Why Verifying Google Search Console & Fixing Your Sitemap Matters for SEO
- Alex Baker
- Aug 8
- 2 min read
If your website isn’t showing up well on Google (and you're wondering why) it might come down to two simple things:
--> You haven’t verified Google Search Console
--> Your sitemap is broken or missing
Let's talk about it in plain English:
Is your site still indexed if your sitemap is invalid?
Short answer:
Yes… kinda.
Even without verification or a working sitemap, Google can still crawl your site and index it. But it’s like asking it to find you with a blindfold on. It might happen.. eventually.. but it’s way slower, less consistent, and prone to missing important pages.
Search Console gives you control. It’s like giving Google a map, a flashlight, and a clear list of your most important pages.
Why your sitemap.xml matters
It’s like a Google treasure map- no sitemap, no gold! Your sitemap tells search engines exactly what’s on your website and how often to come back for updates. If your sitemap is invalid or missing, it’s a lot harder for Google to do its job- and that means lost visibility.
Why verify your sitemap in Google Search Console?
Because it gives you superpowers! Here’s what you can do once you’re verified:
See what keywords you’re ranking for
Submit pages directly for indexing
Monitor mobile v desktop traffic and crawl errors
Get alerts if something goes wrong
Review click-through rates and impressions
Look at the changes in your traffic in the last 28 days (3mo, etc)
This is not just for SEO nerds. It’s basic, essential tech ‘self-care’ for any small business website. And the best part? It’s free.
What if you’ve never set it up?
It’s never too late. Even if your site’s been live for a year or more, Google may already have some data. Once you verify ownership, you’ll be able to see that data and fine-tune how your site shows up in search.
I help my clients fix sitemaps, verify ownership, and make sure their websites are being seen clearly by Google- not stuck in Google’s ‘maybe later’ pile.
TL;DR:
If you're not using Google Search Console, you’re missing out on crucial SEO insights.
If your sitemap is broken, you’re making it harder for people to find you.
Let’s fix that.
Need help?
I would love to help you! My first step when I do SEO for someone is to make sure their Google Search Console sitemap is setup by verifying your site, submitting your sitemap.xml, and fixing pages on your site that aren't indexed that should be. Time to stop being lowkey online. :)
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