How to Use Google Search Console to Improve Your Website’s SEO & Rankings

Running a business in today’s fast-changing digital world can feel like a juggling act. You’ve put in the work to build a great website, but getting it in front of the right people is a whole different challenge. That’s where Google Search Console (GSC) comes in. Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool from Google that helps you monitor and optimize your website’s presence in search results.

Read on to learn what Google Search Console is, how it can help your business, and how to set it up. We’ll also cover the key reports you should use and how GSC can help improve your SEO strategy and website performance. Finally, check out the frequently asked questions we get about how to make the most of this tool.

Google Search Console is a free service provided by Google that gives you a better understanding of how your website is performing on its platform. It provides insight into what’s working, what’s not, and how people are finding you online.

Unlike Google Analytics, which focuses primarily on user behavior after they land on your site, GSC helps you understand how people find you in the first place.

Understanding how Google sees your website is key to improving its performance. Here’s how GSC can help you attract more visitors:

• Get found easier: If your website is buried on page three of search results, GSC helps you uncover why and provides insights on how to improve rankings.
• Discover what’s working: GSC shows which keywords and search queries drive traffic to your site.
• Fix indexing issues: If Google can’t properly index your site, it won’t appear in search results. GSC alerts you to problems like crawl errors and missing pages.
• Improve website performance: GSC notifies you of broken links, slow-loading pages, and mobile usability issues so you can fix them before they impact rankings.
• Optimize for mobile: These days, most people are searching on their phones. GSC will tell you if your site isn’t providing a great experience for mobile users so you can make sure everyone—no matter their device—has a great experience. Learn more about Google’s mobile-first indexing and how it impacts your site.
• Submit your sitemap: With Search Console, you can submit your sitemap directly to Google, making it easier for them to find and index your most important pages.
• Use the URL inspection tool: This tool allows you to check the index status of specific pages. Enter a URL to see if it’s indexed, identify any crawling or indexing issues, and request re-indexing after making updates.
• Monitor security issues: GSC alerts you to potential security threats, such as malware or hacked content. Promptly addressing these issues protects your users and maintains your website’s credibility.

Setting up Google Search Console is a straightforward process, but it’s important to do it correctly to gain valuable insights into your website’s search performance. Let’s walk through the steps to sign up, verify your site, and start using GSC to monitor and improve your SEO:

1. Sign up & verify your website: Getting started is simple. Visit Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account. Add your website by entering the URL and choose the method that best suits your needs to verify ownership:
   • HTML File Upload (Recommended by Google)
   • Domain Name Provider (DNS Record)
   • Google Analytics Account
2. Explore the dashboard: Once inside, you’ll land on the Overview Dashboard, which provides a quick snapshot of your site’s performance. Make sure to review the reports that Google provides (more on that below!).
3. Wait for data & take action: Google takes a few days to collect data after setup. Check back in about a week to review insights, fix errors, and optimize your SEO strategy.

Google Search Console offers a variety of reports that provide valuable insights into your website’s search performance. These reports help you monitor traffic, identify errors, and optimize for better rankings. To improve your website’s visibility and functionality, make sure to check out these key reports:

• Performance report: See clicks, impressions, click-through rate (CTR), and keyword rankings.
• Coverage report: Identify and fix indexing issues preventing pages from appearing in search.
• Mobile Usability report: Ensure a smooth experience for mobile users.
• Enhancements report: Get insights into structured data on your site, such as breadcrumbs, FAQs, and product information.
• Page Experience report: Learn about Core Web Vitals and their impact on user experience and rankings.
• Links report: Discover which websites link to yours and analyze your internal linking structure.
• Security Issues report: Identify and resolve malware, spam, or hacked content affecting your site.
• Manual Actions report: If Google flags your site for violating guidelines, this report provides details and instructions on how to fix the issue.

Want to know how well your website is doing on Google? Google Search Console gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s working, what’s not, and how to attract more visitors. Regular check-ins help you catch issues early, improve your content, and create a better user experience. Here’s how to use GSC to get the most out of your website:

• Improve your SEO strategy: GSC helps you identify high-performing keywords, allowing you to refine content and target search queries that drive traffic.
• Enhance user experience: A fast, error-free website keeps visitors engaged and improves satisfaction.
• Stay competitive: By regularly reviewing GSC reports, you can stay on top of search trends and ahead of competitors.

GSC doesn’t directly improve rankings, but it provides valuable insights to help you optimize your website for better performance in search results. If you’re looking for additional ways to enhance your website’s SEO, check out our guide on improving your organic ranking by optimizing your website’s SEO signals.

At least once a month. Regular check-ins help catch issues before they impact traffic.

Google Analytics focuses on user behavior on your site, while GSC provides insights into how people find your site through search.

Yes! GSC notifies you of indexing errors, broken links, mobile usability issues, and slow-loading pages so you can fix them before they affect search rankings.

Google Search Console gives you the tools to track your website’s performance, fix issues, and improve your search rankings. If you’re unsure where to start or want expert guidance, we’re here to help. Call Stellaractive at 503-384-2413 or contact us today to get the most out of your website and reach more customers.