Google Webmaster and How to Use It Appropriately

Website owners or managers are always looking for ways to increase website traffic while maximizing rankings in search engine results, namely Google. Are you familiar with the existence and even use of Google Webmaster? If you haven’t and you are still doing website development, there’s no need to worry because this feature from Google can be used anytime. So, what is Google Webmaster, and what is the right way to use it? Let’s discuss this further.

Table of Contents

• What is Google Webmasters?
• Registering and Using Google Webmasters
  • Setting up a Google Account and Website
  • Click the Search Console Button
  • Make a Choice
  • Perform Verification
    • HTML File
    • HTML Tags
    • Google Analytics
    • Google Tag Manager
    • DNS TXT Records
• Usage Steps
• Advantages of Using Google Webmaster
  • Indexing Pages on Google
  • Viewing Search Traffic Data
  • Coverage
  • Mobile Device Use
• Conclusion

What is Google Webmasters?

Before talking further about using Google Webmaster, maybe you are curious about the meaning of Google Webmaster itself. Google Webmaster or what is now known as Google Search Console is a web service provided by Google that allows users to check the indexing status and optimize the visibility of their website. In January 2018, Google Webmaster was introduced with a new name namely Google Search Console with changes to the user interface.

The features offered are still diverse and even easier to understand. One of them is Google Analytics, where website managers can get visitor analysis reports, total impressions and clicks every month, pages that are more frequently accessed by website visitors, and even website positions in search engines. 

To be able to feel the benefits of using Google Search Console, first make sure you have it installed correctly so that it can be used immediately. Curious as to what? Some of you or those who are new to the great performance of Google Webmaster may still think that this tool is difficult to use. It is very easy to use by anyone. 

Registering and Using Google Webmasters

Setting up a Google Account and Website

This is the first thing that needs to be done. Registration requires an active Google account and a website that Google wants to index. Make sure to always update website content that is not only useful but also interesting. If you have typed Google Search Console in the search engine, continue by clicking the search console button.

Click the Search Console Button

If you have typed Google Search Console in the search engine, continue by clicking on the appropriate search results or just visit https://search.google.com/search-console/.

Make a Choice

There are two options available, namely domain and URL Prefix, and you can choose one of them. If you select a domain with conditions that match what is shown on the screen, the only available verification method is DNS TXT Record. However, if you choose a URL prefix or a URL prefix on the right, then there are several verification methods to choose from, but first, click the continue button on your choice.

Perform Verification

By verifying, it means that you and Google agree to the existing agreement. In addition, Google can more easily track your website. For verification, you can choose the method that is considered the easiest, such as HTML files, Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics, HTML tags, and DNS TXT Records.

HTML File

Did you know that Google highly recommends this method? Please upload the HTML file to the website folder on the hosting after downloading the file first. You can upload it directly through the File Manager or by using the help of FTP. Then, click verify after the file has been uploaded successfully.

HTML Tags

You can click on the HTML tag and then enter the HTML tag into the website that you manage. It doesn’t matter whether you want to do it directly on the website or by copying the script on each page. You can use the help of Yoast SEO to add HTML tags to your website. 

Have you installed this SEO plugin on your website? If not then make sure to install it. If you have, you can directly click the SEO menu and then select General and click the Webmaster Tools tab. 

In the Google verification code section, paste the script. Make sure you also save the changes that have been made by clicking save changes. Return to the Google Search Console page and click verify.

Google Analytics

Google Webmaster verification can also be done through Google Analytics. Just like verifying in any other way, make sure you click verify after everything is done.

Google Tag Manager

Verifying using this method is the same as using Google Analytics, where you can immediately click verify after adding some code via Google Tag Manager.

DNS TXT Records

If you choose this verification method, then you can copy the code that appears on the TXT Record.

After successful verification, then Google Webmaster can be used immediately. Then you can move on to the next step. Maybe some of you can’t wait to see the results of using this tool, right?

Usage Steps

After creating an account, you can take the following steps:

1. Add website
2. Check for Issues that might just exist
3. Check what has been applied to the website
4. Checking for crawl errors
5. Allow email notifications from Google
6. Visualize overall search traffic 
7. Checking for security issues
8. Analyze data by identifying search queries, top pages, keywords that are more often used on the website, who is linked to the website, as well as basic and advanced backlinks
9. Testing the validity of robots.txt and blocked URLs
10. Tests how Google views your web pages visually and as a bot
11. Test website speed using page speed insights
12. Remove unneeded URLs from the Google index
13. Remove unneeded site links
14. Optimizing the way Google indexes your website

Advantages of Using Google Webmaster

Google will not provide features and services without a reason. The use of Google Webmaster, of course, provides its users with the following benefits and advantages:

Indexing Pages on Google

No matter how often you update website content, internet users may still not be able to find your website pages. Because the updated page does not necessarily immediately get Google’s attention. Fortunately, there is an index feature from Google, where you can index the page via the URL entered.

Viewing Search Traffic Data

Search traffic of course relates to the performance of your website visits and activity in real-time. High traffic provides many advantages for the optimization of a website. The data you get can be used to improvise so that the results obtained are maximized.

Coverage

This gives you a report, where each position of the indexing URL of the website page is displayed. The report can be a warning, error, or valid.

Mobile Device Use

With this feature, you will get a report on the status of the page you’ve visited using a mobile device. Problems that arise can also be seen in detail so that you can solve them immediately. You can also contact Google about the repairs you have made.

Conclusion

Can’t wait to immediately use Google Webmaster? First, make sure you have a website that will then be registered and its performance monitored using this tool. Hopefully, the information we provide is useful!

About The Author