If you are wondering how to add your website to Google search, the good news is that it is free and takes about fifteen minutes. Google will usually find a public site on its own eventually, but telling it directly gets you indexed faster and shows you any problems along the way. Here is the whole process, step by step.
How to add your website to Google search in seven steps
Follow these steps in order and you will know how to add your website to Google search without missing anything.
Step 1: Make sure your site is ready to be found
Before you submit anything, check that nothing is blocking search engines. In WordPress, open Settings, then Reading, and make sure “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” is not ticked. Also check that your pages are published and that your site does not have a robots.txt file that blocks everything.
Step 2: Create your Google Search Console account
Go to Google Search Console and sign in with a Google account. Choose Add property. You have two choices:
- Domain. Covers every version of your site (with and without www, http and https). Verification uses a DNS record.
- URL prefix. Covers one exact address, such as https://yourcompany.com/. Verification can use an HTML file, a meta tag or another Google tool you already use.
Step 3: Verify that you own the site
For a Domain property, Google gives you a TXT record to add to your domain’s DNS settings. If you registered your domain with Liberation, you can add it from your dashboard, or ask our team to do it. For a URL prefix property, upload the verification file Google provides or paste the meta tag into your site’s header. Then click Verify.
Step 4: Submit your sitemap
A sitemap is a list of the pages on your site. Most WordPress SEO plugins create one for you, usually at an address like yourcompany.com/sitemap_index.xml. In Search Console, open Sitemaps, paste that address and click Submit.
Step 5: Request indexing for your most important pages
Paste a page address into the search bar at the top of Search Console. Wait for the inspection to finish, then click Request indexing. Start with your home page and your most important service pages. Google limits how many requests you can make each day, so you do not need to do every page.
Step 6: Add your site to Bing too
Bing powers other search engines as well. Sign in to Bing Webmaster Tools and choose the option to import your site from Google Search Console. It copies your verification and sitemap in a couple of clicks.
Step 7: Give it time, then check the results
Once you know how to add your website to Google search, the waiting is the hardest part. It can take from a few days to a few weeks for pages to appear. Use the Pages report in Search Console to see which pages are indexed and why others are not. To help Google along, link between your own pages, give each page a clear title and a single main heading, and keep your site fast and secure with an SSL certificate. For more on titles and headings, see our guide to meta tags and heading tags.
Common problems when you add your website to Google search
- “Discovered, currently not indexed.” Google knows the page exists but has not crawled it yet. Add internal links to it and be patient.
- “Excluded by noindex tag.” A setting or plugin is telling Google not to index the page. Remove it.
- “Blocked by robots.txt.” Edit your robots.txt file so the page is allowed.
That is the whole process of how to add your website to Google search: verify, submit a sitemap and request indexing. Need a site worth finding? See our website builder or WordPress hosting, and track your results with Liberation Analytics.
How Google finds the pages on your site
Google discovers pages by following links, reading sitemaps and re-visiting pages it already knows. When you add your website to Google through Search Console, you are speeding up that discovery. It does not guarantee a ranking, but it makes sure Google knows your pages exist and shows you any problems.
How to check whether your site is already in Google
Type site:yourcompany.com into Google, with your own address. If results appear, those pages are already indexed. If nothing appears, your site has not been indexed yet. For a single page, paste its address into the URL Inspection tool in Search Console and it will tell you whether that page is on Google.
Pages that are easy for Google to index
You can add your website to Google perfectly and still get few pages indexed if the pages themselves are thin. Google tends to index pages that are useful and unique. A few habits help:
- Give every page a distinct purpose and a clear title.
- Write at least a few hundred words of real, helpful content on important pages.
- Link to each page from at least one other page on your site.
- Avoid duplicate pages with nearly identical text.
- Make sure pages load quickly on a phone.
Local businesses: also claim your Google Business Profile
If customers find you by location, a free Google Business Profile helps you appear in map results and the local pack. Add your name, address, phone number, hours and website, and verify the profile. It is separate from Search Console, so do both when you add your website to Google.
A quick checklist before you submit
- The site is published, and search engines are not discouraged in your settings.
- Your robots.txt file is not blocking the whole site.
- Each page has a title and a description. See meta tags for SEO.
- You have an SSL certificate, so the site loads with a padlock.
- You have a sitemap ready to submit.
Add your website to Google today
You now know how to add your website to Google: verify the site, submit a sitemap and request indexing. It is free, it takes about fifteen minutes and it gives you a window into how Google sees your pages. Add your website to Google as soon as your site is live, then add your website to Bing as well so you cover both major search engines.
If you would rather not do it alone, our team can help you add your website to Google and set up the DNS record for verification.
Verify your site with a Google verification code
Search Console may ask you to prove you own the site. One method is a verification code. Copy the code Google gives you, add it as a TXT record in your domain’s DNS settings, wait a few minutes, then click Verify in Search Console. Another method is a small meta tag added to your home page. Either way, keep the code in place so Google can recheck it later.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add my website to Google search?
Verify your site in Google Search Console, submit your sitemap, and request indexing for your key pages. Google then crawls the site on its own. New sites can take from a few days to a few weeks to appear.
Do I have to pay to add my site to Google?
No. Adding your site to Google Search Console and requesting indexing is free. Be wary of anyone who charges to submit your site to search engines.
How do I add my site to search engines other than Google?
Use Bing Webmaster Tools, which can import your site directly from Google Search Console. Bing also supports IndexNow, which tells it right away when pages change.
How long does it take for my site to show up in Google?
Often a few days to a few weeks. Pages with internal links, a sitemap and some links from other sites are usually found faster.
Why is my site not showing up in Google?
The most common causes are a setting that blocks search engines, a noindex tag, a robots.txt file that disallows crawling, or a brand new site that has not been crawled yet. Check the Pages report in Search Console for the specific reason.