Set up Google Search Console
Add your site as a property. Use DNS verification if possible, or HTML meta tag if your host manages DNS for you.
12 May 2026 · Site Gallery, Sheffield
Arts Marketing Skills Workshop
A full-day practical session on search visibility, local listings, and free digital tools for Sheffield arts organisations - delivered by Cited in partnership with Culture Sheffield (Sheffield City Council).
Nine steps from zero-knowledge setup to ongoing monthly checks, using free tools and tested tactics that grassroots arts organisations can actually maintain.
Cited.
Culture Sheffield
Workshop resources
Attendees: enter the password from the slides to open the links, step-by-step guides, printable worksheets, and Sheffield placements list.
No password? Contact Culture Sheffield to request access, or ask Akash nicely on LinkedIn.
What attendees said
Anonymous feedback from participants at the May 2026 session at Site Gallery.
"Akash was so good at walking through the foundational principles and providing practical advice and actions. The session was pitched perfectly - confidence-building, practical and human, which isn't an easy thing to do in this area. I've already put the tools into practice. Loved it."
"I had a lot of questions around SEO and AI summaries ahead of this session and feel they were answered really well. I feel confident taking this information back to our team."
"Far more specific and practical than I was expecting - I thought it would be more theory and broader picture. The take-home online resources are great. Plenty to work through."
"Nicely balanced between basic and medium skillset. Finding out what to prioritise and how to analyse traffic to my site was super useful. I feel able to implement these pointers and understand the methods of self-analysis on my own site."
"There are simple things I can be doing to boost the SEO for my organisation and my own creative business - and it's not impossible with a small budget to really make it work."
"Great combination of practical tools and examples. I loved that we were encouraged to bring laptops and do exercises."
"I've attended sessions like this before and found out loads more than in other seminars. I liked that it wasn't just beginner stuff - there was new and up to date information."
"Useful explanation of what it is, how important it is, and how to implement it. I feel able to implement these pointers to my own website. To keep events like this free for people like me is hugely valued."
Numbered steps from the deck
These match the Step chips in the presentation. Start with Steps 1 to 4 if your foundations are not set up yet.
Set up Google Analytics 4
Link to the same Google account as Search Console.
Run PageSpeed Insights
Test your homepage on mobile first. Focus on the top two issues flagged.
Claim Google Business Profile
Search your name in Google Maps first - claim an existing listing rather than creating a duplicate.
Install browser tools
Use these for quick checks while looking at your own website. Lighthouse is built into Chrome DevTools, so there is nothing extra to install for that one.
Check the free tier before you pay
Eligibility varies by legal structure. Check the free and discounted options before building your budget around paid tools.
Run the site: search check
Open Google. Type this, replacing yourdomain.com with your site:
site:yourdomain.com
If you see zero results, Google cannot find you. If you see the wrong page first, Google does not know what matters most.
Fast checks to run during or after the session
Tick these off on your phone, then use the printable versions if you want to take them back to your team.
The five-minute visibility check
The 3-second homepage test
ELI5 guides for every step
Use these if you are starting from zero, or forward the relevant step to the person who manages your website, domain, listings, or analytics.
1Set up Google Search Console
What this means
Search Console is the free Google tool that tells you whether Google can find your website. Think of it like asking Google: "Can you see my pages, and what searches are already showing them?"
What you need
- A Google account you can keep using for the organisation.
- Your website address, including whether it uses
https://and/orwww. - Either access to your domain/DNS, or access to your website builder's SEO/custom-code settings.
Do this
- Open Search Console and choose Add property.
- If you control the domain, choose Domain. This covers all versions of the site.
- If you only control the website builder, choose URL prefix and paste the exact homepage URL.
- Follow the verification option you can actually complete: DNS TXT record, HTML meta tag, HTML file upload, or Google Analytics.
- When verified, submit your sitemap if your platform gives you one. It is often at
/sitemap.xml. - Come back in 24 to 48 hours. Empty reports at the start are normal.
Ask someone else to do this
"Please add our website to Google Search Console, verify ownership, submit the sitemap, and give this Google account full owner access: [email address]. If DNS access is available, use domain verification. If not, use the HTML meta tag."
Success looks like
You can open Search Console, choose your site, and see menus for Performance, Indexing and Sitemaps. Data may still be blank on day one.
2Set up Google Analytics 4
What this means
GA4 tells you what people do after they land on your site: where they came from, which pages they looked at, and whether they clicked, booked, donated, downloaded, or contacted you.
What you need
- The same Google account you used for Search Console if possible.
- Admin access to your website builder or WordPress plugins.
- A clear idea of the actions that matter: booking, enquiry, donation, newsletter signup, resource download.
Do this
- Open Google Analytics and create an account or property for the organisation.
- Create a web data stream for your website.
- Copy the measurement ID. It usually starts with
G-. - Add that ID where your website platform asks for Google Analytics, or add the Google tag to the site's head code.
- Open your website in another tab, then check GA4 Realtime. Your visit should appear within a few minutes.
- Do not add the tag twice. Double-counting is worse than having no data for a day.
Ask someone else to do this
"Please set up GA4 for this site, add the Google tag once, confirm Realtime is working, and tell me which key actions we can track as events."
Success looks like
Realtime shows at least one active user when you visit the website. Over time, Reports will show traffic sources, pages and engagement.
3Run PageSpeed Insights
What this means
PageSpeed checks whether your site is comfortable to use, especially on a phone. It is not a school exam. Use it to find obvious problems, not to chase a perfect score.
Do this
- Open PageSpeed Insights.
- Paste your homepage URL and run the test.
- Read the mobile result first.
- Write down the top two opportunities only. Common ones are oversized images, too many scripts, unused plugins, and slow fonts.
- Run the test again for your most important event, booking or services page.
- Fix what is practical. If your platform or developer controls it, add it to your action plan.
Ask someone else to do this
"Please run PageSpeed Insights on our homepage and this key page: [URL]. Focus on mobile. Tell me the top two fixes, whether they are quick/content fixes or developer fixes, and whether any images can be compressed below about 200 KB."
Success looks like
Your site loads without a long blank screen on a phone. You know the two biggest speed issues and who can fix them.
4Claim Google Business Profile
What this means
Business Profile is the information box and Maps listing that can appear when people search your name, venue, studio, organisation or local service.
Do this
- Search your exact name in Google Maps first.
- If a listing already exists, choose the option to claim or manage it. Do not create a duplicate.
- If no listing exists, add one through Google Business Profile.
- Choose the most accurate category. Do not pick a category just because it sounds bigger.
- Add website, phone/email if relevant, service area or address, opening hours if you have them, and at least five real photos.
- Complete Google's verification process. It may ask for video, phone, email, postcard or documents depending on the profile.
Ask someone else to do this
"Please check whether we already have a Google Maps listing. If yes, claim it. If not, create one. Use accurate categories, add our website, add photos, and complete verification. Do not make a duplicate listing."
Success looks like
When you search your name in Google or Maps, the listing is accurate, owned by you, and points people to the right website or contact route.
5Install browser tools
What this means
These tools sit in your browser and help you inspect a page quickly. They are useful for spotting missing titles, confusing headings, slow pages and what platform a site is built with.
Do this
- Install Detailed SEO Extension in Chrome.
- Open your homepage, click the extension, and check the title, meta description, headings and indexability.
- Open Chrome DevTools, choose Lighthouse, and run a mobile report. Lighthouse is already built into Chrome.
- Install Wappalyzer if you need to identify what a website is built on before asking for help.
- Create a Bing Webmaster Tools account later if you have time. If Search Console is already set up, import from it where possible.
Ask someone else to do this
"Please run a quick browser audit of our homepage and key event page. Check title, meta description, H1, indexability, Lighthouse mobile issues, and tell me what platform/plugins the site appears to use."
Success looks like
You can check a page in under two minutes and know whether the basics are missing before paying for deeper technical help.
6Check the free tier before you pay
What this means
Some registered charities and nonprofits can access free or discounted tools. This can include Google Workspace, Google Ad Grants, Microsoft 365, Canva Pro and discounted software through charity technology programmes.
Do this
- Write down your legal structure: charity, CIC, company, sole trader, collective, unincorporated group, or another setup.
- Gather proof: charity number, Companies House link, governing document, website, trustee/director details, and your role.
- Check Google for Nonprofits first if you are a registered eligible nonprofit.
- Check Canva for Nonprofits if design tools would help your team.
- Check Microsoft Nonprofits before paying for office software or subscriptions.
- If you are not eligible, do not force it. Use free tiers, community discounts, or shared-access workflows instead.
Ask someone else to do this
"Please check whether our legal structure qualifies for Google for Nonprofits, Google Ad Grants, Microsoft Nonprofits and Canva for Nonprofits. Make a list of what we are eligible for, what documents are needed, and who should own each account."
Success looks like
You know which discounts are realistic before you commit to a paid tool or build a budget around software you may not need to pay for.
7Run the site: search check
What this means
This is a quick way to ask Google: "Which pages from this website do you currently know about?" It is not perfect, but it is useful for spotting big problems.
Do this
- Open Google.
- Type
site:yourdomain.com, replacing the example with your real domain. - If nothing appears, set up Search Console and check whether your site is blocked or very new.
- If old pages appear first, add redirects or update old content.
- If the wrong page appears first, improve your homepage title, headings, internal links and navigation.
- Write one action, not ten. Example: "Rewrite homepage H1 so it says Sheffield ceramics workshops."
Ask someone else to do this
"Please run a Google site: search for our domain, screenshot the first page of results, and tell me whether Google is showing the right homepage, old pages, missing pages, or anything that should not be public."
Success looks like
Google shows your key pages, the homepage or main page makes sense, and nothing outdated or private is obviously appearing first.
8The five-minute visibility check
What this means
This is a repeatable mini-audit. You are not trying to solve everything. You are checking whether the basics are healthy enough for people to find, trust and use the site.
Do this
- Indexed? Run
site:yourdomain.com. - Fast on mobile? Run PageSpeed Insights on the homepage.
- Clear in 3 seconds? Show the homepage to someone and ask what they think you do.
- Local presence? Search your name and category in Google Maps.
- Trusted links? Search your name plus venue, funder, press, university, council or collaborator.
Ask someone else to do this
"Please run the five-minute visibility check and give me a simple traffic-light summary: green is fine, amber needs improvement, red needs urgent attention. Include one next action for each red or amber item."
Success looks like
You finish with one or two useful next actions, not a giant report. Repeat monthly or before each major event campaign.
9The 3-second homepage test
What this means
A new visitor should understand your homepage quickly. If they have to decode poetic copy, hunt for the location, or guess how to book, the page is making them work too hard.
Do this
- Open the homepage on a phone.
- Look only at the first screen before scrolling.
- Answer: What do you do?
- Answer: Who is it for?
- Answer: Where are you?
- Answer: What should I do next?
- If any answer is missing, fix the headline, intro sentence, location signal or main button.
Ask someone else to do this
"Please look at our homepage on your phone for three seconds, then tell me what you think we do, who it is for, where it happens, and what you would click next. Please be honest."
Success looks like
A stranger can say something close to: "You run [activity] for [audience] in Sheffield, and I should [book/contact/visit/read more]."
Resources and downloads
Printable worksheets, setup guides, placement ideas, and the event description prompt from the workshop.
Full workshop deck
The newest deck from the Cited x Culture Sheffield workshop at Site Gallery.
Zero-knowledge step guide
A printable version of the ELI5 guidance for all nine workshop steps, including what to ask a helper to do.
Five-minute visibility checklist
Printable version of Step 8 for your desk, project folder, or next team meeting.
Action plan worksheet
Three-column worksheet for This Week, This Month, and Ongoing actions.
Sheffield placements list
Council, press, universities, arts sector and peer links to try for events, listings, and local credibility.
AI prompt template for event descriptions
A reusable prompt from the deck to turn rough event notes into clearer, search-friendly event copy.
Search Console setup guide
Platform-specific notes for Squarespace, WordPress, Wix, Webflow, and Cargo.
GA4 setup guide
Platform-specific notes for adding GA4 to common website builders.
Sheffield placements list
Use these as starting points for listings, local credibility, partnerships, and links. Always check each site's submission rules before sending anything.
Council and city listings
Culture Sheffield / Sheffield Culture Hub
Local press and culture media
Universities and student audiences
University of Sheffield What's On
Sheffield Students' Union events
Arts sector and peers
Festival pages, venue bios, collaborators, co-produced projects, and peer credits where your name and URL can be included naturally.
AI prompt template for event descriptions
Paste this into your AI tool with the rough facts about your event. Edit the result so it still sounds like you.
Turn these rough notes into a clear event description for a Sheffield arts audience.
Keep my tone warm and specific. Use plain language. Do not invent any facts, quotes or details I have not given you. End with a short call to action.
[Paste your own notes here: event name, date, what happens, who it's for, price, booking link]
Platform setup guides
Quick reminders for the platforms most likely to come up after the workshop.
Search Console setup guide
- Squarespace: Use a URL-prefix property if DNS is managed elsewhere. Add the HTML tag in Settings, Marketing, SEO, then verify.
- WordPress: Use a plugin such as Site Kit or an SEO plugin to add the HTML tag. If you control DNS, use domain property verification instead.
- Wix: Use SEO Setup Checklist or Marketing Integrations to connect Search Console with the Google account you use for the site.
- Webflow: Add the HTML verification tag in Site settings, Custom code, Head code, then publish and verify.
- Cargo: Add the HTML meta tag in the site's custom HTML/head area if available, or use DNS verification through your domain host.
GA4 setup guide
- Squarespace: Add your GA4 measurement ID in Settings, Marketing, Google Analytics.
- WordPress: Use Site Kit by Google or your SEO/analytics plugin. Avoid adding the same tag twice.
- Wix: Connect Google Analytics through Marketing Integrations and publish the site.
- Webflow: Add the GA4 tag through Site settings, Integrations or Custom code, then publish.
- Cargo: Add the Google tag script to the custom head area if available, or ask your developer/site manager.
Akash Hashmi · hello@getcited.uk · getcited.uk