Get SEO for a New Nigerian Site a Head Start – Add It to Google Search Consol
Adding a new website, whether it’s a Nigerian site or not is one of the most important steps to getting your site to appear in Google. Experienced SEO professionals tend to take this for granted. During one of the SEO training sessions, a student asked “how do you add your site to Google Search Console. I created a video to demonstrate it to the student and also wrote this adding your site to Google Console, a step-by-step guide for those who prefer reading to watching videos. In this guide, I want to walk you through how to add your website to Google Search Console.
Why You Should Add Your Website to Google Search Console
Adding your site to Google Search Console is the quickest way to let Google know you have a new website out there.
It also allows Google to give you feedback about your website, including:
- What to improve
- What to add or remove
- Errors on your site
- Issues that could hinder your ranking on Google
In short, it helps you understand how your website is performing and what you need to fix.
Before You Start
The very first step is to have a Google account.
If you don’t have one, you can create one here:
https://accounts.google.com
Once your Google account is ready, go to Google Search Console to get started:
https://search.google.com/search-console/about
Step 1: Add Your Website
When you get to Google Search Console, you’ll need to add your website.
Google will ask you to verify that you are the owner of the site.
There are two main options:
- DNS verification
- URL prefix
The DNS verification method can be slightly complicated for new web professionals, so we’ll use the URL prefix option.
Step 2: Enter Your Website Address
Enter your domain name (also known as your web address).
For example:
https://onlinelearning.ng
Step 3: Verify Ownership
Google will run a quick check and then ask you to:
- Download a verification file
- Upload the file to your website
Uploading this file proves that you own the website or are authorised to manage it.
If your website is built with WordPress, there are plugins that can help you insert this verification file easily. However, we won’t cover that in this guide.
Step 4: Upload the File (Using cPanel)
If you are using cPanel:
- Log in to your cPanel
- Go to File Manager
- Upload the verification file to your website’s root directory
Once you’ve uploaded the file, go back to Google Search Console and click Verify.
Step 5: Wait for Data to Appear
After verification, you won’t see much information immediately.
That’s normal.
Since you’ve just added the site, it will take a few days for Google to start gathering data and reporting it to you.
What to Do Next
That’s it, really. If you are thinking of joining one of our courses, have a look at our guide called The Ultimate Guide to SEO Course in Nigeria for more information.
You can now spend some time exploring the features of Google Search Console.
Take a look at the navigation on the left-hand side, expand the sections, and explore the details available.
Finally
That is it you have now successfully added your site to Google Search Console.
Thank you for reading this guide. I hope you find it useful.
Don’t forget to share it if it helps you.
You are also welcome to leave a comment if you wish.
See you in the next guide 👍
Google