Google have finally added a feature to their Webmaster Tools that allow site owners to share ownership of their website a lot more easily.
Whereas previously site owners had to upload verification tags or files in order to verify individual users verified owners can now add multiple users by using the ‘Add a user…’ section at the bottom of the Verification Details page. All the site owner has to do is enter the user’s email address and then that person then becomes a verified owner for the site.
Site owners can also remove ownership by clicking the “Unverify” link next to the person’s email address on the Details page.
This is a good addition as it now cuts out a lot of unnecessary hassle and time which many people in the SEO industry will surely relate to.
Google do emphasise a couple of issues to take into consideration with this new addition which in all honesty are pretty obvious if you are used to using Webmaster tools. These are that users must have a Google Account in order to be verified and also that one person should always be verified directly.
The only issue with this new feature that is sure to raise eyebrows is that verified users have the ability to add users themselves which almost takes a degree of control away from the site owner. It seems that a logical step would to allow site owners to have permission settings for certain users to avoid any major issues especially when verifying third party users.