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Submit a static site to Google Search Console
In Search Console, add a domain property and verify it with the TXT record Google gives you. Deploy a sitemap.xml next to index.html, then submit https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml. Do this after the custom domain is serving the new site. A Novence preview URL is marked noindex and is the wrong property to submit.
By Novence · Published · Updated
Which address do I submit?
The address you want in search results. For almost every small site that is https://www.example.com/, or the apex if you chose that as the main URL. Pick one and redirect the other to it.
Add a domain property in Search Console so www and the apex are covered by one verification. A URL-prefix property only covers the exact host you type.
How do I prove I own the domain?
Google shows a TXT record. Add it at the registrar next to the website records. It does not point the site anywhere, and it does not affect email.
An HTML file upload also works, if you deploy that file at the site root and the custom domain is already live. DNS is the one that survives a later host change.
Where does the sitemap come from?
You write it, or your static generator writes it, and you deploy it as sitemap.xml.
In Search Console, open Sitemaps and submit https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml. Each <loc> must be a URL that returns that page, with the same host and trailing slash you actually serve.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9"> <url><loc>https://www.example.com/</loc></url> <url><loc>https://www.example.com/about/</loc></url> </urlset>
What do I check after a move?
Open the Pages report a week later. Old URLs that changed should not be listed as errors if a 301 sends them to the new path. The redirect file is covered in 301 redirects after a rebuild.
Request indexing on the homepage once. Then wait. Asking for every URL on the same day does not speed the rest up.
Facts checked 19 October 2026. Sources: Add a Search Console property · Launch checklist
FAQ
Should I submit the novence.ai preview URL?
No. Preview hosts are noindex, and the sitemap there is empty on purpose. Submit the custom domain once it shows the new site.
Does Novence generate a sitemap for me?
On your domain, Novence serves the sitemap.xml file you deployed. It does not crawl the site and write one.
How long until Google lists the pages?
Verification is quick. Indexing takes days or weeks. Search Console's Pages report is where you see what was indexed.
Do I need a sitemap for a one-page site?
It still helps. One URL in the file is enough, and it gives you a place to add pages later.
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