Verifying your website in Google Search Console allows you to access valuable data and insights about your site’s performance on Google Search. Verifying a URL property (specific website URL) ensures you can monitor and manage your website’s SEO effectively. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to verify your URL property using OzSpeed’s hPanel.
Step 1: Access Google Search Console #
To start the verification process, go to Google Search Console.
- Open Google Search Console in your browser.
- Log in with your Google account (use the account associated with your website).
Tip: #
- If you don’t have a Google account, create one before proceeding.
Step 2: Add a New Property #
You need to add your website as a new property in Google Search Console.
How to Add a New Property: #
- Click on the Add Property button in the top left corner.
- Select URL Prefix as the property type (e.g.,
https://yourdomain.com). - Enter the full URL of your website, including http or https.
Tip: #
- Make sure the URL matches exactly, including the www prefix if your site uses it (e.g.,
https://www.yourdomain.com).
Step 3: Choose a Verification Method #
Google Search Console provides several ways to verify your URL property. The easiest method using OzSpeed’s hPanel is HTML tag verification.
Verification Methods: #
- HTML Tag (recommended)
- HTML File Upload
- DNS Record
- Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager
Tip: #
- The HTML Tag method is the quickest and easiest for most users.
Step 4: Verify Using the HTML Tag Method #
Using the HTML tag method, you will copy a meta tag provided by Google and add it to your website’s header.
How to Verify with HTML Tag: #
- Select HTML Tag as the verification method in Google Search Console.
- Copy the meta tag code provided by Google (e.g.,
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="your-verification-code">). - Log in to hPanel and go to Website Settings > Custom Code.
- Paste the meta tag into the Header Code section.
- Click Save.
Tip: #
- Make sure the meta tag is added before the closing
</head>tag in the HTML code.
Step 5: Confirm Verification in Google Search Console #
After adding the meta tag to your website, go back to Google Search Console to complete the verification process.
How to Confirm Verification: #
- Click Verify in Google Search Console.
- Wait for Google to check the meta tag on your website.
- You should see a confirmation message if the verification is successful.
Tip: #
- If verification fails, double-check the meta tag placement and ensure you’ve saved the changes in hPanel.
Step 6: Verify Using the DNS Record Method (Alternative) #
If you prefer, you can verify your URL property using a DNS TXT record.
How to Verify with DNS Record: #
- In Google Search Console, select DNS Record as the verification method.
- Copy the TXT record provided by Google (e.g.,
google-site-verification=your-verification-code). - Go to Domain Management in hPanel.
- Click on DNS Settings and add a new TXT record.
- Name: Leave blank or enter
@for the root domain. - Type: TXT
- Value: Paste the verification code from Google.
- Name: Leave blank or enter
- Click Save Changes.
- Go back to Google Search Console and click Verify.
Tip: #
- DNS changes may take up to 24 hours to propagate. Be patient if the verification doesn’t succeed immediately.
Step 7: Monitor Verification Status #
Check the status of your verification in Google Search Console.
How to Check Status: #
- Open your website property in Google Search Console.
- Go to Settings > Ownership Verification.
- Ensure the status is Verified.
Tip: #
- Keep the verification tag or DNS record in place to maintain verified status. Removing it may require re-verification.
Troubleshooting Tips #
- Verification Fails:
- Ensure the URL entered matches your website exactly, including http/https and www.
- Clear your website cache in hPanel and try verifying again.
- Changes Not Reflected:
- If you used the DNS method, wait up to 24 hours for DNS changes to propagate.
- Use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console to check for any indexing issues.
- Lost Verification Status:
- If you lose verification status, ensure the HTML tag or DNS record is still present in your website settings.
Additional Tips: #
- Submit Your Sitemap: After verification, submit your sitemap.xml in Google Search Console to help Google crawl your website more efficiently.
- Monitor Performance: Use Google Search Console’s reports to track your site’s performance, fix errors, and optimize your SEO strategy.
- Keep Your Verification Method Up to Date: If you make significant changes to your site (e.g., switching hosting providers), update your verification method as needed.
