If you’ve recently launched a website or started your journey in digital marketing or SEO, Google Search Console is one of the most essential tools you should be using. It helps you understand how your website is performing in Google Search and gives valuable insights into your website’s visibility, clicks, indexing issues, and more.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through step-by-step on how to create a Google Search Console account and add your website to it in 2026 even if you’re a complete beginner.
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool provided by Google that helps website owners, digital marketers, and SEO professionals monitor and troubleshoot their site’s presence in Google Search results.
Key Features of Google Search Console:
- View which keywords bring users to your site
- Check indexing status and request indexing
- Identify mobile usability issues
- Monitor backlinks and internal links
- Fix crawl errors and security issues
Step-by-Step: How to Create a Search Console Account and Add Your Website
Step 1: Go to Google Search Console
Visit: https://search.google.com/search-console
Click on the “Start Now” button at the top right.
Make sure you’re signed in with your Google (Gmail) account.
Step 2: Add Your Website (Property)
You’ll see two options:
- Domain – Covers all subdomains (like
www.example.com,blog.example.com, etc.) - URL Prefix – For a specific URL (e.g.,
https://www.example.com)
👉 For beginners, we recommend using URL Prefix because it supports multiple verification methods.
Enter your website URL (with https:// or http://) and click “Continue”.
Step 3: Verify Website Ownership
To access your website data, Google needs to confirm that you’re the rightful owner.
Here are the most common verification methods:
1. HTML File Upload (Recommended for most users)
- Download the HTML file provided.
- Upload it to the root folder of your website via FTP or your hosting panel.
- Click “Verify.”
2. HTML Tag
- Copy the meta tag provided.
- Paste it inside the
<head>section of your website’s homepage. - Save changes and click “Verify.”
3. Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager
- If you already use Google Analytics or GTM, you can verify through these platforms.
4. DNS Record (for Domain Property)
- Add the TXT record in your domain’s DNS settings (via your domain registrar).
- Might take some time to verify.
✅ Once verified, you’ll get a success message. If it fails, double-check your setup and try again.
Step 4: Explore the Search Console Dashboard
Once your website is verified, you’ll be taken to the dashboard. Here are a few things you should check out:
- Performance Report – Shows total clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position.
- URL Inspection Tool – Lets you check if a specific page is indexed.
- Coverage – View indexing issues or errors.
- Sitemaps – Submit your XML sitemap to help Google crawl your site better.
- Mobile Usability – Detect if your site has mobile experience issues.
- Core Web Vitals – Analyze page speed and user experience signals.
Bonus Tips for Beginners
- Submit a Sitemap: If you have a sitemap (usually
yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml), submit it under the “Sitemaps” tab. - Check for Errors Weekly: Get into the habit of checking GSC regularly for any new errors, warnings, or insights.
- Link Your Google Analytics: For deeper integration and better reporting, connect GSC with your Google Analytics account.
Setting up Google Search Console may seem technical at first, but once it’s done, you unlock a powerful SEO tool that can significantly help your website grow in search rankings.
Whether you’re running a blog, an eCommerce store, or a business website, regularly using Search Console will help you make informed decisions to improve your site’s performance in Google Search.
