How to Set up Google Search Console for WordPress in 2025
Google Search Console is a powerful, free tool provided by Google that allows website owners to monitor their site’s presence in search results, troubleshoot issues, and optimise their content for better visibility. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of setting up Google Search Console using the HTML tag verification method.
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console (GSC) is a web service by Google that helps website owners track their site’s performance in Google Search. It provides valuable insights, including indexing status, search traffic data, mobile usability reports, and security issues. GSC enables webmasters to submit sitemaps, request indexing, and diagnose problems affecting their site’s search rankings.
Why is Google Search Console Important?
As an SEO agency, we use Google Search Console daily. Our SEO team are constantly monitoring client’s performance and looking at some of the following areas:
- Monitor Search Performance – See which keywords bring traffic to your site and analyse click-through rates.
- Identify Indexing Issues – Ensure Google is crawling and indexing your pages correctly.
- Enhance SEO Strategies – Use performance reports to optimize content and improve rankings.
- Fix Website Errors – Get alerts about issues like mobile usability problems and security threats.
- Submit Sitemaps & URLs – Speed up the indexing process for new or updated content.
By leveraging Google Search Console, website owners can improve their search visibility, resolve technical issues, and make informed decisions to boost their website’s SEO performance.
Step By Step Guide for Setting Up Google Search Console
Below is a step-by-step guide to setting up Google Search Console using the HTML tag implementation.
Step 1: Copy Your Website URL
Before starting, copy your website’s full URL. Ensure you include the correct prefix:
- If your website uses https://www.example.com, copy that exact format.
- If your website uses https://example.com (without “www”), copy that version instead.
Step 2: Go to Google Search Console
- Open your web browser and go to Google Search Console.
- Make sure you are signed in with a Google account (a Gmail account is required to use Google Search Console).
Step 3: Add Your URL
- Once logged in, you will see two options for property types: Domain and URL Prefix.
- Select the URL Prefix option (on the right-hand side).
- Paste your full website URL into the provided box.
- Click the Continue button.
Step 4: Choose HTML Tag Verification
- Google Search Console will present multiple verification options.
- Click on HTML Tag to expand this option.
- You will be given a unique <meta> tag that looks something like this: <meta name=”google-site-verification” content=”your-unique-code” />
- Copy this entire tag.
Step 5: Add the HTML Tag to Your Website’s <head>
- Log into your WordPress website.
- Select appearance > theme editor (make sure you get the help of a developer if you haven’t got any experience in editing code).
- Navigate to your theme’s header.
- Paste the copied HTML tag just before the closing </head> tag.
- Save and publish the changes.
Step 6: Verify in Google Search Console
- Return to Google Search Console.
- Click the Verify button.
- If everything is set up correctly, you will see a success message confirming verification.
- If verification fails, clear your cache and try again.
Need Help from SEO Experts?
If you found this article useful and wanting to take your website up a gear, get in touch with our expert team who will be able to advise you on a strategy that get’s you results.
