Documentation: How to Verify Your Domain with Google Using DNS TXT Record in the HitMe Panel
Step 1: Obtain the Google Domain Verification TXT Record
To verify your domain via DNS, Google provides a TXT record that you need to add to your domain's DNS configuration.
1. Log in to Google Search Console:
o Go to Google Search Console.
o Log in with your Google account.
2. Add Your Website to Google Search Console:
o Click Add Property to add a new website.
o Select the Domain option (not URL Prefix). Enter your domain name without http:// or www (e.g., yoursite.com) and click Continue.
o Google will show you several methods for domain verification, including the TXT record option.
3. Copy the TXT Record:
o Under the DNS verification method, Google will provide a TXT record like this: google-site-verification=your-verification-code
o Copy the entire TXT record (starting with google-site-verification= and ending with the unique verification code).
Step 2: Add the TXT Record to Your DNS Configuration
Option 1: If your domain is registered with HitMe:
If your domain is registered with HitMe, you can directly manage your DNS settings through the HitMe panel.
1. Log in to the HitMe Panel:
o Open the HitMe panel in your browser and log in with your administrator credentials.
2. Navigate to the Domain Management Section:
o From the left sidebar, go to Website > Domains.
o In the domain list, select the domain that you want to verify with Google.
3. Go to the DNS Zone:
o After selecting your domain, click on DNS Zone.
o You will be redirected to the DNS management page.
o If the domain is set as your active website domain, you will see the option to click "Manage DNS Zone".
4. Add the TXT Record:
o In the DNS zone management, look for an option to Add Record or Add TXT Record.
o Create a new TXT record with the following details:
Host: Enter @ (this represents the root domain) or leave it blank, depending on your DNS provider.
Type: Select TXT.
Value: Paste the TXT record value provided by Google (e.g., google-site-verification=your-verification-code).
TTL: Set it to 3600 seconds (1 hour) or leave it as the default.
5. Save the DNS Record:
o After entering the information, click Save to add the record to your DNS settings.
Option 2: For Other DNS Providers
If your domain is registered with another provider (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains), the process is similar, though the exact steps will vary depending on the provider. Here's a general guide:
1. Log in to Your DNS Provider:
o Open your domain registrar's control panel (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains).
2. Navigate to DNS Settings:
o Go to the DNS management page where you can configure DNS records for your domain.
3. Add the TXT Record:
o Look for an option to Add Record or Add TXT Record in your DNS settings.
o Create a new TXT record with the following details:
Host: Enter @ or leave it blank to indicate the root domain.
Type: Select TXT.
Value: Paste the TXT record value provided by Google (e.g., google-site-verification=your-verification-code).
TTL: Set to 3600 seconds (1 hour) or use the default TTL.
4. Save the Record:
o Save the record, and wait for DNS propagation to complete (this might take up to 48 hours, but typically happens within a few minutes).
Step 3: Verify Your Domain in Google Search Console
After adding the TXT record to your DNS configuration, go back to Google Search Console to complete the domain verification process.
1. Return to Google Search Console:
o Go back to the Google Search Console tab where you initially added your website.
2. Click Verify:
o Once you’ve added the TXT record to your DNS settings, click the Verify button in Google Search Console.
3. Wait for DNS Propagation:
o Google will check your domain for the TXT record. If it’s correctly added, Google will verify your domain.
o DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate across the network. If Google doesn’t verify the domain immediately, give it some time and try again.
4. Verification Success:
o Once the verification is complete, you will see a success message in Google Search Console. Your domain is now successfully verified, and you can use Google Search Console tools to monitor your website’s search performance.
Step 4: Troubleshooting
If verification fails, here are some troubleshooting steps:
1. DNS Propagation Delay:
o DNS changes can take time to propagate. If Google doesn’t immediately recognize the TXT record, wait a few hours and try verifying again.
2. Incorrect TXT Record:
o Double-check that the TXT record you added matches the exact value provided by Google. Ensure there are no extra spaces or characters.
3. Wrong Domain:
o Make sure you are adding the TXT record to the correct domain. If you have multiple domain names or subdomains, ensure that the DNS record is applied to the root domain (e.g., yoursite.com).
4. Incorrect DNS Configuration:
o Make sure the TXT record is placed in the correct section of your DNS settings. Check if there’s a specific place where TXT records need to be added.
5. Multiple Verification Attempts:
o If you’ve tried multiple times and it still fails, clear your browser cache or use a different browser to check for errors.
Step 5: Monitor Your Google Search Console Account
Once your domain is successfully verified, you can start using Google Search Console to monitor and optimize your website’s performance:
1. Search Analytics: Track which search queries bring visitors to your site and how often your pages appear in search results.
2. Index Coverage: Identify which pages are indexed by Google and detect any issues that prevent indexing.
3. Mobile Usability: Check how your site performs on mobile devices and fix any mobile usability issues.
4. Sitemaps: Submit a sitemap to help Google crawl your site more efficiently.
By following these steps, you will successfully verify your domain using the DNS TXT record method in Google Search Console. This method is ideal for those who prefer not to modify their website’s HTML but still want to authenticate their domain with Google. After verification, you can access the valuable insights and tools offered by Google Search Console to improve your site’s search engine performance.