Connecting your Squarespace Website to Google Search Console - Step by Step.

I know how important it is to ensure your website performs well on Google, and I wanted to help make the process a bit easier for you. That’s why I’ve put together this simple, step-by-step guide to help you connect your Squarespace website to Google Search Console. By doing so, you’ll gain access to valuable insights that will help you monitor and improve your site’s performance in search results.

Google Search Console is an excellent tool for tracking your website’s health, fixing any errors, and boosting your SEO. It’s free, and once set up, it’s incredibly helpful for ensuring your site gets the visibility it deserves. So, let’s dive right in!

Step 1: Sign Up for Google Search Console

To begin, visit the Google Search Console website.

1. Click "Start Now" to sign up.

2. If you have more than one Google account, ensure you’re logged in with the correct one.

3. Once you’re logged in, you'll be prompted to add your website.

Step 2: Verify Ownership of Your Squarespace Website

To prove to Google that you own the website, you’ll need to verify it. There are two methods available, and we’ll explain both below.

Method 1: Using a Meta Tag - (a short snippet of HTML code that provides information about a web page to search engines and other clients) Recommended

1. In Google Search Console, enter your Squarespace website’s URL in the URL prefix box (make sure it starts with "http://" or "https://").

2. Click Continue.

3. If you see a green box confirming "Google Search Console has already been added", you’ve successfully completed this step.

4. If not, scroll down and select HTML Tag: Add a meta tag to your site's homepage under "Other verification methods".

5. Copy the meta tag provided by Google.

6. In your Squarespace account, go to Settings > Advanced > Code Injection.

7. Paste the meta tag into the Footer Code section.

8. Save your changes, then go back to Google Search Console and click Verify.

Method 2: Using a DNS Record (Alternative)

1. In Google Search Console, enter your domain (e.g., www.yourwebsitename.com) in the Domain prefix box and click Continue.

2. A box will pop up with a verification code.

3. In Squarespace, go to Settings > Domains and click on your primary domain.

4. Find the DNS Records section, then add a TXT record with the verification code from Google Search Console in the Data field.

5. Click Save, then return to Google Search Console and click Verify.

Step 3: Submit Your Squarespace Sitemap

Squarespace automatically generates a sitemap for your website, so you don’t need to create one manually. To submit it to Google:

1. In Google Search Console, go to the Sitemaps section in the left sidebar.

2. In the Sitemap URL field, enter sitemap.xml and click Submit.

3. Google will then crawl and index your website more efficiently.

Step 4: (Optional) Request Indexing of Specific Pages

If you've added new pages or made updates to existing ones, you can request that Google index them straight away:

1. Go to the URL Inspection tool in the sidebar of Google Search Console.

2. Paste the URL of the page you want Google to index and click Request Indexing.

Step 5: Monitor Your Website’s Performance

Now that your Squarespace website is connected to Google Search Console, you can start monitoring its performance:

• Review key metrics such as search queries, clicks, impressions, and average position.

• Use these insights to improve your SEO, create better content, and drive more traffic to your website.