Site Basics Configuration
Set up fundamental website settings that form the foundation of your SEO strategy. Configure site information, verify ownership with search engines, and establish your online identity.
Start Here First
Overview
Site Basics provides a centralized location for all fundamental website configuration that impacts SEO and online visibility. From basic site information to search engine verification and social profiles, these settings form the foundation of your site's online presence.
Centralized Configuration
All fundamental site settings in one organized location
Search Engine Verification
Verify ownership with all major search engines
Social Integration
Connect unlimited social profiles for better visibility
Knowledge Graph
Optimize for Google's Knowledge Graph appearance
E-E-A-T Signals
Build trust with policy pages and transparency
Organization Data
Complete business identifiers and structured data
Configuration Tabs
Site Basics is organized into five intuitive tabs, each focusing on a specific aspect of your site's configuration:
Site Information
Core website details including name, tagline, separator, and default images
Site Verification
Verify ownership with search engines and webmaster tools
Social Profiles
Connect your social media accounts for enhanced SEO and sharing
Site Representation
Define whether your site represents an organization or person
Site Policies
Link to important policy pages for transparency and E-E-A-T
Site Information Tab
Website Identity
The Site Information tab manages your website's core identity elements that appear throughout search results and social media shares.
Key Settings:
- Website Name:Your site's primary name used in search results and structured data
- Alternate Name:Acronyms or shorter versions (e.g., "IBM" for "International Business Machines")
- Tagline:Syncs with WordPress settings, used as a fallback meta description
- Title Separator:Character between page title and site name (14 options available)
Title Preview
Site Images:
- Site Logo:Used in structured data and Knowledge Graph (minimum 112x112px, square preferred)
- Default Site Image:Fallback for posts without featured images (recommended 1200x675px for social media)
Site Verification Tab
Webmaster Tools Verification
Verify your site ownership with search engines and webmaster tools to access valuable analytics and optimization features.
| Service | Meta Tag Name | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Console | google-site-verification | Access search analytics, indexing status, and sitemap submission |
| Bing Webmaster Tools | msvalidate.01 | Monitor Bing search performance and crawler insights |
p:domain_verify | Claim your website for Rich Pins and analytics | |
| Yandex Webmaster | yandex-verification | Russian search engine optimization and tools |
| Baidu Webmaster | baidu-site-verification | Chinese search engine visibility and tools |
| Norton Safe Web | norton-safeweb-site-verification | Security reputation and trust signals |
Important
How Verification Works:
- Copy your verification code from the webmaster tools platform
- Paste only the code (not the full meta tag) into the appropriate field
- Save your settings
- Return to the webmaster tools platform to complete verification
- Keep codes in place even after verification is complete
Custom Meta Tags:
For services not listed, use the Custom Webmaster Tags field. Only <meta> tags are allowed, and each should be on a new line.
<meta name="example-verification" content="your-code-here" />
<meta name="another-service" content="another-code" />Site Representation Tab
Organization vs Person
Define whether your website represents an organization (business, nonprofit, etc.) or an individual person. This crucial setting affects how your site appears in Google's Knowledge Graph.
Organization Mode
Choose for businesses, companies, nonprofits, and institutions.
- • Organization name & logo
- • Contact information
- • Legal identifiers (VAT, Tax ID, DUNS)
- • Founding date & employee count
- • Industry codes (NAICS, ISO)
Person Mode
Choose for personal blogs, portfolios, and individual professionals.
- • WordPress user selection
- • Personal avatar/logo
- • Individual schema markup
- • Author attribution
- • Personal brand optimization
Organization Identifiers:
These optional fields help Google accurately identify your organization. Fill in only those that apply:
- VAT ID: Value Added Tax identification number
- Tax ID: Tax identification number (EIN in the US)
- DUNS: Data Universal Numbering System number
- LEI Code: Legal Entity Identifier
- NAICS: North American Industry Classification System code
- ISO 6523: International Organization for Standardization identifier
Site Policies Tab
Trust & Transparency
Link to your policy pages to demonstrate transparency and build trust with users and search engines. This is especially important for E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) signals.
Available Policy Types:
Editorial standards, content guidelines, and publishing ethics
Ownership structure, funding sources, and financial transparency
How you collect and respond to user feedback
Procedures for addressing errors and publishing corrections
Ethical standards and codes of conduct
Commitment to diversity in content and employment
Why Policies Matter
Best Practices
Setup Recommendations
Complete Setup Checklist
- Fill in all site information fields, including alternate names
- Upload both site logo and default image in recommended sizes
- Verify with at least Google Search Console and Bing
- Connect all active social media profiles
- Choose organization vs person and complete all applicable fields
- Link to any existing policy pages
- Test your configuration with Google's Rich Results Test
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- • Entering full meta tags instead of just verification codes
- • Using personal social profiles for business sites
- • Forgetting to keep verification codes after verification
- • Using logos that are too small or not square
- • Mixing organization and person data incorrectly
- • Not updating social URLs when usernames change
Pro Tips
- • Use high-quality images (logo and default) for better social sharing
- • Keep verification codes even after successful verification
- • Add all legitimate business profiles, even smaller platforms
- • Create policy pages even if not required - they build trust
- • Use alternate names for common abbreviations or nicknames
- • Test different title separators to see what looks best
- • Regularly update organization information as your business grows
Integration with Other Features
How Site Basics Connects
Site Basics configuration affects multiple aspects of your SEO:
Titles & Meta
Title separator and site name are used in all page titles
Schema Markup
Organization/person data populates structured data
Social Sharing
Default images and social profiles enhance sharing
Knowledge Graph
Complete data improves Knowledge Panel eligibility
Troubleshooting
Common Issues & Solutions
Verification not working
• Ensure you're entering only the code, not the full meta tag
• Clear your site's cache after saving
• Check that the meta tag appears in your homepage source
• Wait a few minutes before verifying in webmaster tools
Media library not opening
• Ensure WordPress media scripts are loaded
• Check browser console for JavaScript errors
• Try refreshing the page
• Verify user has media upload permissions
Social profiles not showing in schema
• Save settings after adding profiles
• Check that URLs are complete and valid
• Clear cache plugins if using
• Test with Google's Structured Data Testing Tool
Social Profiles Tab
Social Media Integration
Connect your social media profiles to enhance your site's structured data and improve social sharing capabilities.
Facebook Settings:
Twitter/X Settings:
Enter your Twitter/X username without the @ symbol. This enables Twitter Cards for better social sharing appearance.
Primary Profiles:
Add URLs for LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. These are included in your site's structured data.
Additional Profiles:
Add unlimited additional social profiles (TikTok, GitHub, etc.) using the dynamic form. These populate the "sameAs" schema property, helping search engines understand all your official social presences.
Best Practice