Google Search Console

Google Search Console: Guide for SEO (updated 2022)

Google search console offers data that can be used to monitor website performance and improve search rankings. This information is only available through Search Console.

This is why it is so important for publishers and online businesses that want to maximize their success.

It is easy to take control of your search presence with the reports.

What’s Google Search Console?

Google Search Console is a set of tools that Google offers to help you monitor your site’s performance and find problems. It also helps you rank your site higher on Google. It’s a powerful but complicated tool.

In 2010, we created a comprehensive beginner’s guide for Google Webmaster Tools.

There have been many changes to Google Webmaster Tools, including rebranding Google Search Console.

This guide has been updated to include information about Google Search Console, how it works, the data you can find about your website, any important data you may have forgotten about, and how to monitor for potential issues that could affect your search engine rankings.

 How to Set Up Google Search Console  ?

Go to the Search Console and sign in to your account by clicking “start now.” You will be asked for your URL prefix or domain if you are not yet linked to a particular property type.

The domain option was recently added and allowed for many different domain options. Consider connected subdomains and protocols like HTTP vs.HTTP, trailing slashes, etc.

It covers your entire domain, as the name suggests. Therefore, it is the best option in most cases.

It is possible to create the URL prefix to track a specific path, subdomain, or protocol. These are some examples of how this could be used:

  • Protocol: http://www.example.com (this will not include HTTPS)
  • URL path: https://www.example.com/blog (this will only include all URLs with this string)
  • Subdomain: https://blog.example.com (will only include everything in this subdomain).

Search Console: preferred domain:

Many questions remain about how to set your preferred domain. This setting is no longer necessary, with the introduction of linking your entire domain and Google’s statement that you can choose the main domain based upon (user) signals. There are some ways to avoid the wrong domain being indexed by Google.

  • Rel= “canonical” points to the “original” page.
  • It can be done in HTML or HTTP Header. This can also be done in HTML and HTTP Header. Many CMS systems offer great solutions.
  • Sitemaps can be used to point to the correct URLs
  • Retired URLs can be redirected to 301

What data can you pull from Google Search Console?

After you have verified and added your website to GSC, you can view tons of information about your site’s performance in GSC.

This is a powerful tool. These are just the highlights of new types of data. It would help if you remembered to review important data now and again.

Your Overview will be the first thing you see when visiting your GSC website.

This Overview shows you the most important data in Google Search Console. Click on the appropriate links to visit certain areas, such as Search Analytics, Crawl Errors, and Sitemaps.

What data can you pull from Google Search Console:

The below metrics and dimensions are available in the Google Search Console connector. You can choose which dimensions you prefer.

1: Dimensions

  • Country
  • Device
  • Page
  • Ask a question
  • Search for Appearance
  • Site URL

2: Metrics

  • Clicks
  • Impressions
  • Position
  • Position total

3: Query filter

The optional query filters will remove data from your query!

  • You can filter by certain expressions with query filters, such as that country equals FRA and that device is not equal desktop.
  • You can create your query expression to select a query filter that isn’t filtered on your device. We cannot verify that this expression is valid, so please ensure it is filled correctly.
  • This is what you should keep in mind when writing your expression.
  • “Contains”: The row value must contain or equal your expression (non-case-sensitive).
  • “Equals: [default] Your expression should exactly match the row value (case sensitive for query dimensions and page pages).
  • “Does Not Contain”: Your expression must not be contained in the row value, either as a substring or as a complete match (non-case sensitive).
  • “Does Not Match”: Your expression should not match the row value (case sensitive for query dimensions and page pages).

How to link Google Analytics with Google Search Console?

Google Analytics with Google Search Console

Connecting your Google Analytics and Google Search Console accounts is very beneficial. This connection allows you to reclaim Keyword data.

Here’s how it works:

  • Log in to Google Analytics. Next, click on the “admin” button at the bottom.
  • From the drop-down menu, select “Property Setting.”
  • Scroll down to find the “Adjust Search Console” button. You can toggle it!
  • Click the “Add” button.
  • Scroll down to your website and tick the box. Click “Save.

How to optimize your technical SEO with the Google Search Console ?

technical SEO with the Google Search Console

While “Technical SEO” is a common term, it was originally a technical discipline. In the early days of the internet, “webmasters tried to manipulate search engine algorithms through tinkering and implementing poorly, which we will call questionable strategies such as keyword stuffing.

Google eventually spotted these “black-hat SEO” methods and started issuing core updates. Link to another website. This link will open in new windows.

Google’s search algorithms were designed to penalize black hat SEO techniques, and digital marketers were forced into a change of approach.

They now focus on organic search traffic to websites that use effective content marketing strategies.

These Technical SEO issues can lead to higher rankings and more traffic. The Google Search Console also includes many tools to help you identify and resolve Technical SEO issues.

Conclusion

Google Search Console provides powerful insight into your site’s performance and what you can do for Google to pay more attention. After you’ve mastered the basics, you can learn how to use GSC data for the increased traffic of 28 percent or greater.

FAQ: About Google Search Console: Guide for SEO (updated 2022)

 

What is the latest update in Google Search Console?

Updated search console, the latest version brings AMP Validator and Mobile Friendliness to the URL inspection tool within the search console. Google states that although they are distinct entities, the URL Inspection tool powers the results.

 How can I use the Google Search Console?

  • Verify the site owner. Search Console gives you access to all information. 
  • Google should be able to find your pages. 
  • Check out the mobile usability issues Google discovered on your site. 
  • You might consider submitting a sitemap via Search Console. 
  • You can monitor the performance of your site.

What data can you gather from Google Search Console?

Data such as user queries, the number of times your site URLs appear within search results (impressions), and post-click data on-site engagement such as bounce rate and ecommerce conversion rate can be viewed. This data can help you optimize your website for maximum traffic.

What is a good average position in Google Search Console?

It is important to emphasize that I do not believe the average Google Search Console position should be considered an important metric. For peace of mind, knowing you are within the normal range can be helpful. My experience is 18 to.