Since Google launched the ability to add a user to Google Webmaster Tools just by adding an email address to the account, I have spent a fair amount of time explaining how to do this simple process to clients. I am writing this so I can just send them this URL, as well as to do my part in sharing the knowledge so that others might go forth and do good SEO.
How To Add A User To Google Webmaster Tools
1. Log into Google Webmaster Tools at www.google.com/webmasters/tools/
2. On the “Home” screen find the URL of the site you are working on
3. To the right of the URL click on “Add or remove owners” in the “Verification” column
4. On the Verification Details page click on the “Add a User” button
5. Enter the new user’s email address in the address box, hit continue, and you’re good to go.
Of course you could also check out this page on Google, but they’ve already got enough traffic don’t you think?
13 Response Comments
Great Andrew. I think the use of images in your explanation makes it a lot easier for clients to understand.
It’s a welcome edition to WMT that’s long overdue. Do you think they will ever add a similar feature to the Google Places account?
LL, a lot of us local seo blogger types have told GOOG that we’d like some kind of agency-like account system for GOOG Places, but thus far the response has been tepid.
hey, hey, wait a minute!!! saw this post last week but the light bulb did not turn on till just now. WTF is Google doing adding this to Webmaster Tools and not yet doing it for Places? Seriously.
Webmaster tools never really needed it, you could always just set it up in more than one account using a second html file or meta tag verification. easy breezy. Yet they still don’t have this for Google Places. Unbelievable.
Couldn’t agree with you more Stever.
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That’s great and all, but where’s the button that says “rank #1 for this keyword,” hmm?
In all seriousness, I didn’t realize that you could do this. I think I’ll have to agree with Stever on this one though. I’m not sure how useful this addition is.
Stever/Carter,
This method is so much easier than having to upload a tag or file. Now when I sign up a new client, I just give them my gmail address and in seconds I can get access to their GWT data.
Thanks so much for the pertinent information. I found this quite useful as I revisit my programs.
Do you happen to also know a way to add a user to multiple URL’s under the same account? I have over 250 verified URL’s on one account due to some country setups so going through one at a time would take forever. Thank you Andrew for the great info above.
Ken, I don’t think there’s a way to globally add a user to all accounts in a profile.
For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how to get this done in Google Webmaster Tools. Thanks for all the ideas I’ve picked up from your website. – Josh
A question… If I have clients that I have added under my Webmaster tools. Am I messing with Authorship because they are in my webmaster tools? In other words, should I delete the account and set it up under their own webmaster tools then add me as a user?
I don’t think that’s a problem David.