Understanding Google Search Console: A simple guide

If you have a website, it’s likely you have heard of Google Search Console (GSC). But what exactly is it, and how can it help you? Whether you're new to GSC or have some experience, this guide will walk you through what it is, how to set it up, and how to use it to make your website perform better.

What is Google Search Console?

The simplest way to remember what Google Search Console is is to imagine it as a helpful friend who tells you how your website is doing in Google Search. It's a free tool from Google that gives you insights into how your site is performing, what’s working well, and where you might need to improve.

What can Google Search console do?

Google Search Console offers a range of powerful tools that can help you better understand and optimise your website.

One of the most important features is the Performance report, which gives you an idea of how your site is performing, showing you how many people are clicking on your pages from Google, how often your site appears in search results, and what your average position is. Another tool is the URL Inspection tool, which lets you check if Google is indexing your pages and alerts you to any issues that might prevent them from showing up in search results. The Index Coverage report is also crucial, as it tells you whether Google is finding and indexing all the pages on your site, and highlights any problems that need fixing.

Sitemaps are another key feature; by submitting your sitemap through Google Search Console, you make it easier for Google to crawl and index all your pages. Given the increasing importance of mobile browsing, the Mobile Usability report is invaluable for ensuring your site works well on mobile devices. Additionally, the Core Web Vitals report helps you monitor how quickly your site loads and how smooth the user experience is—both of which are important for search rankings.

Google Search Console also keeps an eye out for any security issues or penalties, alerting you to problems that could affect your site’s performance. Finally, the Links report provides insights into who’s linking to your site and which pages are getting the most links, helping you to understand what content is popular and where you might want to build more links.

Some best practices for using Google Search Console

To get the most out of Google Search Console, it's important to regularly check your site's performance and address any issues that arise. Start by keeping a close eye on the Performance report to monitor how your site is doing in search results. If you notice any dips or underperforming pages, you can make adjustments to improve your site's visibility. Addressing indexing issues promptly is critical; if Google isn’t finding all your pages, the Index Coverage report will guide you in fixing the problems.

You want to make sure people can navigate your site easily, which the Core Web Vitals report helps you do by giving insight into how quickly your site loads and how easy it is for your audience to navigate. We all know security is important, and Google Search Console will notify you of any security issues or penalties. To give you a leg up in organic search, the Links report helps you see who’s linking to your site and which content is attracting the most attention can help you strengthen your SEO efforts.

Google Search Console is a free toolkit that helps you keep your website in top shape. By regularly using its features, you can improve your SEO, make sure your site is user-friendly, and stay ahead of any issues that could hurt your performance in search results. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, mastering Google Search Console is a handy tool for anyone looking to succeed online.

We incorporate Google Search Console into our holistic Independent Digital Audit, which analyses the performance of your digital marketing ecosystem. If you think this might help you, contact us today for a free demo.