Bing Webmaster Tools: A Step-by-step Tutorial for Bloggers
Bing is the second-largest search engine worldwide, and optimizing your site for Bing can drive additional organic traffic, especially in regions where Bing has a strong presence, such as the United States, Canada, and the UK.
To improve your site’s visibility on Bing, you need to leverage Bing Webmaster Tools (BWT). This free platform allows bloggers, website owners, and SEO professionals to monitor and optimize their websites for better rankings in Bing Search.
This step-by-step guide will walk you through setting up Bing Webmaster Tools, using its features, and applying actionable insights to boost your search rankings.
Step 1: Creating a Bing Webmaster Tools Account
1.1 Sign Up or Log In to Bing Webmaster Tools
To get started, visit Bing Webmaster Tools. You can sign in using:
- A Microsoft account (Hotmail, Outlook)
- A Google account
- A Facebook account
If you don’t already have a Microsoft account, you’ll need to create one before proceeding.
1.2 Add Your Website to Bing Webmaster Tools
After logging in:
- Click “Add a Site”.
- Enter your website URL (make sure it’s the full version, including “https://” if applicable).
- Click “Add” to proceed.
1.3 Verify Your Website
Bing needs to confirm that you own the site before providing analytics and search insights. You can verify ownership in three ways:
- XML File Upload (Recommended)
- Download the BingSiteAuth.xml file provided.
- Upload it to the root directory of your website using an FTP client or cPanel.
- Click “Verify” in Bing Webmaster Tools.
- Meta Tag Verification
- Copy the provided meta tag.
- Paste it into the
<head>section of your website’s homepage HTML. - Save changes and click “Verify”.
- CNAME Record (DNS Verification)
- Add a CNAME record in your domain’s DNS settings.
- This method requires access to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare).
Once your site is verified, Bing will begin collecting data. It may take a few days before you see complete insights.
Step 2: Submitting Your Sitemap for Faster Indexing
A sitemap helps Bing discover and index your pages faster. If you don’t have one, you can generate one using Yoast SEO (for WordPress users) or online tools like XML Sitemap Generator.
How to Submit Your Sitemap in Bing Webmaster Tools:
- Click on your website in the Bing Webmaster Dashboard.
- Navigate to “Sitemaps” under the “Configure My Site” section.
- Click “Submit a Sitemap” and enter your sitemap URL (e.g.,
https://yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml). - Click “Submit”.
Bing will now crawl your website periodically to update its index.
Step 3: Configuring Bing Webmaster Settings for SEO
3.1 Block Unwanted URLs (If Necessary)
If there are pages you don’t want Bing to index (e.g., admin pages, duplicate content), use the “Block URLs” tool:
- Go to “Block URLs” in the dashboard.
- Enter the URL of the page you want to block.
- Select whether to block just that URL or all its variations.
3.2 Set Geographic Targeting
If your blog targets a specific country, use the Geographic Targeting feature to improve local rankings:
- Click on “Geotargeting” under “Configure My Site.”
- Choose the country or region where you want your blog to rank higher.
- Save changes.
3.3 Manage Crawl Control
Bing allows you to control how often it crawls your site:
- If you have a large website with thousands of pages, increase crawl frequency.
- If your hosting provider has bandwidth limits, set crawling to low to prevent server overload.
Step 4: Understanding Bing Webmaster Tools Reports
4.1 Analyze Search Performance Reports
The Search Performance Report provides insights into:
- Total clicks from Bing Search
- Impressions (how many times your site appeared in Bing search results)
- Click-through rate (CTR)
- Average position of your keywords
4.2 Check Site Indexing Status
Under the “Index Explorer” tab, you can see:
- Which pages Bing has indexed
- Crawl errors (pages Bing couldn’t index)
- Blocked pages
Fix any errors to ensure all important pages are indexed.
4.3 Monitor Backlinks to Your Blog
Bing’s “Inbound Links” tool shows:
- Who is linking to your site
- The quality of those links
- Which pages are getting the most backlinks
A strong backlink profile boosts rankings, so aim to acquire high-quality links from reputable websites.
Step 5: Fixing SEO Issues Using Bing Webmaster Tools
5.1 Detect & Fix Broken Links
Broken links (404 errors) negatively impact rankings. Use the “Crawl Information” report to find:
- Broken internal links
- Dead external links
Fix these by redirecting old URLs or updating them with correct links.
5.2 Optimize for Mobile SEO
Bing rewards mobile-friendly sites. Use the Mobile Friendliness Test inside BWT to:
- Identify issues affecting mobile UX.
- Fix text that’s too small, buttons that are too close together, and slow-loading pages.
5.3 Improve Page Speed
Bing prefers fast-loading websites. Use the “Page Load Performance” tool to analyze:
- Page speed scores
- Suggestions for improvement
Fix slow pages by:
✔ Compressing images
✔ Using lazy loading
✔ Minifying CSS & JavaScript
Step 6: Using Bing Webmaster Tools for Keyword Research
6.1 Find Keywords Your Blog Is Ranking For
Go to “Search Keywords” to see:
- Top search queries bringing traffic
- Keyword ranking positions
- Keyword click-through rates (CTR)
6.2 Discover New Keywords Using the Keyword Research Tool
Bing Webmaster Tools has a built-in keyword research tool. It helps you:
- Find related keywords
- Estimate search volume
- Analyze keyword trends
Use this data to optimize old blog posts or create new content targeting high-volume, low-competition keywords.
Step 7: Submitting & Disavowing Backlinks
7.1 Submit Good Backlinks for Faster Indexing
If you get a high-quality backlink from a reputable site, submit it manually to speed up Bing’s indexing:
- Go to “Submit URLs”.
- Enter the backlink URL.
- Click “Submit”.
7.2 Disavow Spammy or Harmful Links
If your blog has spammy backlinks that might hurt rankings:
- Go to “Disavow Links”.
- Enter the bad domains or URLs.
- Click “Disavow” to tell Bing to ignore them.
Conclusion: Master Bing Webmaster Tools Like a Pro
Using Bing Webmaster Tools effectively can help bloggers improve their search rankings, identify technical SEO issues, and optimize their content for higher visibility on Bing.
By following this detailed step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to:
✔ Set up Bing Webmaster Tools correctly
✔ Submit and optimize your sitemap
✔ Analyze search performance and fix SEO errors
✔ Use keyword research tools to boost rankings
✔ Manage backlinks for better SEO health
🚀 Take control of your Bing SEO strategy today! 🚀
