How to Set Up Baidu Webmaster Tools (2021 Edition)
Baidu dominates China’s search market with 558+ million active users, housing the world’s most advanced Chinese-language search algorithms and largest index of Chinese webpages.
And while only available in Simplified Chinese, Baidu Webmaster Tools (or Baidu Ziyuan) offers myriad game-changing metrics to optimize your site for Baidu, making it an essential platform for your China SEO strategy.
Here, we’ll guide you through setting up your Baidu Webmaster Tools so that you can tap into Baidu’s massive online traffic potential among China’s captive and engaged audience.
There are 3 main steps to setting up Baidu Webmaster Tools:
- Register for a Baidu account
- Verify website for Baidu Webmaster Tools
- Set your account permissions
INTRODUCTION TO BAIDU WEBMASTER TOOLS
Integrated within Baidu’s Search Resource Platform, Baidu Webmaster Tools tracks and enhances your site’s organic performance on Baidu to improve your China SEO.
It provides 4 primary services:
- Resource submission
- Data statistics
- Search display
- Site optimization and maintenance
Baidu Webmaster Tools interface: 4 primary services
Setup Baidu Webmaster Tools – Step #1: REGISTER FOR A BAIDU ACCOUNT
Firstly, use the relevant registration link based on your location:
- Baidu account registration: Mainland China
- Baidu account registration: Overseas
BAIDU ACCOUNT SETUP – STEP #1: CREATE YOUR USERNAME
The guidelines for username creation are as follows:
- Usernames cannot be amended after setup.
- Both Chinese and English usernames are supported.
- Usernames can be up to 14 English letters or 7 Chinese characters in length.
Baidu account setup: Create a username
BAIDU ACCOUNT SETUP – STEP #2: ENTER A MOBILE PHONE NUMBER
Both Mainland China and overseas mobile numbers are supported in the registration.
Important Note: Email registration is not supported on Baidu Webmaster Tools. You can only register with a mobile number.
Baidu account setup: Enter a mobile number
BAIDU ACCOUNT SETUP – STEP #3: CREATE YOUR PASSWORD
The password guidelines are as follows:
- 8-14 characters in length (no spaces allowed)
- Only supports English alphabet characters, numbers, and punctuation marks (password must include at least two of these)
- Chinese characters are not permitted
Baidu account setup: Create your password
BAIDU ACCOUNT SETUP – STEP #4: SMS VERIFICATION, THEN SUBMIT REGISTRATION
Once you’ve created a username and password and input your mobile number, click the button (outlined in red below) to generate an SMS verification code.
Baidu account setup: Generate an SMS verification code
You’ll receive your verification code (example: “209963”) via SMS
Upon receiving your verification code (example: “209963”), enter it into the last field of the form and accept Baidu’s privacy policy.
Then, click “confirm” and wait for the confirmation of your registration.
Baidu Webmaster Tools setup: Accept Baidu’s privacy policy and submit registration
Baidu Webmaster Tools setup: A text box will confirm your Baidu account registration
Setup Baidu Webmaster Tools – Step #2: VERIFY YOUR SITE
Before you can leverage any of the myriad instrumental metrics and functions of Baidu Webmaster Tools, Baidu must first verify your website.
We recommend checking out our in-depth walkthrough of how to verify your site for Baidu Webmaster Tools in 2021, but here’s a quick summary of the 5 key steps.
BAIDU SITE VERIFICATION – STEP #1: SUBMIT YOUR SITE FOR VERIFICATION
Begin the verification process on Baidu Ziyuan.
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Submit your website for verification
BAIDU SITE VERIFICATION – STEP #2: REGISTER YOUR DOMAIN
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Register your domain on Baidu
BAIDU SITE VERIFICATION – STEP #3: SELECT SITE CATEGORIES
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Pick 3 categories that best match your website content
BAIDU SITE VERIFICATION – STEP #4: VERIFY YOUR WEBSITE
There are 3 ways to verify your website for Baidu Webmaster Tools (we recommend the first or second methods):
1. file verification
- Download the verification file, which is in HTML format, and upload it to the root directory of your site.
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Verifying your site via file verification
2. HTML Tag Verification
- Insert the tag to the HTML code of your homepage, between the <head> and </head> tags.
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Verifying your site via HTML tag
3. CNAME (Canonical Name) verification
- Select “CNAME Verification” and add a new CNAME record using the value provided by Baidu, then resolve it to ziyuan.baidu.com.
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Verifying your site via CNAME
BAIDU SITE VERIFICATION – STEP #5: COMPLETE VERIFICATION
Click “Finish verification” to verify your website.
If there are any errors pertaining to your verification, Baidu will prompt you to address them.
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Complete your site verification
Setup Baidu Webmaster Tools – Step #3: SET YOUR baidu ACCOUNT USER PERMISSIONS
BAIDU ACCOUNT USER SETUP – STEP #1: LOGIN TO BAIDU WEBMASTER TOOLS
Login to Baidu Webmaster Tools to set your account administrator.
BAIDU ACCOUNT USER SETUP – STEP #2: ENTER YOUR USER MANAGEMENT PAGE
Enter the domain of your site in the permissions setup. Doing so ensures that only users with the email address corresponding to your domain can be added as users on your Baidu account.
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Register your domain
BAIDU ACCOUNT USER SETUP – STEP #3: ADD USERS AND SET PERMISSIONS
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Add new users
Input your user’s email address, select “Senior Admin” under user permissions, and then submit to add your user.
Important Note: “Senior Admin” lets you control your Baidu Webmaster Tools dashboard settings, while “General Admin” only lets users view the data.
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Set user permissions
Baidu Webmaster Tools: Account dashboard
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Registering for a Baidu account, getting your site verified for Baidu Webmaster Tools, and customizing your account permissions sets you up with the right SEO metrics to power your site performance on Baidu—all while making it more visible and searchable in front of 558+ million active users in China.
Take these steps to setup your Baidu Webmaster Tools and start driving high-quality traffic through strong SEO in China!
