If you’ve used Wordpress.com then this will look familiar since it’s based on that tool.
Installation is simple:
- Download the plugin from WordPress.org.
- Copy it to the wp-content/plugins or wp-content/mu-plugins directory of your blog.
- Enable the plugin in your admin panel.
- An option for Webmaster Tools will appear under Tools.
- Enter the verification code for each service you wish to use
FAQ
- Where do I get the verification code?
Go to either Google Webmaster Tools, Yahoo Site Explorer, or Bing Webmaster Center, find the option to add/verify a new site then select the meta option. You be provided with a piece of code and instructions to add it to your site. - What do I do with the code once I have it?
All you need is the actual content= code, the plugin will automatically format the meta tag when it inserts it.
Ex.: Google will give you a piece of code like this:<meta name='google-site-verification' content='dBw5CvburAxi537Rp9qi5uG2174Vb6JwHwIRwPSLIK8'>
You want to copy the code: dBw5CvburAxi537Rp9qi5uG2174Vb6JwHwIRwPSLIK8 and paste it in the input box for Google. - I’m using WPMU but I don’t want the plugin automatically activated for each site. Can I just put it in the wp-content/plugins directory so each blog owner can choose whether or not they want it activated?
You sure can. Just be sure not to copy it into both locations.
Support
If you like this plugin and want to support me, leave a comment or check out my donations and support page!
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello:
Your plugin looks like it should be very easy to use but it still did not verify my blog. What really happens after you put in your codes and hit “save changes”? At that point my codes disappear, is that suppose to happen?
After you add your code a meta tag should be placed in your header before the . Check that and let me know if it’s putting it there.
If your code is disappearing then your not entering the correct code. You want just the number between the single quotes in content=’xxxxxxxx’.
Google is finally seeing my code but it is saying that the code is wrong. I have tried with various little adjustments but it is still saying that : “Verification failed. Your meta tag is incorrect. Show found meta tag”. Unfortunately, I had stop concentrating on yahoo and bing codes and the spaces are filled with backstrokes “\\\\\” and I can not get them deleted. In addition, I am now unable to save any changes to google code section because now when I press save it just stays in the loading phase and never completes.
I looked at your source and I’m not real sure how you ended up with all those slashes. Regardless do this. Delete these 3 keys from your database using something like phpMyAdmin.
DELETE FROM wp_options WHERE option_name = ‘verification_services_codes[google]‘;
DELETE FROM wp_options WHERE option_name = ‘verification_services_codes[yahoo]‘;
DELETE FROM wp_options WHERE option_name = ‘verification_services_codes[bing]‘;
This should get you back to the blank form. Your Google code is still wrong (as it says). It should be just this code: xyERUGbd0dSVf9jNcCbb6DkJDmczB0VFaUVDt8JMh6s
In the code Google gave you there is a line content=”xyERUGbd0dSVf9jNcCbb6DkJDmczB0VFaUVDt8JMh6s” you want just the alphanumeric string between the quotes. The same goes for Yahoo and Bing.
Try that and report back.
Thank you, I finally got google to verify my site. It was easy after I did what you said. Unfortunately I am still failing with yahoo and bing.
I just tested Yahoo and Bing. Bing worked right away and Yahoo says it could take up to 24 hours for them to verify, so keep checking them. I looked at your source again and it looks correct now.
I only got google and yahoo verified.
Error… Google can’t find the code. Please help me.
Looking at your source the code looks correct. However, you have this in your robots.txt file:
User-agent: *Disallow:
Which I believe is blocking all spiders and probably Googles. Remove it and try again… let me know what happens.
Thank you for such a clear and easy to follow set of instructions! I’ve been trying to work out how to do this for about an hour and couldn’t follow other advice I found. You have saved me from potentially hours more frustration!
Great Rebecca, glad it helped you out.
Where I can find and edit that robots.txt?
Nice – thank you!
The only problem is the plug-in gives me a 400 Error when I try and save changes – but I think this is a server problem rather than a problem with the plug-in.
Got it working… Web host needed to ass mod_security exclusion rules. Awesome plug-in!
Great, glad to hear you got it working Dan.