Google Search Console helps you manage your site's presence in Google search results. Here's how to set it up and use it effectively:

Prerequisites:

• Remove any site or page passwords from your homepage
• Ensure your domain is properly connected
• Have a Google account
• Your site must be published (not in test mode)

Connecting to Google Search Console:

1. Go to Analytics in the Main Menu
2. Click Search Keywords
3. Click Connect in the pop-up window
4. Sign in to your Google account
5. Allow permissions
6. Wait 72 hours for data availability

Viewing Search Keywords: After connecting, view popular keywords in the Google tab of the Search Keywords panel. More detailed analytics are available at search.google.com/search-console/.

Indexing Your Site: Two main methods to request Google indexing:

1. Submit Your Sitemap:

• Navigate to Sitemaps in Google Search Console
• Enter your sitemap URL
• Click Submit

2. Index Specific Pages:

• Use the URL Inspection tool
• Enter the full URL of each page
• Click Request Indexing
• Repeat for additional pages

Domain Verification:

• Automatically verifies your primary domain
• Works with Squarespace domains or custom domains
• Verifies both HTTP and HTTPS versions
• Reconnect if you change your primary domain

Common Issues:

• Robots.txt warnings are normal for internal pages
• "Connected Account Disabled" error requires reconnecting your account

Wait time varies for search result updates due to Google's indexing algorithm. Regular monitoring through Google Search Console helps ensure optimal search visibility.

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