Beginner’s Guide to Google Search Console
If you own a website, you need to know how Google sees it. That’s exactly what Google Search Console (GSC) is for. It’s a free tool from Google that shows how your site appears in search results, alerts you to problems, and helps you improve your rankings. Think of it as your direct line to Google’s search engine.
If you’ve read our guide on fixing SEO mistakes, you’ll know that tracking performance is one of the most important steps. Google Search Console is where you do that.
What Is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is a dashboard that shows you:
- Which keywords (search terms) people are using to find your site
- How many times your site appears in search results (impressions)
- How often people click on your site in search results (click-through rate)
- Any technical problems stopping Google from showing your site properly
- Which websites are linking to yours (backlinks)
It’s completely free and works for all types of sites – from small business homepages to big e-commerce stores.
Why You Need Google Search Console
Without GSC, you’re basically guessing about your SEO performance. With it, you can:
- See exactly what’s working – Know which pages get the most clicks and which keywords bring visitors in.
- Spot problems early – Get alerts for broken links, mobile usability issues, or indexing errors.
- Improve SEO – Use real data to optimise your content and climb the rankings.
- Track progress – Compare past performance to see if your SEO changes are paying off.
How to Set Up Google Search Console
Step 1: Sign In
Go to Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, create a free account first.
Step 2: Add Your Website
Click “Add Property” and choose either:
- Domain – Tracks your site across all subdomains and protocols (recommended).
- URL Prefix – Tracks just one exact URL format (e.g., https://www.example.com).
Step 3: Verify Ownership
You’ll need to prove the site is yours. The easiest way is to add a small verification code to your domain’s DNS settings (your hosting provider can help). You can also upload an HTML file or add a meta tag to your homepage.
Key Features You Should Use
1. Performance Report
This is where you see which search terms people are using to find you. Look for keywords with lots of impressions but low clicks – that’s a sign you need to improve your page titles and descriptions.
2. Coverage Report
Shows which pages are indexed by Google and which have errors. If pages aren’t being indexed, Google won’t show them in search results.
3. Mobile Usability
Checks if your site works well on mobile devices. With mobile-first indexing, a poor mobile experience can seriously hurt your SEO.
4. Page Experience
Includes Core Web Vitals – Google’s measure of speed, responsiveness, and visual stability. Improving these can give you a ranking boost.
5. Links
See which sites link to yours and which pages get the most internal and external links.
How to Use the Data
- If you see a keyword bringing lots of impressions but few clicks, make your title and description more appealing.
- If a page isn’t indexed, check for errors in the Coverage report and fix them.
- If mobile usability issues appear, fix them before they harm your rankings.
Always re-submit your sitemap after making big changes – it helps Google find and re-index your updates faster.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Setting up GSC but never checking it
- Ignoring error reports
- Not linking your Google Analytics account for more insights
Final Thoughts
Google Search Console isn’t just a technical tool – it’s your SEO best friend. By checking it regularly, you’ll know exactly where to focus your efforts and how to keep improving your website’s performance.
If you’d like help setting up and understanding Google Search Console, contact Janric Limited. We can connect it for you, explain the reports, and help you use the data to grow your business online.