Here’s a step-by-step guide to verifying your WordPress site with Google Search Console. This process will use the HTML tag method to place a verification code in your WordPress site’s header.

1. Sign Up for Google Search Console

• If you haven’t already, visit Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account.
• Click Start Now to begin the setup.

2. Add a New Property

• After signing in, select Add Property and choose URL prefix (specific to a single URL starting with “https” or “http”).
• Enter the full URL of your WordPress site, including the protocol (e.g., https://example.com), and click Continue.

3. Choose the HTML Tag Verification Method

• Once you’ve entered your URL, Google Search Console will provide several verification options.
• Choose the HTML tag option, which allows you to place a meta tag in the header section of your site for verification.

4. Copy the HTML Verification Code

• Google will provide a meta tag code, like the example below:
  html

  <meta name="google-site-verification" content="YOUR_VERIFICATION_CODE" />

• Copy this entire line of code (including the <meta> tags).

5. Access Your WordPress Dashboard

• Open a new tab and go to your WordPress site.
• Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.

6. Install and Activate a Header & Footer Plugin (if needed)

• If your WordPress theme doesn’t provide a direct way to edit the header, install a plugin like Insert Headers and Footers.
• In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Insert Headers and Footers,” install, and activate it.

7. Paste the Verification Code in the Header Section

• After installing the plugin, go to Settings > Insert Headers and Footers in your dashboard.
• Paste the Google verification code into the Scripts in Header box.
• Click Save to store the changes.

8. Return to Google Search Console and Verify

• Return to the Google Search Console tab where you copied the HTML tag.
• Click Verify to complete the verification process.

9. Confirmation of Verification

• If the code is correctly placed, Google Search Console will confirm verification. You’ll see a success message indicating your site is now verified.

10. Remove or Disable the Plugin (Optional)

• If you don’t need the Insert Headers and Footers plugin for any other purpose, you can deactivate it to keep your site clean.