Chapter 6 · 6.1
Checklist: are you easy to find?
Go through this list once you've set everything up, and then again from time to time. Each point shows where to set it up. For a thorough review of your site, covering titles, speed and content, see the final assignment of the Getting found online course: Final assignment: your findability check.
Your site
| Check | Where? |
|---|---|
| Your site is on your own domain and opens with https. | Forcing visitors to https |
https://jouwdomein.nl/robots.txt does not contain Disallow: / for all search engines, and has a Sitemap: line. | Sitemap and robots.txt with the AI Builder, Sitemap and robots.txt for WordPress and your own site |
| Your sitemap opens in your browser and lists the addresses of your pages. | Sitemap and robots.txt with the AI Builder, Sitemap and robots.txt for WordPress and your own site |
| AI Builder: Site findable in Google is switched on and you have published. | Sitemap and robots.txt with the AI Builder |
| WordPress: Discourage search engines from indexing this site is switched off. | Sitemap and robots.txt for WordPress and your own site |
Google Search Console
| Check | Where? |
|---|---|
| Your domain has been added as a Domain property and is verified. | Signing in and adding your domain |
The TXT record with google-site-verification= is still in your DNS. | Verifying your domain in My WebOké, Verifying your domain in DirectAdmin |
| Your sitemap has been submitted and has the status Success. | Submitting your sitemap |
| Your most important pages are indexed. | Checking a single page with URL inspection, Reading the Performance and Page indexing reports |
| There are no manual actions or security issues. | Reading the Performance and Page indexing reports |
| The list of people with access is still correct. Former employees and a previous web designer have been removed. | Signing in and adding your domain |
Bing
| Check | Where? |
|---|---|
| Your site is in Bing Webmaster Tools, with your sitemap. | Bing Webmaster Tools: import or verify yourself |
| Your site reports changes via IndexNow: automatically with the AI Builder, with a plugin in WordPress. | IndexNow: report changes yourself |
Your business on the map
| Check | Where? |
|---|---|
| Your Google Business Profile is verified. | Creating or claiming a Business Profile, Verifying your Business Profile |
| Your name, address and phone number are exactly the same on your website, Google, Apple and Bing. | Filling in your details correctly, Your business in Apple Maps with Apple Business |
| Your business name contains no extra keywords or place names. | Filling in your details correctly |
| Special opening hours for the upcoming holidays have been added. | Filling in your details correctly |
| Your profile has your own recent photos, including your shopfront. | Adding photos and videos |
| Every review from the last few weeks has a reply. | Asking for and replying to reviews |
| Your business is on Apple Maps with a verified place card. | Your business in Apple Maps with Apple Business |
A fixed routine
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Every week | Read and reply to new reviews. |
| Every month | Open Google Search Console: check messages, the Page indexing report and your top search queries. Check your Business Profile for changes made by others. |
| Every quarter | Add special opening hours for the coming quarter. Update photos, products and services. |
| With every change | New address, phone number or website: update everything at the same time, on your site, on Google, Apple and Bing. |
| Every year | Check who has access to Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, your Business Profile and Apple Business Connect. |
Tip: Is your site moving, or are its pages getting new addresses? Redirect the old addresses to the new pages, then submit your new sitemap. That way you won't lose your place in Google.