What is Google Search Console?
TL;DR
Google's free tool showing how your website performs in Google search, what queries bring visitors, which pages rank, and technical issues affecting Indexing. Unlike Google Analytics 4 which tracks on-site behavior, Search Console reveals what happens in Google before clicks. Key reports include Performance (queries, clicks, impressions, position), Coverage (indexing status), and Experience (Core Web Vitals). Every website owner should verify their site in Search Console immediately, it's the closest thing to seeing your site through Google's eyes. When rankings drop or pages disappear, Search Console often reveals why. Check it at least monthly; investigate any coverage errors or security issues immediately.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Google Search Console
What should I check in Search Console regularly?
Weekly: Performance report for traffic trends and new keywords. Monthly: Coverage report for indexing issues, Core Web Vitals, and Mobile Usability. Immediately: Any security issues or manual actions. Set up email alerts for critical problems.
How do I add my site to Search Console?
Go to search.google.com/search-console, add property, and verify ownership. DNS verification is most reliable. Other options: HTML file upload, meta tag, or Google Analytics/Tag Manager. Verification proves you own the site.
What's the difference between impressions and clicks?
Impressions = how many times your pages appeared in search results. Clicks = how many times people clicked to your site. Click-through rate (CTR) = clicks ÷ impressions. Low CTR suggests your titles/descriptions need improvement.
Why are my pages not indexed?
Check the Coverage report for specific reasons: crawl errors, noindex tags, blocked by robots.txt, duplicate content, or redirect issues. The URL Inspection tool shows exactly why a specific page isn't indexed.
How accurate is Search Console data?
Pretty accurate for Google search specifically, with some caveats: data has a 2-3 day delay, some queries are anonymized, and data only goes back 16 months. For SEO decisions, Search Console is your most reliable Google data source.
Terms Related to Google Search Console
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Performance standards used for comparison, either industry averages or your own historical data. Benchmarks answer "is t...
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