Google Search Console

Google Search Console isn’t Just for SEO

The Google Search Console isn’t an SEO tool. It’s a tool that SEOs should be using, but it’s also a tool for anyone that owns a business, or is responsible for their organization’s digital experience. Originally it was branded as Google Webmaster Tools. In 2015 it was rebranded as Google Search Console. It is a collection of no-charge web services provided by Google. It allows you to monitor, and optimize the indexing status of your website. GSC provides you with the tools to resolve common issues with markup, such as errors in structured data. The Google Search Console has invaluable resources to help you improve and manage the performance of your digital experience in the Google search index.

Getting Started with Google Search Console

Two groups that get exposed to the Search Console the most are likely webmasters and SEOs, but website owners and digital marketing types should also be very well versed in using GSC. If everything is setup right, Google will find and index your site faster and in this regard I’m talking about the technical SEO. This is one area that GSC is amazing at for helping you to find and fix these technical issues. The area you’ll be looking at in the Search Console is the Index Coverage report under Status. This is the place you’ll be going to find and fix issues with 404 errors. 404 errors are likely one of the most common technical SEO issues. They are pretty straightforward to fix, and GSC is a great tool to tackle this task. While we do think of 404 errors as a technical SEO concern, think of them as an UX issue as well. It’s going to create a negative user-experience if users are trying to engage with your digital experience and they can’t find what they’re looking for. It will likely reflect poorly on the brand too. The Google Search Console has undergone some recent updates and the UI has been slightly updated and optimized. There are some incredibly useful, and powerful tools and resources available. BACKLINKO is one of the top authorities in the SEO arena and they have produced an updated, definitive guide to the Google Search Console. This is a resource you should bookmarking and be leveraging to the fullest.

Google Search Console: The Definitive Guide

This guide has everything you need to know about the Google Search Console. If you're new to SEO, I'll show you how to get started with the GSC.

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