Google Search Console SEO Guide
Google Search Console (GSC) is one of the most powerful free SEO tools that helps website owners, SEO professionals, and developers track and improve search performance. Whether you’re looking to boost your website rankings, fix indexing issues, or optimise for Core Web Vitals, GSC provides data-driven insights to enhance your site’s visibility in Google Search.
What You Will Learn in This Guide:
- What is Google Search Console & why it is important for SEO?
- How to set up and verify your website in GSC
- Key GSC reports and how to use them to improve rankings
- Fixing indexing issues, security problems & manual penalties
- Using Core Web Vitals and Page Experience Reports for SEO
- Advanced tips & best practices for higher search visibility
By the end of this guide, you will have a strong understanding of GSC and how to leverage it for SEO success. Let’s get started!
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console (GSC), formerly known as Google Webmaster Tools, is a free tool provided by Google that helps you monitor, troubleshoot, and optimise your website for better search rankings.
Unlike Google Analytics, which focuses on user behaviour, Google Search Console is all about how your site performs in Google Search.
Key Benefits of Google Search Console:
- Monitor Search Traffic – See which keywords bring in visitors and how users find your site.
- Identify Indexing Issues – Find and fix pages Google isn’t indexing.
- Improve Mobile Usability – Detect and resolve mobile experience errors.
- Optimise Page Speed & Core Web Vitals – Improve load speed and stability.
- Submit New Pages for Indexing – Get pages indexed faster.
- Monitor Security & Penalties – Identify hacking issues, spam, and manual actions.
Learn More: Google Search Console Official Help Center
Why is Google Search Console Important for SEO?
- GSC is a must-have tool if you want better rankings, higher organic traffic, and a technically sound website. Here’s why:
1. Improve Search Rankings & Click-Through Rate (CTR)
- Find out which keywords drive traffic to your site.
- Optimise meta descriptions and title tags to boost CTR.
- Discover high-impression, low-CTR keywords and improve content accordingly.
2. Fix Indexing & Crawling Issues
- Check which pages Google is not indexing and fix them.
- Submit new pages for faster indexing.
- Identify duplicate content, broken links, and crawl errors.
3. Track & Improve Core Web Vitals
- Google considers page speed, responsiveness, and stability as ranking factors.
- GSC provides reports on the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
4. Monitor Website Security & Manual Penalties
- Get alerts about hacking attempts, malware, and spam issues.
- Fix manual penalties to recover rankings.
Let’s dive into how to set up Google Search Console and optimise your site!
How to Set Up Google Search Console for Your Website
Step 1: Add Your Website to GSC
1️⃣ Go to Google Search Console.
2️⃣ Click “Add Property” and choose:
- Domain Property – Tracks all versions of your site (http, https, www, non-www).
- URL Prefix – Tracks a specific version (useful for subdomains).
Step 2: Verify Website Ownership
- Google offers several verification methods:
- DNS Record (Best for accuracy) – Add a TXT record in your domain settings.
- HTML File Upload – Upload a verification file to your root folder.
- Google Analytics (GA4) – Auto-verifies if linked to your GA account.
- Google Tag Manager (GTM) – Verifies using GTM integration.
Step 3: Submit Your Sitemap
- Go to Indexing > Sitemaps.
- Enter your sitemap URL (e.g.,
https://example.com/sitemap.xml). - Click Submit to help Google crawl your site faster.
🔗 Related Guide: How to Create an SEO-Optimised Sitemap
How to Use Google Search Console for SEO
Now that your site is set up, let’s explore key GSC reports and how to use them for SEO improvements.
1. Track Keyword Rankings & Improve CTR
Where to Find It: Performance → Search Results
- View top-performing queries and pages.
- Check the average ranking position for each keyword.
- Identify high-impression, low-CTR pages and optimise meta descriptions.
SEO Tip: Improve title tags & meta descriptions on low-CTR pages to increase clicks.
2. Fix Indexing Issues Using URL Inspection Tool
Where to Find It: URL Inspection
- Check if a page is indexed in Google.
- Identify crawl errors, canonical issues, or noindex tags.
- Request manual indexing for newly updated content.
Learn More: Google’s Guide to Indexing
3. Optimise Core Web Vitals for Higher Rankings
Where to Find It: Page Experience → Core Web Vitals
Google prioritises sites with fast loading, smooth interactivity, and visual stability.
Metrics to Improve:
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) – Optimise images and reduce server load time.
- FID (First Input Delay) – Improve JavaScript execution speed.
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) – Ensure stable layout design.
Check Page Speed Here: Google PageSpeed Insights
4. Mobile Usability & Mobile-First Indexing
Where to Find It: Mobile Usability Report
- Detect errors like small text, touch elements too close, or slow loading speed.
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to validate fixes.
Check Mobile-Friendliness: Google Mobile Test
5. Identify & Fix Security Issues
Where to Find It: Security & Manual Actions
- Look for hacked content, malware, or Google penalties.
- Fix issues and request a reconsideration review.
Related Guide: Google’s Security Issues Report
Advanced Google Search Console SEO Strategies
1. Monitor Google Discover Traffic
- Google Discover is a personalised content feed that brings traffic from Google’s AI recommendations.
- Where to Find It: Performance → Discover
- SEO Tip: Publish high-quality, engaging content with compelling images to appear in Discover.
2. Use Google Search Console for Local SEO
Where to Find It: Performance Reports
- Optimise for local search queries and Google My Business listings.
- Improve NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency for better rankings.
Related Guide: Google My Business SEO Tips
Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your SEO with GSC
Google Search Console is a must-use tool for every website owner looking to improve rankings, fix errors, and optimise for Core Web Vitals.
Key Takeaways:
- Track keyword rankings & CTR.
- Fix indexing & crawl errors.
- Optimise mobile usability & page speed.
- Improve local SEO & discover traffic.
Start using Google Search Console today and boost your SEO strategy!
Would you like more advanced SEO tips or a checklist for ongoing GSC monitoring? Let me know!
