Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool from Google that shows you how your website appears in Google Search. It tells you which keywords you rank for, how often you appear in search results, and what issues Google finds with your site.
Step 1: Access Google Search Console
Go to search.google.com/search-console. Sign in with your Google account (use the account associated with your website for best results).
Step 2: Add Your Property
Click "Add property" and enter your website URL. Google Search Console supports two types of properties:
- URL prefix: Specific protocol (http:// or https://)
- Domain: Entire domain including all protocols
Use "Domain" property for broader coverage.
Step 3: Verify Ownership
Google needs to verify you own the website. You can verify through:
- HTML file upload
- HTML meta tag
- Google Analytics tag (if you use Analytics)
- Google Tag Manager
- DNS record
Choose the method easiest for your situation. Most common: paste meta tag into website header.
Step 4: Submit Your Sitemap
A sitemap helps Google find all your pages. If you use WordPress, most SEO plugins auto-generate a sitemap. URL is typically yoursite.com/sitemap.xml.
In GSC, go to Sitemaps and submit your sitemap URL.
Key Reports to Use
Performance Report
Shows:
- Total clicks (visits to your site from Google)
- Total impressions (times your site appeared in search)
- Average click-through rate (CTR)
- Average position (where you rank)
Filter by query, page, country, device type. This is your primary data source for SEO performance.
Coverage Report
Shows which pages Google has indexed:
- Valid pages (successfully indexed)
- Excluded pages (intentionally not indexed)
- Errors (pages with problems)
Fix any errors here—they prevent your pages from ranking.
Core Web Vitals Report
Shows page speed and user experience metrics. Google uses these as ranking factors. Poor scores can hurt your rankings.
Common Issues and Fixes
"URL not on Google"
Means Google hasn't indexed your page yet. Click "Request Indexing" to ask Google to crawl it.
"Excluded by noindex tag"
You've told Google not to index the page. Remove the noindex tag if you want it indexed.
"URL isn't on your primary domain"
Often due to redirect issues or HTTP vs HTTPS mismatch. Fix your site's redirect structure.
Using Insights for SEO Improvement
Find Low-Hanging Fruit
Look for queries where you rank positions 4-10. Create better content or optimize existing content to rank higher. These are your quickest wins.
Improve Low-CTR Pages
Pages with good impressions but low clicks often need better meta titles/descriptions. Optimize these elements.
Monitor Ranking Progress
Set up GSC alerts to notify you of significant changes. Big drops mean something is wrong.
Advanced Setup
Connect Google Analytics
Link GSC to Google Analytics for deeper insights on how search visitors behave on your site.
Manual Actions
Check this section regularly. Google notifies you here if your site violates policies.
Security Issues
GSC alerts you if Google detects hacking, malware, or phishing on your site.
Conclusion: Essential SEO Tool
Google Search Console is essential for understanding and improving your SEO. Set it up properly, monitor regularly, and use insights to optimize your site.