Google Search Console explained simply: explanation, advantages, setup & recommendations

Published on 18.10.2023
Web Designer

What you can expect in this article:

In this article you will learn what the Google Search Console is, show you the advantages, how to set it up and how to use it optimally.

The Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool from Google that helps website operators to Monitor and optimize the presence of your website in Google search results.

But what exactly can the GSC do and why is it so important for website operators and SEO specialists? In this article, you will learn all the basics of Google Search Console and how to use it effectively.

What is the Google Search Console?

The Google Search Console, formerly known as Google Webmaster Tools, is a free tool from Google.

With the GSC, you can see how often your website displayed in the search results will, which search queries the most clicks to your website and whether it Technical problems with your website that need to be fixed.

Why is the GSC so important for SEO?

If you are involved in search engine optimization (SEO), the GSC is a Indispensable tool. Here are some reasons:

  • Performance dataYou can see exactly how well your website is performing in the search results. This includes data such as impressions, clicks, average position and the click-through rate (CTR).
  • Technical insightsThe GSC warns you of technical problems on your website, be it crawling errors, security issues or mobile usability problems.
  • Indexing statusYou can check which pages of your website have been indexed by Google and which have not.

 

Setup and first steps in the GSC

Before you can take advantage of the GSC, you must verify your website. This step confirms that you are the rightful owner of the website. There are various methods of verification, such as uploading a special HTML file or adding a meta tag.

Login & Create property

You can access the Google Search Console at https://search.google.com/search-console. You can navigate to the Search Console via the "Start now" button. You then need to log in with your Google account and enter your property (= URL of your website):

Select GSC Property

I recommend here URL prefixalthough both work very similarly. If you enter your URL at URL-Prefix and click on "next", you will get different ways to enter your URL. Confirm ownership.

Confirm ownership & verify website

In order for Google to provide you with this data, they make sure that you really are the owner.

Confirm GSC ownership

There are various methods that sound much more complicated than they are:

  • Upload HTML fileUpload a special HTML file to your web server in the WP installation. You can download this file directly in the selection window.
  • HTML tagAdd a meta tag to your website/home page. You can copy the individual tag in the selection window (see previous screenshot).
  • Domain Name ProviderVerify your website via your domain provider (e.g. GoDaddy, 1&1, etc.).
  • Google AnalyticsUse your Google Analytics account for verification if you are already using it.
  • Google Tag ManagerUse Google Tag Manager for verification if you already use it.
  • Domain name provider: Through a corresponding DNS entry on your server.

I personally use the SEO plugin Rank Math on all pages and use it to integrate the HTML tag in. However, the tag can also be integrated very easily without a plugin. As this varies depending on the theme or technical structure, there is no general explanation.

However, if you use Divi, you must use this HTML tag simply in Divi - Theme options in the tab "Integration" in the head area insert:

Insert GSC HTML tag in Divi

Have ownership checked

After you have carried out the verification (in my case, you have inserted the HTML tag), you still need to have this checked or confirmed by Google.

To do this, simply click on the "Confirm" button. Google will then check whether there is a corresponding verification. In our case, Google scans our HTML code and confirms the verification if the tag with the individual ID was found.

Set up sitemap

This step is actually no longer one of the necessary steps, as Google usually finds the sitemap itself. However, my experience shows that it usually speeds up the correct indexing significantly.

You can add the sitemap manually under the menu item "Sitemaps" in the left bar. The sitemap is usually "hidden" with the addition "/sitemap.xml", e.g. https://abc.de/sitemap.xml.

First data after a few days

After successful verification, it usually takes a few days for data to be displayed in your GSC. This is because Google has to crawl your website and collect data.

 

The most important functions at a glance

The GSC offers a variety of features to help you monitor and improve the visibility and health of your website. Here is an overview of the most important functions:

  • Performance reportShows you how often your website appears in the search results, how many clicks it receives, and which search queries attract the most visitors.
  • URL checkChecks the indexing status of a specific URL on your website.
  • Coverage reportShows which pages of your website have been indexed by Google and whether there are any problems with indexing.
  • Mobile usabilityThis report checks how user-friendly your website is on mobile devices and notifies you of any problems that you should fix.
  • SitemapsShows the status of your submitted sitemaps, including the number of URLs contained therein and indexed by Google.
  • Safety and manual measuresThe GSC informs you about possible security problems, such as malware or phishing.
  • LinksThe GSC shows you which websites link to your website (external links) and how your pages are linked internally (internal links).
  • Performance report (Core Web Vitals)The GSC measures the loading times and stability of your website on mobile and desktop devices.

 

My tips for the optimal use of Google Search Console

  1. Check the performance report regularly. This gives you valuable insights into the search queries that generate the most traffic.
  2. Pay attention to the warnings and error messages in the GSC and try to fix them as quickly as possible. In my experience, the GSC sometimes sends incorrect warnings. So I usually wait if I can't confirm the alleged error. Google usually doesn't report it for the next few days.
  3. Use the URL checkto ensure that all important pages of your website are correctly indexed by Google.

 

Conclusion

The Google Search Console is a powerful tool that helps you to Get the best out of your website. With the right insights and optimizations, you can improve your Improve visibility in search results and attract more visitors to your website.

Comments

2 Comments
  1. Many thanks for the valuable step-by-step instructions!

    Reply
    • Hi Roger,

      I would love to! Thank you for your comment 🙂

      Reply

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