At this stage of the Step-by-Step process, you should be humming right along, concentrating most on publishing outstanding content regularly. I'll be honest with you, this is where the enthusiasm of many bloggers starts to wane because getting found is a slow process…sometimes painfully slow. Keep plugging away!
Over the next few days I'll tell you a few ways to (hopefully) get the process moving a bit more quickly.
Don't wait for the search engines to come to you. Go to them first.
To give your site maximum exposure on Google, you should submit it using Google Webmaster Tools. Here's how:
Can't see the video? Watch it here.
Video Notes
- Go to Google Webmaster Tools.
- Click "Add a site…"
- Enter your URL & click "Continue."
- Click "Verify this site…."
- Select "Upload an HTML file"
- Follow the steps to download the file, upload it to your server (read How to Access Your File Manager and How to Make and Install a Favicon to review), then check to make sure it's uploaded by clicking the provided link.
- Click "Verify."
- Done!
Check out all my quick tips and then stop by Works for Me Wednesday for more!
Here at BloggingWithAmy you'll find tips, tools & tutorials about blogging and websites. In plain English. Want to 
This was a very handy resource. I love your blog. I have a lot of learning to do! Thanks for the helpful tutorials!
You're welcome!
Wow…thanks for the nice and clear directions. That was the easiest this to install:)
So glad it was!
Thanks, Amy, I just submitted my new site to Google! Also wanted to mention that Thesis users can verify very quickly with the meta tag feature by adding the code to Header Scripts within Thesis options.
Thanks Alyssa! Yes, if your theme has options to insert meta tags from your Dashboard, then copying & pasting the meta tag is definitely the easier route!
How do I do this using Blogger? I'm not sure how to upload the HTML file to my Blogger blog. Any tips?
If you use Blogger, it's easy. Simply click "Add a site" (Step 2) and then enter your blogspot address. Done!
Amy-I'm having problems and I use blogger….it's not verifying me for some reason. I've used the meta code, but it's not working. I don't really understand why….do you have any ideas? Jill
Thank you, Amy!! This is awesome!
I didn't know you were helping Crystal out. AND, I'm super glad she linked to this site! I read your other blog (which you don't update often enough! LOL), but I didn't know about this one! I'm subscribed and can't wait to learn more!
Thank you so much for posting about this. I've tried to read through your other posts but I'm having one problem. Can you tell me where (what folder) to upload the file in bluehost? Thank you!
Eeek! It worked! Thank you, thank you
I'm a little lost. I know how to get to my file manager in FTP. But I'm not sure where to upload the file. I have a few different WP folders. I tried putting it in a couple of different places and it verify link doesn't work. Thanks!
You want to install it in your root directory. When you're looking at your list of files and you see a file foler wp-admin and wp-content, you're in your root directory. Don't upload the file to either of the folders but upload it on that screen. You'll have a list that looks sorta like this (I circled my uploaded file from google). I hope that makes sense.
I'm a bit frustrated by this step. I'm on blogger and I have done these steps before and still, I can type my EXACT blog name into google search and all that comes up for me are my comments on other people's blogs or my twitter account. Very frustrating!
I hear ya; it can be frustrating. There are so many variables when it comes to showing up in a Google search. Not sure if any of the SEO tips are helpful….
Yay! Thanks so much for the help! Now. Where's the next step?
Making an income! The posts are on their way!
Not gonna lie to you, there were a few moments where sweat was pouring down my face because I kept getting an X instead of a nice green check here. But in the end, I just kept going step by step until I figured it out. Methinks I'm turning into a CSS bloggy pro from everything I'm learning on your site! THanks for all the great instructions–can't wait to see the monetization posts in the future.
Hope someone can answer this. I did the upload etc. even tried it the other ways except the DNS (???) really confused on that one. When I clicked the link to see if my site comes up, it does however, it says not found. Now with doing the favicon, it took 2 days before it showed up. Could it be taking that long here and (hopefully) can I come back to verify again? It's been an hour and nothing. Still NOT FOUND under my header is shown. As I said, I even tried verifying through my analytics code and it still would not verify.
Hi Amy, I just wanted to say all of your tips I have used have been THE MOST helpful in any blogging material I have used, very well written. I have a question…what do you think about Google Page Rank and how to increase it? I have requested free products to review, but my Google Page Rank is not high enough
Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!
Amy,
Thank you for these wonderful tutorials and practical information. Using your advice when this verification would not work, I used Google.com. In BlueHost my main file in PHP is public_htlm. When I copied the downloaded Google file into the public_html, Google verified my account. Placing that file under my numbered account was unsuccessful. Of all the steps, I only had problems with 2 – this one and the Feedburner. Now all is working like clockwork, and I am grateful for your blog and easy-to-understand instructions. You really help me use my time wisely!
Go glad it's helpful. And congrats on getting it all working!
So if I type in my blog name on google (4our2cents) and it returns links to my site, do I still need to do the process? Obviously it found me somehow without me adding the site. Or does going through this process just make my search stronger.
Thanks for all the tips!
Yes because it makes it a smoother process.
Whew! Got that one done. Took me 3 times BUT it was my own fault NOT your instructions! All this technical stuff! I refuse to give up though!!
Did want to mention that I went to a FAQ page to see how long it takes for google to index a site and they had a great Q & A section. One thing though is that they said that just verifing is not enough. You then have to "submit" your site to them using the URL submittal tool at http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=/addurl . Hope this is helpful.
Once again Amy you are totally awesome. A great example of sharing your experience, strength and hope!
Thanks, Shari Lynne!
Thank you. I did that too. Hopefully they hurry up and find me. lol!
OK, I did that and it said that verification was successful. How long does it take before it shows up in a google search? Are we talking days, weeks…months? I'm just impatient.
Thank you for this wonderful site!! Totally unrelated question – I have GASP installed, but I don't see the nice little checkbox on my website when I go to comments and I can't comment unless I'm signed in as myself. Am I missing something?
I'd say keep checkin'. Regarding G.A.S.P., someone else using Atahualpa was having trouble with this too so I'm thinking this a theme issue specific to Atahualpa. But check the plugin page (link should be in the Installed Plugins screen near the plugin info) for a FAQ or help page.
Amy, I've made it through all 28 posts (some of them multiples times!), and my blog has been up and running for one week. Not sure how impressive these stats are, but in 7 days, I've had over 676 page loads and 313 unique visits.
If I ever win a blogging Emmy (does that exist yet?), you will definitely be part of my acceptance speech. "Diapers and Doctrine would not have been possible without God…and…wait for it…Amy Andrews!"
You are a rockstar! Thanks for everything.
Yay! So glad this site was helpful in getting it going. Sounds like you're off to a great start!
So are you just registered with Google? What about other search engines?
Right now just Google (not because I don't think it's a good idea, but because I just have this pesky problem of not getting to everything on my to-do list!).
O.K…..so I did all that, and it's verified me. Am I submitted now? Do I do something else?
I do get search traffic from Google daily, but my site doesn't come up as high as I think it should with some searches. Is this where submitting a site map would help?
Thanks, as always!
Well, a sitemap would be good but there are so many factors when it comes to search engines. Honestly, I'm of the opinion that creating great content is really the best way to make your way up the ranks of search results. Submitting your site and creating a site map are good ideas, but I try not to lose too much sleep (or time!) over them.
Phew! O.K….did that, too. Hope it helps!
ahhh Okay so I'm trying to verify with google and i've uploaded the html….I see it on my site. However, the link they want me to click to verify goes to an unknown page so I'm doing something wrong
google has the link as : websitename.com/googlehtml…..my link on my site has websitename.com/wp-content/uploads/googlehtml…… did I upload it wrong? What do you think? Maybe you have a link you can reply to help me! Thank you
Ok sorry I know I just posted, but I've very excited…I figured out the header way and got it verified through that option. phew!! and just in time for my baby to wake up from her nap!! Thanks and sorry for the double posting
Yay! Way to go!
Hi Amy, thanks for putting the info up. I'm slow…and couldn't find the post about "uploading to HTML" on your website. It doesn't show in the archives. Is it under another heading name? You are so great to help.
Thanks.
P.S. Today I added your book to my widget on my site.