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Connect search engines ​

Use this workflow to verify store ownership, publish sitemaps, and submit or remove URLs for indexing. It combines steps from Site verification, XML Sitemap, HTML Sitemap, and Indexing. Follow each platform’s own setup helper for verification codes and API credentials; this workflow covers only the actions available in SEOEngine.

Before you begin ​

  • SEOEngine is open in your Shopify admin
  • You have access to the webmaster or platform account where you will generate verification codes or API credentials

Verify site ownership ​

Site verification adds ownership verification meta tags to your theme without manually editing code.

  1. From SEOEngine, open Site verification.
  2. Turn on Enable site verification.
  3. Paste the verification code or the complete <meta> tag from your platform into the matching field:
    • Google Search Console verification
    • Bing Webmaster Tools verification
    • Yandex Webmaster verification
    • Baidu Webmaster Tools verification
    • Pinterest domain verification
  4. Select Save.

The app injects these tags into the storefront header. Return to the platform where you generated the code and use that platform’s Verify action to finish registration.

Enter only the plain verification code or the <meta> tag format indicated in the app fields. For field details, see Site verification.

Configure and copy sitemap URLs ​

Sitemaps help search engines discover store URLs. SEOEngine supports XML Sitemap settings for crawlers and an HTML Sitemap page for visitors.

XML Sitemap ​

  1. From SEOEngine, go to Sitemap and select the XML Sitemap tab.
  2. Turn on Enable XML sitemap.
  3. Configure crawl behavior settings such as Priority and Change frequency for products, collections, content pages, and blog posts.
  4. Set content inclusion rules for products, collections, pages, and blogs, then select Save.

If your store supports multiple languages, the app generates language-specific sitemaps. Copy the Primary sitemap URL or the language-specific URLs to submit them in Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools.

HTML Sitemap ​

  1. Open Sitemap and select the HTML Sitemap tab.
  2. Turn on Visibility.
  3. Customize the page Title, Meta description, and URL handle.
  4. Choose which page types to include, set Limit items if needed, optionally add Custom URLs, then select Generate sitemap (or Regenerate sitemap).
  5. Select View page to review the published sitemap on your storefront.

For full options, see XML Sitemap and HTML Sitemap.

Connect indexing and submit URLs ​

The Indexing tool lets you submit new or modified URLs to Google and Bing for priority crawling, and request removal of outdated URLs. Connect API credentials in the app before you submit.

Connect Google and Bing ​

  1. From SEOEngine, open Indexing.
  2. For Google: turn on Enable Google Indexing, upload the JSON key file from your Google Service Account, and follow the in-app setup guide to create a service account and grant indexing access in Google Search Console.
  3. For Bing: turn on Enable Bing Indexing, then enter your Bing Webmaster API key, or select Generate key if prompted by the app.
  4. Select Save.

If you see submission errors, check that credentials are valid and that service accounts have appropriate permissions for your verified shop domain.

Submit or remove URLs ​

  1. Under Submit URLs for Indexing, select Choose items or Add custom URL. Custom paths must start with /, must be internal links on your store’s primary domain, and can be entered one URL per line.
  2. Review URLs to index, then select Submit URLs.
  3. To request removal, use Remove Content from Search, select items or enter custom URLs, then select Remove URLs.

The app forwards requests to the connected search engines. How quickly search engines crawl or update results depends on their own processing.

For full steps, see Indexing.