Technical SEO Yoast How-to's: How to submit a sitemap to Google, link your site to Google Analytics and set up Google Search Console in WordPress

 
 

A. How to Create a Sitemap with Yoast, and Submit it to Google

  1. In Wordpress, on the left side select “SEO" and click on "XML Sitemaps"
  2.  Make sure your Yoast SEO Plugin is up to date
  3. The sitemap is automatically created by Yoast and submitted on a regular basis. Be sure that "Enable" is turned on, within the "XML Sitemap" screen.

B. Create a Google Analytics Account

  1. Here is now to create a Google Analytics Account - Click here to go to Google Analytics.
    Note: If you have a Google account, and are not signed in, click Sign in. If you do not have a Google account, click Create an account.
  2. Once you have signed in to your Google account, click Access Google Analytics.
  3. Click Sign up.
  4. Fill in your Account Name, Website Name, Website URL, and select an Industry Category and Reporting Time Zone.
  5. Under Data Sharing Options, check the boxes next to the options that you want.
  6. Click Get Tracking ID.
  7. From the Google Analytics Terms of Service Agreement that opens, click I Accept.
  8. Add the Tracking ID to your site with the steps below.

C. Link your Wordpress site to Google Analytics

  1. Get the Monster Insights plugin via this link here
  2. Follow the steps on the site to install and activate the plugin
  3. Once the plugin has been installed and activated, within WordPress click on the left hand side bar under Analytics
  4. On the next page, fill out all fields and insert your Tracking ID (from step B above) into this section

D. Set up the Google Search Console

  1. In Google Analytics, Select ACQUISITION from the left hand sidebar, then SEARCH CONSOLE, then Queries
  2. Select grey box on top where it says "Set Up Search Console Data Sharing" (the grey box will only display if not yet setup).
  3. In the next window, scroll to the bottom section labeled "Search Console" and click on "Adjust Search Console"
  4.  Click on edit on the next screen
  5. In the next window, for Enable Search Console data in Google Analytics, click on the button on the very bottom of the screen that says "Add a site to Search Console"
  6. In the next screen, select the red button in the top right labeled "Add a a Property"
  7. In the pop up to add a property, enter your full URL (for example: http://www.julialovallo.com)
  8. Then click Add
  9. Verify your website property with Google Analytics option on the next screen and follow through the remaining steps
  10. Back in Google Analytics, Select ACQUISITION from the left hand sidebar, then SEARCH CONSOLE, then Queries, you will soon start to see search terms that brought traffic to your site display here