The Beginner’s Friendly Guide to Setting Up Google Search Console for Your Blog

If you’ve just started blogging, you might have heard of Google Search Console (GSC) but felt intimidated by all the techy jargon. Don’t worry - you’re not alone! Think of GSC as your personal dashboard that tells you how your blog is performing in Google search, points out problems, and gives tips to improve your visibility.

In this post, I’ll walk you step by step through setting up GSC, even if you’re not tech-savvy. By the end, you’ll have a working setup and know how to start using the data to grow your blog.

Step 1: Create a Google Account (if you don’t already have one)

Before anything, you need a Google account. This is what you’ll use to access GSC and other Google tools like Analytics.

How to do it:

Go to accounts.google.com.
Fill in your name, desired email, and password.
Follow the prompts to verify your account.

💡 Pro tip: Use an email you check regularly - it’ll be linked to your blog’s performance updates.

Step 2: Go to Google Search Console

Once your Google account is ready:

Visit Google Search Console.
Click “Start now” and sign in with your Google account.

Screenshot suggestion: The GSC homepage with “Start now” button highlighted.

Step 3: Add Your Blog to Google Search Console

Here’s where it gets a little terminology-heavy, but don’t worry. GSC asks you to verify ownership of your site.

There are two main ways to add your site:

Option A: Domain Property (covers your entire domain)

Example: example.com (includes all subdomains like www.example.com or blog.example.com).
Requires adding a DNS record in your domain settings.
Best if you want full tracking across all versions of your site.

Option B: URL Prefix Property (simpler for beginners)

Example: https://www.example.com (just this specific URL).
Easier to verify using methods like HTML file upload, meta tag, or your website platform (WordPress, Wix, etc.).
Recommended if you just want to get started quickly.

💡 Friendly tip: Most beginner bloggers start with URL Prefix because it’s simpler.

Step 4: Verify Your Blog Ownership

After choosing your method:

1. HTML File Upload (URL Prefix)

Download the HTML file provided by GSC.
Upload it to your website’s root folder (your host or WordPress file manager).
Click “Verify”.

2. HTML Tag (simpler for WordPress users)

Copy the meta tag GSC gives you.
Paste it in the header of your website (you can use plugins like “Insert Headers and Footers” on WordPress).
Click “Verify”.

3. Domain Name Provider (Domain Property)

Copy the TXT record provided by GSC.
Go to your domain registrar (like Namecheap or GoDaddy) and add the TXT record.
Click “Verify”.
This method takes a few minutes to a few hours to fully activate.

Screenshot suggestion: GSC verification options screen.

Step 5: Submit Your Sitemap

A sitemap is like a map for Google - it tells Google all the pages on your blog. Submitting it helps your content get discovered faster.

How to submit:

Go to GSC → Index → Sitemaps.
Enter the URL of your sitemap.
- For WordPress with Yoast SEO: https://yourblog.com/sitemap_index.xml
Click Submit.

Screenshot suggestion: Sitemap submission box in GSC.

Step 6: Understand the Dashboard

Once verified and your sitemap is submitted, you’ll see the GSC dashboard. Here’s what the main sections mean:

Performance: Shows clicks, impressions, and the search queries that bring people to your blog.
Coverage: Tells you which pages are indexed and if there are errors.
Enhancements: Insights for mobile usability, Core Web Vitals, and more.
Links: Shows internal and external links pointing to your blog.

💡 Tip: Don’t get overwhelmed—just check Performance first to see which posts are getting traffic.

Step 7: Track Your Progress

Once your GSC is set up, check it regularly to:

Identify posts that need SEO improvement.
See which keywords are driving traffic.
Spot and fix errors before they hurt your rankings.

Screenshot suggestion: Example of a Performance report showing clicks and impressions.

Step 8: Celebrate!

You did it! 🎉 Your blog is now connected to Google Search Console, giving you the tools to grow your traffic and understand your audience better.

Remember, GSC is like a fitness tracker for your blog - it won’t magically make your site rank, but it gives you the insights you need to improve.

Quick Recap (for the scanner in you)

Create a Google account.
Go to Google Search Console.
Add your blog (Domain or URL Prefix).
Verify ownership.
Submit your sitemap.
Explore the dashboard.
Check regularly and track progress.

DT

Start Tracking Your Blog Like a Pro: Easy Google Search Console Setup