your domain address:
http://www.YOURDOMAIN.com
http://YOURDOMAIN.com
https://www.YOURDOMAIN.com
https://YOURDOMAIN.com
If you have https enabled, you’ll need to add all 4 properties to the search console using the steps outlined above. If not, just add the two “http” versions. But you really do need the https version!
This will make sure that you are seeing all search traffic coming to your site, not just for the one version you added to the console. Repeat this step for all the domains you own. So if you have 2 sites, do this for all of their variations too.
Final Steps for Setting up Google Search Console
Once you’re set up, Google Search Console doesn’t really show a lot right off the bat. You have to wait about a week before any real data shows up, however something you can do right away is submit an XML sitemap. This helps Google to find content on your site and index it more quickly.
Before you can submit a sitemap, you will need to create one. If you use WordPress, you can install the Yoast SEO plugin which will automatically create XML sitemaps for your site.
To find your sitemap within Yoast (it’s a little tricky now), go to “SEO” in your left menu on WordPress, then click “General”, then click the “Features” tab at the top.
Next, click on the question mark next to “XML Sitemaps”, and finally right click on “See the XML sitemap”. Copy that address for use in the next step.
Now, go back to the search console, select your property, then click “Crawl” on the left menu… then “Sitemaps” and click “Add your sitemap” in the top right corner.
From there, just enter the URL for the sitemap that Yoast created for you (just the part after domain.com/) and hit submit!
Again, repeat this step underneath all the property variations of your domains. The address will not change, but it will need to be submitted for each version of the domain.
RELATED READING: Best Tips for Increasing Google SEO Traffic in 2020
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Cathy says
Dear Victoria…..thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. Your instructions were super helpful……really appreciate you keeping a watchful eye out for all of us!! 🙂 Cathy
Victoria says
You’re so welcome Cathy! <3
Cathy says
Thanks so much for mentioning to add all variations of your site. I did have botth the http and https versions listed but not the variations that included www. Fixed that in just a few minutes.
Kristin says
This was so helpful! Thanks so much!
Victoria says
Wonderful! I’m so glad!
Allie of Vigor It Out says
Ah Victoria, how do you ALWAYS know exactly what I’m thinking about my site lately? Your last 2 emails were gold and exactly what I was thinking “man, I should really do this stuff it seems important!” And then there you go creating an email and post with directions and reminders of what I need to do! Thank you!
Victoria says
Haha, I love it Allie! I do my best! Glad it was helpful for you!!