Welcome to the world of Baidu, China’s leading search engine with over 550 million active users. If you want your website to be visible and searchable in the Chinese market, having a Baidu Webmaster Tools account is crucial. It is the equivalent to your Google Search Console account for monitoring your website’s performance in Google Search.
Not only does it provide valuable SEO metrics, but it also allows you to customize your website’s appearance on Baidu.
In this article, we will guide you through the steps to set up your Baidu Webmaster Tools account and boost your website’s visibility in China. So let’s dive in!
Step 1: Register for a Baidu Account
To get started, you will need to register for a Baidu account. Simply go to the Baidu homepage and click on the “Register” button located at the top right corner of the page.
You will then be directed to a registration form …
(in English: Sign up now):
… where you will need to provide your personal information, such as your name, email address, and phone number. It is important to note that a Chinese phone number or email address is required for registration.
When filling out the form, make sure to provide accurate information as this will be necessary for account verification and future login attempts. It is also crucial to choose a strong and secure password to protect your account from any potential hacking attempts.
To make filling out easier for you – here the form translated to English:
Before hitting the “Register” button, you need to fill out the Verification code, which will be sent to you by SMS to your phone, after you hit the “get verification code” button.
You should get an SMS confirmation sent to the phone number you provided.
Attention: As of May 2022, Baidu has ceased accepting foreign phone numbers for account sign-ups.
Once you have filled out all the required fields, click on the “Register” button to complete your registration process. Make sure to hurry up, as the verification code is only valid for a short period of time.
Congratulations, you now have a Baidu account! Next, let’s move on to verifying your website on Baidu Webmaster Tools.
Step 2: Verify Your Site for Baidu Webmaster Tools
Site verification is a crucial step in setting up your Baidu Webmaster Tools account as it ensures that you are the owner of the website and have access to its data. Without verification, you will not be able to access any SEO metrics or make changes to your website’s appearance on Baidu.
After you login your Baidu Account, please open this URL: https://ziyuan.baidu.com/?castk=LTE%3D
Click “User Center” and then “Website Management”:
To add a website to your Baidu Webmaster Tools account, click on the button “Add Website”:
To verify your site for Baidu Webmaster Tools, there are two methods available: HTML tag, or file upload.
- HTML Tag Method: This method involves adding a meta tag provided by Baidu to the <head> section of your website’s homepage. Once added, click on the “Verify” button on the Baidu Webmaster Tools page and Baidu will check for the presence of the meta tag.
- File Upload Method: This method involves downloading a verification file from Baidu, uploading it to your website’s root directory, and then clicking on the “Verify” button on the Baidu Webmaster Tools page.
Once you have chosen your verification method and uploaded the HTML file or included the meta tag into the HTML head of the website, you need to confirm that you have done so by hitting the “complete verification” button:
It is important to note that regardless of which method you choose, it may take up to 24 hours for your site to be verified. If you encounter any issues during the verification process, make sure to troubleshoot by checking if the code or record has been properly added and if there are any conflicts with your website’s security settings.
Once your site is successfully verified, you can now move on to the final step of setting up your Baidu Webmaster Tools account.
Step 3: Customize Account Permissions
Now that your account is set up and your site is verified, it’s time to customize your Baidu Webmaster Tools account permissions. This will allow you to control who has access to your account and what level of access they have.
Baidu offers three levels of account permissions: Owner, Administrator, and Normal User. The Owner has full control over the account and can add or remove team members and third-party agencies. Administrators have access to most features but cannot manage user permissions. Normal Users have limited access and can only view data and send feedback.
To set up custom permissions for team members or third-party agencies, click on the “Add User” button and choose the level of permission you want to grant. You will then need to provide the user’s Baidu account information and click on “Confirm” to add them to your account.
To maintain account security, it is important to regularly review and update your permissions. If a team member or agency no longer needs access, make sure to remove them from your account. It is also recommended to change your password frequently and enable two-factor authentication for added security.
Congratulations, you have now successfully set up your Baidu Webmaster Tools account! Make sure to regularly check your account for valuable SEO metrics and make necessary changes to optimize your website’s performance on Baidu. So get ready to conquer the Chinese market with the help of Baidu Webmaster Tools!
Keep learning, keep growing! Happy optimizing!
And if you need help – the Jademond Digital team is here to assist you.
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