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If you're a website owner, SEO expert, or digital marketer, Google Search Console (GSC) is a tool you cannot afford to ignore. It provides crucial insights into how your website performs in Google Search, what keywords bring traffic, and how your site appears in search results.
In this blog post, you’ll learn:
What is Google Search Console?
Why it’s important.
How to create a Google Search Console account.
How to verify your website.
Basic tips to get started.
Let’s dive in!
Google Search Console (formerly Google Webmaster Tools) is a free web service by Google that allows webmasters to check indexing status, search queries, crawl errors, backlinks, and other key performance indicators of their websites.
Whether you’re an SEO beginner or a seasoned pro, this tool is essential for improving your website’s visibility on Google.
Here are some reasons why you must use Google Search Console:
Monitor your site’s performance in Google Search.
Submit sitemaps and individual URLs for crawling.
Identify crawl errors and broken links.
Understand what keywords people are using to find your site.
Get alerts for indexing issues or manual penalties.
Check mobile usability.
View your website’s backlink profile.
Let’s go through the process of creating your Google Search Console account and adding your website.
To get started:
Visit Google Search Console.
Click "Start now".
Sign in with your Google account (preferably the same one used for other tools like Google Analytics).
Once signed in:
You’ll see two options:
Domain – for full domain tracking (including subdomains, subfolders, HTTPS/HTTP).
URL Prefix – for a specific version of your site (like https://www.example.com).
Recommendation: Choose "Domain" for full tracking unless you have a specific use case.
Enter your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com
) and click Continue.
Google needs to ensure that you are the actual owner of the website. Here are the common methods to verify:
Copy the TXT record shown by Google.
Log in to your domain registrar (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Bluehost).
Go to the DNS settings.
Add a new TXT record and paste the code.
Save and return to GSC to click "Verify".
It may take a few minutes to propagate.
Download the HTML verification file from GSC.
Use an FTP client or hosting control panel to upload the file to your website's root directory.
Visit the file URL to confirm it’s uploaded correctly.
Click "Verify" in Search Console.
Copy the meta tag provided by GSC.
Paste it inside the <head>
section of your website’s homepage.
Save the changes and verify.
If you're already using GA or GTM, GSC may automatically verify your site using those existing tools.
After verification:
Go to the “Sitemaps” section in the left-hand menu.
Enter your sitemap URL (like sitemap.xml
).
Click Submit.
Submitting your sitemap helps Google crawl and index your pages efficiently.
After setup, you’ll be taken to the GSC dashboard, where you can access:
Performance Report: Track keyword clicks, impressions, CTR, and positions.
Coverage Report: See which pages are indexed and which have issues.
Mobile Usability: Check how your site performs on mobile devices.
Core Web Vitals: Understand your page speed and user experience metrics.
Security & Manual Actions: Be alerted if your site is penalized or hacked.
Links: View internal and external backlinks.
Here are some expert tips to make the most of your Search Console:
Use the Core Web Vitals report to improve loading speed, interactivity, and layout shifts.
Always monitor the Coverage report. Fix 404 errors, redirect issues, and server errors promptly.
In the Performance section, identify queries with high impressions but low CTR. Optimize those pages’ titles and meta descriptions.
Make sure your site is mobile-friendly. The Mobile Usability tab helps identify mobile display issues.
Keep an eye on who is linking to your site. Backlinks help in improving SEO rankings.
Issue | Solution |
---|---|
Verification failed | Double-check DNS record or meta tag placement |
Sitemap errors | Ensure your sitemap is in the correct format and accessible |
Page not indexed | Use “URL Inspection” tool and request indexing |
Sudden drop in traffic | Check for manual actions or algorithm updates |
Creating a Google Search Console account is the first step in improving your website’s SEO and search visibility. It’s a powerful, free tool from Google that provides in-depth insights and diagnostics to help you rank better.
If you haven’t already, take 10 minutes today to set up your account and explore your dashboard. It’s a must-have in every digital marketer’s toolkit.
Yes, it’s completely free to use.
Yes, you can add and manage multiple websites from the same GSC account.
It usually takes 24-48 hours after verification.
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