When talking about SEO, most website owners tend to think of Google Search Console first because Google is the primary search engine familiar to Thais. However, if businesses want their websites to be found more comprehensively, they shouldn't overlook Bing, especially in an era where the Microsoft ecosystem, Edge, Copilot, and AI Search are making Bing search results more important than ever.
Bing Webmaster Tools This is a free tool from Microsoft for website owners and SEO teams to check how Bing views their website, which pages are indexed, whether the sitemap is submitted correctly, if there are any problems with key URLs, and where the website needs SEO improvements. This article will explain, in simple terms, what this tool does and where businesses should start.
What are Bing Webmaster Tools?
Bing Webmaster Tools is a dashboard for managing websites within the Bing search engine, similar to Google Search Console but from Microsoft. Website owners can add websites, verify ownership, submit sitemaps, check URLs, view index status, analyze keywords that drive traffic, and use SEO reports to identify areas for improvement.
A short answer for web developers.
If Google Search Console is a tool for communicating with Google, then Bing Webmaster Tools is a tool for communicating with Bing. You'll know if Bingbot can access your website, which pages are found, which pages are problematic, and what additional signals you should send to help search engines better understand your site.
What type of website is this suitable for?
Suitable for business websites, company websites, online stores, article websites, service websites, and websites that take SEO seriously, especially websites that want to diversify traffic from multiple search engines and not rely solely on one channel.
It's not an instant ranking tool.
Adding your website to Bing Webmaster Tools doesn't instantly improve your ranking, but it provides essential information for SEO solutions and helps Bing discover important web pages more systematically.
Why businesses should use Bing Webmaster Tools.
Many businesses invest in websites but rely solely on data from Google, even though some customers may search through Bing, Edge, or AI-powered systems that pull data from multiple sources. Having data from Bing Webmaster Tools provides another perspective on search results and helps identify issues that Google might not display in the same way.
It helps make the website search engine ready.
work SEO Ideally, we shouldn't just look at a single search engine, because search is spreading across many platforms, including browsers, AI assistants, voice search, and generative search. Analyzing data from Bing helps the team see how the website is read and understood by other systems.
Suitable for websites that frequently post new articles and pages.
If your website frequently adds new articles, services, products, or landing pages, submitting a sitemap and using a URL notification system will help reduce the chances of new pages being abandoned by search engines, who won't know they've been updated.
Key features you should know.
Bing Webmaster Tools has many sections, but website owners don't need to open every menu from day one. Start with the sections that affect website discovery and problem detection, including sitemap, URL Inspection, Search Performance, Site Scan, Backlinks, and IndexNow.
Sitemap and URL Inspection
A sitemap tells Bing what pages are on your website, while URL Inspection checks individual page URLs. For example, it checks if a page has been indexed, if there are any crawling issues, and what markup or important information Bing sees. This feature is especially useful for newly built websites or those recently restructuring their URLs.
Site Scan and SEO Report
Site Scan helps scan a website for technical issues such as duplicate titles, incomplete descriptions, inappropriate headings, missing images, alt text, or issues affecting SEO. These reports are a good starting point for those unsure where to begin fixing their website.
What does IndexNow help with?
IndexNow is a way to notify search engines when a URL is added, edited, or deleted, allowing the system to know about changes more quickly. This is ideal for websites with frequently updated content, such as articles, product information, news, or promotional pages.
How do I get started with the setup?
The general process involves signing up for or logging into Bing Webmaster Tools, adding your website, verifying ownership, and submitting your sitemap. If your website is already connected to Google Search Console, in some cases you can import properties to get started faster, but you should always double-check the sitemap and basic information after importing.
Information you should prepare before setting up.
- The main website domain, such as https://example.com.
- Permission to modify DNS, hosting, or the WordPress backend.
- A sitemap URL such as /sitemap.xml or a sitemap from an SEO plugin.
- List of important pages to check after indexing.
- Plan for updating articles, products, or landing pages.
For WordPress websites.
WordPress websites usually have a sitemap already installed by SEO plugins or the WordPress system. However, you should check that the sitemap is actually working, doesn't have any misplaced no-index pages, and that all important URLs such as service pages, articles, and products are included in the sitemap. If you are currently... Create a new website. This part should be prepared before the website goes live.
How to use this for website SEO.
A practical approach is to not just open Bing Webmaster Tools when your website is having problems, but to use it as part of your SEO routine. For example, check the sitemap after posting a new article, check the index after fixing URLs, scan for issues after optimizing the website, and monthly review keywords and pages that are starting to get impressions.
Connected to SEO, AEO, and GEO.
Modern articles aren't just about ranking; they also need to answer questions clearly and have a structure that AI systems understand. This concept aligns with... SEO vs AEO vs GEO Because Bing Webmaster Tools helps check the website's database so that search engines can read it, while the content itself must be written in a way that people and systems can actually use.
To-do list
| period | Things that should be checked. | What is the purpose of doing this? |
|---|---|---|
| After opening the website. | Verify site and submit sitemap. | Let Bing understand the website's structure. |
| After launching a new page. | URL Inspection and IndexNow | Reduce the chances of new people not being discovered. |
| every month | Search performance and Site Scan | Find keywords and issues that need adjustment. |
Checklist for website owners.
To truly benefit from Bing Webmaster Tools, it's recommended to start with a simple checklist. There's no need to enable every feature simultaneously, as the primary goal is to increase website visibility, identify problems, and gather data for SEO planning.
Starter checklist
- Add your website and verify ownership.
- Submit the main sitemap of the website.
- Check important URLs such as the homepage, services page, main articles, and contact page.
- Scan the website to check for basic SEO issues.
- Check that the title, description, h1/h2, and alt image of the important pages are complete.
- Enable or prepare a workflow for IndexNow if your website updates frequently.
What tool should it be used with?
It should be used in conjunction with Google Search Console, analytics, logs, or a backend dashboard to get an overview of traffic, keywords, conversions, and technical issues if your business is doing so. Digital Marketing Of course, data from Bing will help provide another perspective to make the decision more accurate.
Common errors
Common mistakes include adding a website but not submitting a sitemap, submitting a sitemap with the wrong URL, unknowingly leaving no-index pages, not checking URLs after a redesign, or focusing only on traffic without addressing system warnings about issues. Ultimately, the website has good content, but search engines don't fully understand it.
Don't just look at Bing Webmaster Tools once.
SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-time setup. If your website has new articles, new products, or page restructuring, you should periodically check Bing Webmaster Tools to ensure important pages are still discoverable and no new issues have arisen.
In summary: Bing Webmaster Tools should be included in your SEO toolkit.
Bing Webmaster Tools isn't a replacement for Google Search Console, but should be used in conjunction to provide a more comprehensive overview of search performance. For businesses serious about SEO, this tool helps with sitemap submission, indexing, website troubleshooting, and preparing the website for the search world that goes beyond just Google's search results.
I want my website to be discoverable by Google, Bing, and AI Search.
Creative helps review website structure, set up webmaster tools, sitemap, indexing, technical SEO, and develop content strategies tailored to your business, ensuring your website is readable, understandable, and can be systematically optimized for SEO.
