Google Search Console
Previously known as Google Webmaster Tools
If you’ve been searching for Google’s Webmaster Tools and are worried it has vanished, don’t fret. As of May 2015, it rebranded as Google Search Console. If you’re about to launch a website or have several up and running, using Google Search Console is essential for understanding how the UK’s most popular search engine ranks and assesses your content.
Getting Started with Google Search Console
When you log into Google Search Console, you’ll see a list of your websites or “properties”. If you’re adding a new domain, you’ll need to verify ownership of the site. There are several ways to do this, but the most common method is to insert some Google HTML into your website. You can do this by uploading a file to your site or adding a meta tag before the body text.
Alternatively, you can verify ownership via your domain provider if you have access, or through an existing Google Analytics account. If you use tag management systems, this can also be an option. According to Google, verifying using more than one method makes your ‘ownership more resilient,’ which can be beneficial.
Key Features of Google Search Console
Once your website is verified, you gain access to a range of tools designed to improve your search engine ranking, such as:
- Search Appearance Customisation: Define whether your website should appear with or without “www.” and set the country you want your site to be associated with for local SEO.
- Sitemap Upload: You can easily add your XML sitemap to ensure Google crawls and indexes your website accurately.
- Structured Data Testing Tool: Check that Google is reading your website’s data correctly and organise it for better search results. The tool also includes a comprehensive help section for any questions.
- Email Mark-up Testing: See how email content is being structured and gain insights on page loading speeds.
- HTML Integrity Checks: Spot common errors like duplicate meta descriptions or missing tags that can hurt your SEO.
- Search Analytics: View data on where your traffic is coming from and how each page on your site is performing in terms of visibility and click-through rates.
- Broken Links and Crawl Errors: Forget the need for external link checkers—Search Console can identify crawl errors and broken links for free, allowing you to fix issues that reduce your site’s visibility.
Advanced Features for Website Performance
You can add multiple sites to Google Search Console, track their performance, and make comparisons. It doesn’t stop there, though. Search Console allows you to:
- Monitor Keywords: See how your targeted keywords are performing.
- International Targeting: Adjust your website’s visibility based on different countries and languages.
- Mobile Optimisation: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and aligned with Google’s mobile-first indexing approach.
Why Use Google Search Console?
In short, if you want a comprehensive overview of your website’s performance on Google, Search Console offers an invaluable set of tools. Not only does it show how your site is ranked, but it also provides practical tips to improve your SEO, enhance user experience and stay ahead of potential issues like broken links or slow page loads.
You can visit Google Search Console or simply type “Search Console” into Google to get started.
Help with Google Search Console
If you’d like help getting the most out of Google Search Console or boosting your digital presence, contact The Last Hurdle at 01604 654545. We’re here to support your business growth!
