Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool from Google. It helps you check and improve your website’s search results. Whether you’re new or experienced, GSC can help. This guide will show you how to use it.
1. Setting Up Google Search Console
Step 1: Sign In
- Go to Google Search Console.
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Click “Start Now.”
Step 2: Add Your Website
- Click “Add Property.”
- Choose Domain or URL Prefix.
- Domain: Tracks all subdomains and versions of your site. Needs DNS verification.
- URL Prefix: Tracks a specific web address. Can be verified in different ways (HTML file, meta tag, Google Analytics, or DNS records).
Step 3: Verify Ownership
- Use one of these methods:
- Upload an HTML file to your site.
- Add an HTML meta tag to your site’s
<head>section. - Use Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager.
- Update DNS records in your domain provider.
- Once verified, Google starts collecting data.
2. Key Features of Google Search Console
Performance Report
- Shows your site’s search traffic.
- Key stats:
- Clicks: How many people clicked your site.
- Impressions: How often your site appeared in search results.
- Click-Through Rate (CTR): Percentage of people who clicked.
- Position: Your site’s average rank in search results.
- Use filters to analyze queries, pages, locations, and devices.
URL Inspection Tool
- Checks if a page is indexed.
- Shows crawl, indexation, and error details.
- Use “Request Indexing” for new or updated content.
Coverage Report
- Shows indexed and non-indexed pages.
- Common errors:
- 404 Errors: Page not found.
- Server Errors: Website is down.
- Redirect Issues: Broken redirects.
- Blocked by robots.txt: Pages blocked from crawling.
- Fix issues and request validation.
Sitemaps
- Submit an XML sitemap to help Google find pages faster.
- Go to “Indexing” > “Sitemaps.”
- Update when you make big changes.
Mobile Usability Report
- Finds mobile issues like small text or touch elements being too close.
- Fixing these helps mobile rankings.
Security & Manual Actions
- Alerts you to security threats like malware.
- Tells you if you have penalties for breaking Google’s rules.
3. Using Google Search Console for SEO
Increase Clicks
- Find pages with high views but few clicks.
- Improve titles and descriptions.
- Use structured data for better search results.
Fix Indexing Issues
- Use the Coverage Report to find unindexed pages.
- Make sure important pages aren’t blocked.
- Request indexing for updated pages.
Improve Site Performance
- Check page speed and mobile usability.
- Use Core Web Vitals to boost speed.
Track Links
- Check backlinks and internal links.
- Improve internal linking for better site structure.
Conclusion
Google Search Console helps improve your site’s search results. By tracking performance, fixing errors, and improving content, you can boost rankings. Start using GSC today to grow your website!
