Web Page Search – Google Webmaster Tools

I have written this article to assist people who perhaps are new to marketing on the internet get their site noticed by the search engines. Of course there is much more that can be done, but in order to keep things simple, I have chosen to deal with only one topic in this article – the use of Google Webmaster Tools.

Note: Google Webmaster Tools is able to be utilized on several of the website building sites, so even though this information is particularly aimed at WordPress, you can still use these notes to help the search engine optimization on your other sites. You should usually be able to find all this sort of information under a 'Settings' tab when you are editing on your website.

You can get your sites verified by pasting the meta tag code generated by the Google Webmasters Tools site into the correct box when you are editing your site on the website building site.

Back on the Google Webmasters Tools site, you can also often get your site sitemapped by typing in ‘sitemap.xml’ in the box next to your site’s address, after you have clicked on the ‘Add Sitemap’ button.

Go to the website at http://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/
It’s a good idea to take a look around here, as you will see how Google views your website. This site can give you valuable information about the traffic coming to your site and how you can increase it by analyzing your View Links Data, Top Queries and Page Analysis.

The important thing about this site is that by submitting your sitemap directly to them, they will be sure not to miss any of your posts or pages.

So, sign up for your account (a good idea is to use the same log-in information for this account and your Adsense account [if you don't have an Adsense account yet, just keep it in mind, because you probably will open one at some later stage and you can use the same account details for it]. Ditto for AdWords.

When you log in you will see your Dashboard. Add your site address with the www. but not the http://.
Click 'Add Site'

The next thing to do is to verify your site, so choose the 'Add a Meta Tag' option. Scroll down a little and you will see a code, which you need to copy and paste into your site's header. Open a new window and go into your Wordpress Admin area. Go to 'Appearance' then 'Theme Editor' then select the Header from the list on the right-hand side. When it comes up, scroll down to where you see the script and paste your meta tag code in just ABOVE this script and BEFORE the script.
Click 'Update File'

Go back to your Webmaster Tools window and click on the 'Verify' button. If you have done everything correctly, you should get a message confirming verification.

Now, head back to your Webmaster Tools Dashboard and next to your site URL there will be a column titled 'Sitemap' – click on the link that says 'Add'. Choose 'Add General Web Sitemap' and put in sitemap.xml where required. Click on 'Add General Web Sitemap'

The next thing you should do is to get some quality content onto your site, if you haven't already done so, before moving on to more SEO strategies. In the event that your site was created on one of the website building sites, once you have put some content on your site and you have published it, you can use other search engine optimization strategies, also.

Well, that’s it for this article. You will find loads of information on how to set yourself up for success as an internet marketer at Voiceover, a blog by Valerie Eldridge. You can also meet Valerie on her business website, www.valerieeldridge.com

Wishing you all the best for a very successful future.


Valerie