- Via adding a tag to your index file
- Via adding a Google html file to your webspace
Both are rather easy to setup. In order to add a tag to your index you'll need to:
- Visit your hosting environment
- Locate and FTP from your host, your index file
- Open it in an editor
- Locate the tag
- Copy and paste the meta tag from Google beneath it
- Save and FTP back to the host
The slightly easier option is to choose the HTML file option from the verification method drop down box.
- Select HTML file from the select list
- Copy the name of the HTML file Google provides
- Open your favorite text editor and paste in the HTML file name
- Save & FTP to your root directory
Once these steps are complete, you'll receive a message congratulating you on being the verified owner of your domain. Your next step is to adjust your settings. On the left side of the page you'll see the "Site Configuration" tab. Clicking this tab reveals five links, the last of which is the one for your "settings". Set your geographic target. For example, if you're in the United States, set your target to the United States.
Next, set your preferred domain to the one you verified. In the example we have verified the www version of the domain, adjust these settings here and click save.
The final step in setting up the Google tools for Webmasters is to submit your sitemap. There are plenty of free tools around the internet to assist with this. The one we use to get our first set of URL's indexed is here. http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/
You'll receive a Google friendly XML Sitemap for up to 500 URL's for free! Simply fill out the form, wait 2-3 minutes, and download your sitemap.xml. The sitemap then just needs to be FTP'd over to your hosting space. Submit your sitemap under "Site Configuration" --> "Sitemaps".
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Quick tips on using the Google Tools for Webmasters:
- Monitor your Google Tools on a consistent basis
- Make the necessary changes to any errors that Google finds
- Setup your Feedburner account with the same address in order to track subscriptions here
- Take notice of how your website is being found by checking the "Top Search Queries"
