[jsh4]

Hey everyone, I've recently made a mediocre site using Freewebs, submitted it to Google etc., and I've recently discovered Google Webmaster. As you might know, to get full access to these webmaster tools, you need to verify your site, so they know its yours.

You can verify in 1 of 2 ways. Either by creating a specified file name (e.g. google754785483849429435423.html) and then uploading it, so that this file can be viewed at http://www.yoursite.com/google754785...429435423.html. Or it creates a special metatag code, to incorporate right at the start of the HTML code of your main page.

First I tried the metatag option. But this failed, as the code needed to be inserted right at the beginning of the code, before the site title, etc. - as I don't yet feel completely comfortable with use of HTML, I decided to opt for the SiteBuilder option in Freewebs, where you add text, objects, etc. without having to involve yourself with any sort of HTML. Unfortunately, if you then convert your site from the SiteBuilder to the HTML option, so you can insert the metatag code right at the beginning of the code, you can't then go back to SiteBuilder - it's an irreversible change. Therefore I'd be stuck using HTML for absolutely everything, which I don't have the knowledge for at the moment.

I then tried the second option - creating a "google754785483849429435423.html" or whatever file and uploading it. First I went by Freeweb's advice, and just used wordpad to name the file "google754785483849429435423.html" and simply uploaded it to the Freewebs. This seemed to work, I went to "www.yoursite.com/google754785483849429435423.html" (i.e. my website) and there it was, just a blank page.

But when I clicked "Verify" back on Google Webmaster it gave the following error message:

"We've detected that your 404 (file not found) error page returns a status of 200 (Success) in the header"

I found out this means that Google "detected that your server returns a status of 200 (found successfully) for pages that don't exist. We can't verify sites with this configuration because it would enable anyone to verify ownership of your site."

I also tried looking it up on Google search (ironic!) but couldn't find any particular solution for if you have a Freewebs site - Freewebs suggested you use the file upload method to verify to Google, but there's no mention at all of what to do if this "Your 404 page returns a 200 in the header".

I would be really greatful if anyone could help me out with this, either with a 'file upload' or a 'metatag insert' solution. Thanks a lot

[Dave Hybrid]

Because of your host you have to use the HTML option, just add what they say where they say too.

If you save a template before you can always go back.

[geni4]

I am having the EXACT same problem. Only I did not switch out of the sitebuilder mode. What could I be doing wrong. I put the .html file in my file manager and clicked verify but I got the same error message. Any ideas

[Dave Hybrid]

Originally Posted by geni4 I am having the EXACT same problem. Only I did not switch out of the sitebuilder mode. What could I be doing wrong. I put the .html file in my file manager and clicked verify but I got the same error message. Any ideas

It's because your host has a setting that Webmaster Tools does not like, as you don't have access to the server you cannot change it, either get a better host or use the other verification options.

[geni4]

What methods are there other than the html file method or the meta tag method. You mention that for a freewebs site one must do it with special html file, but as mentioned previously, it comes up with that error.

The freewebs help file says the following:
Google Verification Problem
If you are attempting to verify your site using a code for your meta tag area of your site, you will need to use an alternate method.
Google will give you another option, which is to make a page with a particular file name. You can create a file with notepad, give it the name that Google instructs you to name it, then upload it to your File Manager. You can then verify your site with Google in that way.

so apparantly, the html method is supposed to work but I don't understand why we are getting these errors when we try to verify after uploading the google html file.

Thanks in advance

[Dave Hybrid]

You need to use the meta, it's your only option and done correctly works fine.

Unless your host allows you access to their server you cannot do the file method.