Google Search Console is a free tool offered by Google that helps website owners monitor and maintain their site’s presence in Google Search results. It allows users to check indexing status and optimize visibility of their websites. The tool provides data and settings for webmasters to see how Google crawls and indexes their site, any potential issues and which keywords are driving traffic to their site. It also allows users to submit sitemaps and track how many pages from their site have been indexed by Google.
How to use google search console
To use Google Search Console, you will need to first verify that you own the website you want to monitor. You can do this by adding a code to your website’s HTML or by using a DNS record. Once your website is verified, you can start using the tool.
Here are some steps you can take to start using Google Search Console:
- Go to the Google Search Console website and sign in with your Google account.
- Add your website to the tool by clicking the “Add a Property” button and entering your website’s URL.
- Verify ownership of your website by following the instructions provided.
- Once your website is verified, you can access the dashboard, which shows an overview of your website’s performance in Google Search results.
- Use the tool’s various features to monitor your website’s visibility, including the “Search Traffic” and “Index” sections, which provide information on keywords, clicks, and impressions.
- Utilize the tool’s “Crawl” and “Sitemaps” sections to submit and track the status of your sitemap.
- Use the “Security & Manual Actions” section to monitor any potential security issues and check for manual penalties by google.
- Utilize the “Performance” section to see how well your website is performing in terms of clicks, impressions, CTR, and position.
- Use the “Core Web Vitals” section to monitor the loading speed of your website pages and improve the overall user experience.
These are just a few examples of the things you can do with Google Search Console. It’s a powerful tool that can help you understand how Google sees your website and make improvements to your site’s visibility in search results.
Errors
Errors in Google Search Console refer to issues that are preventing Google from crawling and indexing your website correctly. These errors can affect your website’s visibility in search results and can include things like:
- 404 errors: These occur when a page on your website can’t be found. This can happen if a page has been removed or the URL has been changed.
- 500 errors: These indicate a server-side issue that is preventing Google from accessing your website.
- Sitemap errors: These occur when there is a problem with your sitemap, such as a broken link or a missing page.
- Redirect errors: These occur when there is a problem with a redirect on your website. For example, a redirect loop or a redirect that leads to a 404 error.
- Mobile usability errors: These occur when there are issues with your website’s mobile usability, such as text that is too small or links that are too close together.
To fix errors, you can use the “Coverage” and “Sitemaps” sections of the Google Search Console to identify issues and correct them.
If you see any errors in your Search Console, it’s important to fix them as soon as possible to ensure your website is fully indexed and visible in search results.