Google Search Console helps website owners, developers, and SEO professionals monitor how their site appears in Google Search, identify issues, and improve visibility—all without spending a single rupee.
In this guide, we’ll explain what Google Search Console is, why it’s important, and how to use it effectively.
What Is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool by Google that allows you to monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your website’s presence in Google Search results.
It helps you:
- See which keywords bring traffic
- See which keywords bring traffic
- Submit sitemaps
- Monitor page performance
- Fix technical SEO problems
Unlike Google Analytics, which focuses on user behavior, Search Console focuses on how Google sees your website.
Why Google Search Console Is Important for SEO
Google Search Console plays a crucial role in SEO because it provides direct data from Google. Here’s why every website owner should use it:
- Understand search queries driving traffic
- Identify indexing and crawl errors
- Improve click-through rate (CTR)
- Monitor mobile usability
- Detect security issues and penalties.
- Submit pages for faster indexing
If you care about ranking on Google, GSC is non-negotiable
Key Features of Google Search Console
1. Performance Report
This shows how your site performs in Google Search, including:
- Total clicks
- Impressions
- Average CTR
- Average position
You can filter data by:
- Queries (keywords)
- Pages
- Country
- Device
- Date range
This data helps you optimize content that’s already ranking.
2. Indexing & Page Coverage
The Pages report tells you:
- Which pages are indexed
- Which pages are excluded
- Errors like 404, redirects, or “Crawled – currently not indexed”
Fixing these issues improves your site’s crawl efficiency and SEO health.
3. Sitemap Submission
You can submit your XML sitemap directly in Search Console.
Why this matters:
- Helps Google discover new pages faster
- Improves indexing of large websites
- Essential for blogs, eCommerce, and dynamic sites
4. URL Inspection Tool
This tool lets you:
- Check if a page is indexed
- See the last crawl date
- Request indexing for new or updated pages
Perfect for:
- New blog posts
- Updated landing pages
- Fixed error pages
5. Mobile Usability Report
With mobile-first indexing, this feature is critical.
It identifies issues like:
- Text too small
- Clickable elements too close
- Content wider than screen
Fixing these improves rankings and user experience.
6. Core Web Vitals
Google Search Console shows real-world performance metrics such as:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
- Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
These directly impact SEO and user satisfaction.
7. Manual Actions & Security Issues
If Google penalizes your site or detects malware, Search Console will notify you here.
This helps you:
- Fix issues quickly
- Submit reconsideration requests
- Protect your site’s reputation
How to Set Up Google Search Console
- Go to Google Search Console
- Add your website as a property
- Verify ownership (DNS, HTML file, or meta tag)
- Submit your sitemap
- Start monitoring data
Setup takes just a few minutes but delivers long-term SEO value.
Google Search Console vs Google Analytics
Quick comparison of what each tool helps you measure.
| Feature | Google Search Console | Google Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Search performance | User behavior |
| Data Source | Google Search | Website visits |
| Keyword Data | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited |
| Indexing Issues | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Free Tool | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Best Practices for Using Google Search Console
- Check performance reports weekly
- Fix indexing errors immediately
- Monitor declining pages
- Improve low-CTR pages with better titles & descriptions
- Track Core Web Vitals regularly
- Submit updated content for reindexing
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring “Crawled – currently not indexed” pages
- Not submitting a sitemap
- Overlooking mobile usability errors
- Focusing only on clicks, not impressions
Not acting on GSC data
Final Thoughts
Google Search Console is one of the most powerful SEO tools available—completely free. Whether you run a blog, business website, or eCommerce store, using Search Console correctly can significantly improve your rankings and organic traffic.
At Trend Web Technologies, we use Google Search Console daily to track performance, fix SEO issues, and help websites grow sustainably.
Still Have Questions?
Google Search Console is used to monitor how a website appears in Google search results. It helps track search performance, fix indexing issues, submit sitemaps, and improve overall SEO.
Yes, Google Search Console is completely free. Any website owner, developer, or SEO professional can use it without paying anything.
Google Search Console shows how your website performs in Google Search, including keywords, impressions, and indexing status. Google Analytics focuses on user behavior after visitors arrive on your website.
You can submit your website by adding it as a property in Google Search Console and verifying ownership using a DNS record, HTML file, or meta tag.