Introduction
Before I answer What Is Google Search Console, let me clear up something. Aren’t all of us, fellow marketers and SEO optimizers fighting for one thing in common? It’s all about being visible on Google, isn’t it?
How can you ensure the best results for your business online? There are plenty of ways to go around this.
Some may add accurate keywords for Google to recognize it, some may offer services according to the trends.
Some of you have decided to learn what is Google Search Console. Now, for those of you who have this question in mind ‘What exactly is Google Search Console?’, you may remember its former name – Google Webmaster Tools.
Let me explain the purpose of Google Search Console for those of you who are new to this concept.
Google Search Console helps with website tracking, you can learn about your visitors, the best performing web page, and much more.
Using this data, you can increase visibility on Google Search results and bring in more revenue and popularity to your business.
Can’t wait to get started? I feel you.
In this blog, you will be learning:-
- How to Set Up Google Search Console
- How Google Search Console Works
- A few Common Terms to Understand
- Features of Google Search Console
According to WordStream, Google has indexed hundreds of billions of web pages. To beat your competition on Google, here’s how you start.
How to Set Up Google Search Console
Adding your website to Google Search Console is one of the easiest processes you’ll ever come across.
Here are the steps:-
- Log into your business account on Google, it could even be your website’s account.
- Go to Google Search Console and click on ‘Start Now’
You will be taken to a window where you will have to enter your website or domain name with the prefix (www), you can choose to add it if you have one.
Click on ‘Continue’ once you’re done.
- Follow the steps mentioned in this pop-up box and you will be heading the right way.
The best part is, tracking for your website on Google begins even before you get the verification process.
Talk about speed right?
How Google Search Console Works
Setting up Google Search Console can be simple, but it does not end with just setting it up. There’s a tad bit of work that’s left to do.
With no further ado, let’s get to it.
Google Search Console Verification Process
Your business must be only at your disposal, that’s how you’d want it to be right?
To serve this wish of yours, Google requires you to verify your site on Google Search Console. This verification gives you legitimate authority over your website or app. However, I hate to break it to you but verifying your site will not increase your page ranking on Google.
The only outcome of this verification would be that of an easily accessible website for GSC.
Irregularity is what makes our world up, isn’t it? Well, Google has considered this fact and made the verification process very flexible.
Here are a few methods to get on with the GSC Verification Process:-
- Upload an HTML file of verification to a specific spot on your website.
- Directly verify your website from Google Search Console by signing into your domain registrar or even add a DNS TXT.
- You can also add a meta tag to the head section of a page’s HTML code.
- This method might be exciting for a few of you all, you can copy the Google Analytics code you’re using for your website. It might just save you a lot of time.
- You can also attach your Google Tag Manager Snippet Code that’s associated with your website.
It goes without saying that you need to enable permissions on Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager to attach the respective codes.
If you’re not sure about Google Analytics and its purpose, feel free to give it a read.
If you go back up, maybe about two lines, you must see a line that says “enable permissions”. To master Google Search Console, you’ve got to have an understanding of that too.
Enabling Permissions
There are two ways to use Google Search Console, you could either be an owner, or you could be a user. Both of them have their own features.
Here’s the difference.
When you choose to be the owner, you will metaphorically be taking control of the ship, all by yourself.
All your Google Search Console Properties will be exclusively yours. You will have the power to add or remove users, access all the tools available on GSC, and have a look at all the data.
Total control, just like I said.
There are two kinds under the owners’ option:-
- Verified Owner on GSC – One who has completed the Google Search Console Verification Process.
- Delegated Owner on GSC – One who has been appointed by the Verified Owner.
Then comes the second kind – Users. While owners have all the power in their hands, Users obviously have limited powers.
A User on Google Search Console cannot add new people, access a few tools, and view all the data.
This feature can be useful when you’ve just recruited a few freshers who are just beginning their digital marketing journey. An error from their side can be pretty disastrous. So, Google has got your back.
That brings us to the end of the setting up process of GSC. This is just the basic, let’s head into the place where all the knowledge lies.
A Few Common Terms to Understand
While surfing the internet, looking for information on Business Marketing on Google, I’m sure you must have come across a few terms that are frequently repeated.
I’m going to explain all of them here. The next time, you wouldn’t be so unsure and face it like a boss instead!
Site Map
A Site Map on GSC is something like a blueprint for your website. It feeds Google with the stricture of your website. Although it’s not entirely necessary to set up a site map for your website, there are a few situations where they could be useful.
If your website is really big, if there are very few inbound links, if your site is relatively new, or if there are a lot of isolated pages, setting up a Site Map would be a smart decision.
Google Search Console Site Map Report
Once you’ve set up your Site Map on GSC, you will be able to see it on the Site Maps Report. You will also know the last time Google went through your webpage.
Google Search Console Query
This feature will tell you how users found your website in Google SERP and what keywords they used to do so. This feature is exclusively available only in GSC.
Impression
Every time your website shows up on the Search Results Page on Google, it’s counted as an impression.
Click
This is pretty straightforward, every time a user clicks on your link, it’s counted as a click. However, your page should show up as an organic result and not an ad.
If you need help setting up an Ad campaign on Google, head to our blog on Google Ads.
Average Position on GSC
The mean or average ranking of your web page on Google. Pretty straightforward.
CTR
CTR on GSC (Click-through rate) is the number of clicks divided by the number of impressions multiplied by 100. It is represented in percentage %.
Now that we’ve cleared this up, let’s see what is the purpose of Google Search Console and how to use it.
Features of Google Search Console
Looking at a lot of data in one shot can surely be scary, you might feel lost. However, that’s not the case when it comes to Google Search Console.
You can use filters that you can choose while assessing your data. Let me explain those filters on GSC for you.
Search Type
There should be a lot of content on your website, ranging from videos, images, and just the web. You can pick one of those and view specific data. On analyzing this data, you can find out the kind of content that brings you most of the traffic.
If you want to compare two kinds of content(put one up against the other), you can do so by clicking on the ‘Compare’ tab.
Date Range
You may have recently uploaded some form of content and you may want to see how it’s performing. To help you with that, GSC gives you the option of accessing data over a period of 16 months, starting from 90 days.
You can also view the queries, country, and the device used by users that land up on your webpage.
Index Coverage Report on GSC
Remember we spoke about running a site map? Imagine getting results for them. Google Search Console gives you the exact status. To be more clear, You’ll know if there is an error while indexing your page.
Indexing is a process that Google does to display your page on the SERP.
Well, that’s not all. There is plenty more that you can get done.
Let’s take a look into a few:-
- Check your highest rated CTR queries
- Look at the Average CTR on Google Search Console
- Find which page is achieving the highest rankings
- Get Notified when ranking increases or decreases
These here are just a few out of everything you can possibly do on Google Search Console. Feel free to explore all the other options under the ‘Performance’ page.
It might take you some time to figure out the exact parameters to track and to figure out the ones with great value. So, don’t stop experimenting.
Conclusion
That finally brings us to the end of this blog, are you super impressed with Google and want to learn more? Learn how to set up a business profile on Google using Google My Business or step up your keyword research game using Google Keyword Planner.
As I mentioned earlier, only practice can bring about perfection, so keep the hustle going and soar heights you thought you’d never reach.
Have a Good Day!