Background of this How to index a website in Google
Indexing a website in Google is key to allow others to find the website and its content. When setting up a new website, as I did with myhowto.blog, one of the first questions is: how to index a website in Google?
The good news is, this is not too difficult. In my opinion, there are two options: Either to wait until Google finds the webpage or inform Google that there is a new website to be indexed and ranked. I like to share the how to index a website in Google to ensure Google knows its existing.
Index:
Check whether Google Knows the Website
This is very simple. Surf to Google or hit the following link: Check whether a website is indexed in Google.
The above picture shows a clear example of the page not being indexed. So lets get Google to index it!
How To Index a Webpage in Google
This is an easy to understand how to for indexing a webpage. In this example its myhowto.blog.
Step 1: Go to Google.com
Step 2: Search for the webpage to be indexed. In this how to we search for ” site:myhowto.blog” . If not indexed, the result will be exactly as what is shown in the above picture.
Step 3: Click on “Try Google Search Console” and type the webpage. In this Howto its “myhowto.blog“. Following this, hit Continue
Step 4: So far, it was very easy. Now its getting a bit more complicated as we have to verify the domain ownership via DNS record. In this howto I will be doing this for the website “myhowto.blog“. The provider is Dreamhost.com. Depending on the provider, the below pictures/steps maybe look different. However, the sense and spirit of it is the same. First, copy the text Google provides by hitting the Copy Button
Verify domain ownership via DNS record in Google and Dreamhost
Step 5: Login into the Dashboard of the provider (in this case its Dreamhost.com)
- In the Dreamhost.com Dashboard, click on Websites -> Manage Websites -> Select the relevant Website -> Manage DNS Records. Within DNS Records, click on “Add Record”
Add a DNS Record in Dreamhost Dashboard
Step 6: Within adding records select TXT and paste the text copied in step 4 from Google. Once the text is pasted, hit the Add Record button.
Adding a DNS TXT record in Dreamhost
Step 7: Wait until Dreamhost.com has done its work.
Dreamhost is adding the new DNS Record. Wait….
Step 8: As soon Dreamhost.com has finished its work, switch back to the Google page (the one in step 4) and hit the “Verify” button. After a couple of seconds Google should present a “Ownership verified” message.
Success Message from Google
Following this, the webpage will undergo the indexing from Google. Note: this maybe takes a while. The best to do is to get back after a couple of days.
Processing data, please check again in a day or so
What is next
After successfully adding the DNS entry and getting the webpage verified, this how to index a website in Google does end. You however like to learn more about the dashboard and what you can do in the Search Console of Google. This allows to understand better how search performance for your webpage can be increased.
Once you gave Google a while, it will be indexing your webpage. You can check this by conducting a google search like in this link. Just replace “myhowto.blog” by your webpage, e.g. YOURWebsite.whatever.
