"Why isn't my site on Google?!"
You have finished building your Famous.ai website, hit "Publish," and connected your custom domain. But when you type your business name into the search bar... nothing shows up.
Don't panic! This is completely normal. Google does not automatically know when a new website is created. To get your site indexed (which means adding it to Google's search results), you need to manually introduce your website to Google using a free tool called Google Search Console.
Here is the step-by-step process to verify your domain and get your site on Google.
1. Navigate to Google Search Console
First, you need to go to Google's official tool for website owners.
Open your browser and go to: https://search.google.com/search-console/welcome
Make sure you are logged into the Google account you want associated with your business.
2. Select Your Property Type
When you arrive at the welcome screen, you will be given two options: "Domain" or "URL prefix".
Look at the box on the left labeled Domain.
Enter your custom domain exactly as it is (e.g.,
yourwebsite.com). Do not include the "https://" part.Click Continue.
3. Start the DNS Verification Process
Google needs to prove that you actually own the domain you just typed in. It does this by checking your DNS records (where your domain is registered).
Google will usually automatically detect your domain provider (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains).
Click the Start Verification button.
4. Authorize the Connection
A secure pop-up from your domain provider (like the GoDaddy example below) will appear.
Log into your domain provider if prompted.
Click Connect (or "Authorize") to allow Google to automatically add the verification record for you. This saves you from having to copy and paste confusing code!
5. Wait for Verification
Once you click connect, Google will check the records. You will see a "Verifying..." loading screen. This usually takes just a few seconds, but can occasionally take a minute or two.
When it is successful, a green Ownership verified screen will pop up. Click Go To Property to enter your new dashboard.
6. Let Google Process Your Data
When you first land on your Google Search Console Overview page, it will likely look empty and display a message saying: "Processing data, please check again in a day or so." This is exactly what should happen! You have successfully submitted your site. Google's "crawlers" are now scheduled to read your Famous.ai website and add its pages to their search index. Check back in 24 to 48 hours to see your site's search performance data start trickling in.
