You verify Google Search Console by first adding your property, then proving you own it through one of five verification methods. Choose between a Domain property (requires DNS verification, covers all subdomains and http/https) or a URL prefix property (offers multiple verification options but only covers the exact URL entered). For URL prefix properties, the fastest method is usually the HTML meta tag. Copy the tag Google provides, paste it in your site's <head> section before the </head> tag, and click verify. The tag must stay in place permanently. HTML file upload works similarly—download the file, upload it to your root directory via FTP, and verify. Both take under five minutes if you have site access. Google Analytics and Tag Manager verification work if you already have those tags installed with the same Google account. This is convenient but creates a dependency—removing GA breaks your Search Console access. For Domain properties, DNS verification is mandatory. Add the TXT record Google provides to your domain's DNS settings (wherever you manage nameservers—GoDaddy, Cloudflare, etc.). This can take 24–72 hours to propagate, but it's the most robust method because it verifies the entire domain across all subdomains and protocols at once. At Ottawa SEO, we default to DNS verification for client domains because it eliminates edge cases where www and non-www, or http and https, might have different verification states. For single-site setups, meta tag verification works fine and gives you immediate access. Avoid mixing methods—pick one and stick with it. Common mistakes: removing the verification token after verifying (breaks access), verifying the wrong property type (URL prefix when you meant domain), or waiting hours for DNS changes without checking propagation status. Use a DNS checker tool to confirm your TXT record is live before clicking verify. Once verified, you'll see the green checkmark in Search Console settings and can start accessing performance data within 24–48 hours as Google crawls your site.