Robot.txt is a simple file that contains components used to specify the pages on a website that must not be crawled (or in some cases must be crawled ) by search engine bots. This file should be placed in the root directory of your site. the standard for this file was developed in 1994 and is known as the robots exclusion standard or robots exclusion protocol.  Uses of robots.txt 1. Tame the Crawlers: Keep search engines focused on what matters by blocking unimportant or duplicate pages. 2. Guard Your Secrets: Shield sensitive or irrelevant content from prying search engine bots. 3. Save Your Bandwidth: Reduce unnecessary crawler traffic and keep things running smoothly. 4. Polish Your Search Results: Ensure users find only the most relevant and valuable pages. Examples of robots.txt​ There are three major elements in a robot.txt file: User agent and Disallow and Allow  User agent: The user agent is typically denoted by a wildcard (*) symbol, which is an indicating that the blocking rules apply to all bots. To block or narrow specific bots on particular pages, you can mention the bots name under the user agent directive   Disallow:  If nothing is mentioned after “Disallow”, search engine bots can access all pages on the site. To block a specific page, use only one URL path per “Disallow” rule. You cannot block multiple folders or URLs in a single “Disallow” rule in the robots.txt file. Allow: A Directory or page, relative to the root domain, that may be crawled by the user agent just mentioned. This is used to override a disallow rule to allow crawling of a subdirectory or page in a disallow directory. For a single page, specify the full page name as shown in the browser. It must start with a  /  character and if it refers to a directory , it must end with the /  mark. The following are some of the common robots.txt files user-agent:* Disallowuser-agent:* Disallow:user-agent:* Disallow:/User-agent: XYZbot Disallow: /User-agent: * Disallow: /tmp Disallow:/junk/User-agent: Conclusion Robots.txt is a powerful yet simple mechanism that helps website owners control how search engine bots interact with their site. By properly configuring it, you can manage crawling efficiency, protect sensitive content, and enhance your SEO strategy. However, it’s essential to use it carefully misconfigurations can lead to unintended consequences, such as blocking important pages from search engines. Regularly reviewing and updating your robots.txt file ensures it aligns with your website’s evolving needs.   By understanding and leveraging robots.txt effectively, you can create a well-optimized and search-friendly website that balances accessibility and control. 

Verifying your website in Google Search Console (GSC) is crucial for monitoring and maintaining your site’s presence in Google Search results. Today, we will discuss one reliable method to verify site ownership: using a DNS TXT record. Follow the step-by-step guide for error-free verification. Step-by-Step Guide to DNS TXT Record Verification Step 1: Log in to Google Search Console Go to Google Search Console and log in using your Gmail account. A Google Mail ID is required to log in to the GSC account. If you don’t have a Gmail account, you can easily create one for verification. You can also use Google Workspace-configured business email IDs Step 2: Add Property Once you log in to GSC, you will be automatically redirected to the dashboard. In the top left corner of the dashboard, select the option “Add Property,” as marked in the screenshot below. Step 3: Select Domain Verification​ Once you select the property option, you can see two options to get verified. Choose the Domain verification method. Step 4: Proceed to DNS Verification Click “Continue.” You will then be redirected to the DNS verification option. Step 5: Copy the TXT Record Copy the TXT record provided. This record is unique to each GSC account, and the code starts with  “google-site-verification***************.” Step 6: Login to Your Domain Provider Account Now log into your domain provider account. Ensure you have access to the domain account for DNS verification; this type of verification can only be done for those with access to the domain. Look for options related to DNS or Nameserver. The options may vary by provider, but generally, search for “DNS Editor” or “DNS Zone Editor.” Step 7: Add the TXT Record Once in the DNS menu, select “Add Record”, and create a new record with the type set to TXT. Paste the unique TXT record you copied from GSC into the TXT value field and save it in the screenshot below; I’m showing the details on how to edit the DNS record and Create a new TXT record in Hostinger. Step 8: Verify in Google Search Console Return to your GSC account and click “Verify.” If the DNS changes have propagated correctly, your account will be verified. Conclusion Verifying your website using the DNS TXT record method is straightforward and ensures you have control over your site in Google Search Console. Follow these steps to complete the verification and leverage GSC’s powerful features to monitor your site’s performance.

Google Search Console (GSC) is an essential tool for SEO experts and executives or those who want to know information about the website’s performance on the Google Search Engine Result Page. It helps you monitor and maintain the website’s presence in SERP. In this step-by-step guide, I will help you on how to set up a Google Search Console property using the HTML file upload method. This method is very easy and simple to implement, especially for those starting their SEO journey or not that much into the technical side of SEO or the website.  Step-by-Step Guide to Verify Site Ownership: Step 1: Sign In to Google Search Console Begin by signing in to Google Search Console. If you don’t have an account yet, you’ll need to create one. Visit “https://search.google.com/search-console/about” and click the Start or Sign In button. If your Gmail Account is already logged In, you will be automatically redirected to the GSC. Step 2: Add a Property Once logged in, you can see two options, as shown in the screenshot below. If it is not showing, click on the “Add property” button in the left top corner of your window. You will see two options: Domain and URL prefix. Select the URL prefix option because today, we are discussing the verification method that can be done using the URL Prefix method, which is simpler and more direct. Enter your website’s URL in the URL prefix field and click “Continue.” Step 3: Download the HTML Verification File Once you click the continue button in the second step, you will be redirected to another option. In the verification methods list, select the HTML file as the first option. Click the download link to get the HTML verification file and save it in your system. Step 4: Upload the HTML File to Your Website Once you downloaded the file, Next, you need to upload this HTML file to your website’s root directory. So here I’m discussing a general method that can be used to upload the file to the root directory because many of you might be using different hosting providers to host your website. This method will work irrespective of your hosting provider; for that, Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your web hosting service’s file manager to upload the file. Ensure the file is placed directly in the root directory (e.g. sanoopbalan.com/google1234567890.html). I have attached the Filezilla dashboard below. Always paste the file into your server’s root directory. For the WordPress website, there is a common root directory named Public_HTML; you have to paste the file inside this folder. Step 5: Confirm File Upload Once you upload the file to the root directory, it is always better to check whether you uploaded the file properly. You can confirm the upload by visiting the file’s URL in your browser. The file name will be the URL, so you can copy and paste the file name and check if it is live. (e.g., yourwebsite.com/google1234567890.html). If the file is accessible and displays correctly, proceed to the next step. Step 6: Verify Ownership in Google Search Console​ Once you are verified, the Verification remains valid as long as the Search Console can confirm the presence and validity of your verification token using any of the methods explained above Step 7: Verification Success If everything is set up correctly, you will see a success message confirming that your site has been verified. Step 8: Remove the HTML File (Optional)​ If you don’t like any third-party files on your server, you can remove the HTML file you have copied. However, keeping the file in place will help in future verifications if needed. Conclusion Setting up a Google Search Console property using HTML file upload is a fundamental step for SEO professionals. This method is reliable and ensures that you have full control over your site verification. By following these steps, you can efficiently manage and monitor your website’s performance in Google Search.