When Google or Facebook Asks You to Prove You Own Your Domain

When you'd use this

Some services — Google Search Console, Facebook Business Manager, Pinterest for Business, and others — want to make sure you actually own a domain before they let you connect it to their tools. Their proof-of-ownership method is usually: "add this funny-looking line of text to your domain's settings, then click Verify."

If you've never been asked to do this, you probably don't need this guide. Skip it.

If you HAVE been asked, you're in the right place. Takes about 2 minutes.

What you'll do

1. The service (Google, Facebook, etc.) gives you a piece of text to add — usually starts with something like google-site-verification= or facebook-domain-verification=. Copy it.
2. Add that text to your domain's settings on our side.
3. Go back to the service and click their "Verify" button.

Behind the scenes, this is called adding a TXT record. Don't worry about the name — just follow the steps.

How to add it

1. Open your dashboard → click DNS in the left menu
2. Click Add DNS Record
3. From the dropdown, pick TXT
4. In the Name field:

- For most verifications, type @ (just the at-sign — means "apply to the main domain") - If the service told you to use something like _acme-challenge or a specific subdomain, type that exact value instead

1. In the Value field, paste exactly what the service gave you (with the quotes if they showed them, or without — copy it word-for-word)
2. Leave anything else at its default
3. Click Save
4. Wait about 1-2 minutes, then go back to the verifying service and click their Verify button. It should work.

Common services + what they need

Google Search Console (helps Google find and rank your website)

• They give you: google-site-verification=abc123...


• You enter: that exact string into the Value field, @ in the Name field

Google Workspace (business email at your domain)

• They give you: google-site-verification=xyz789...


• Same as above

Facebook Business Manager (for Facebook ads on your domain)

• They give you: facebook-domain-verification=abc123...


• Same as above

Microsoft 365 (Outlook email at your domain)

• They give you: MS=ms12345678


• Same as above

Pinterest, LinkedIn, TikTok For Business

• Same pattern — they give you a string, you paste it into the Value field

If verification fails

"I added it but verification says it's not there"
Wait another 5 minutes. The setting takes a little while to spread across the internet. Then click Verify again.

"It says my old verification is still there"
You can have multiple at once — adding a new one doesn't remove the old. If you really need to remove the old one, email support@siteglowup.ai and we'll help.

"I'm not sure if I copied it right"
Easiest: delete what you added (in DNS → click the trash on the record) and start fresh. Copy from the service's instructions, paste into our Value box, save.

What about email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)?

If you're trying to add SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records (these are about who's allowed to send email from your domain), those are trickier — adding a second SPF record can break your existing email if you already have one. Email support@siteglowup.ai first and we'll walk you through it safely.

For Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 specifically, they auto-handle SPF/DKIM/DMARC during setup — you don't need to add anything manually.