Google Search Console (GSC) Explained.

What is Google Search Console (GSC)?

Google Search Console (GSC), formerly known as Google Webmaster Tools, is a web service offered free of charge by Google so that website owners can monitor and maintain their website’s presence in Google search results. It provides valuable insights into how Google crawls and indexes a website, as well as how users interact with it in search results. In this article, we will discuss what Google Search Console does, whether it is an SEO tool, how to access it, and how it differs from Google Analytics.

What Does Google Search Console Do?

Google Search Console provides website owners with various features and tools that help them optimize their site for search engines. Here are some of the key functionalities of Google Search Console:

Monitor website performance: Google Search Console provides website owners with performance data, such as search queries, clicks, impressions, and average position. This data helps website owners understand how their website is performing in Google search results.
Indexing status: Website owners can use GSC to check the indexing status of their website pages and identify any issues that might prevent Google from indexing them.
Sitemap submission: Website owners can submit their sitemap to Google using GSC. A sitemap is a file that contains all the URLs of a website, and submitting it to Google helps them understand the website structure and prioritize the crawling process.
Security issues: GSC alerts website owners of any security issues such as malware, hacking attempts, and suspicious traffic that might harm the website’s reputation.
Mobile optimization: GSC also provides website owners with data about the mobile-friendliness of their website. This data includes mobile usability errors and issues, which can help website owners optimize their website for mobile devices.

Is Google Search Console an SEO Tool?

Yes, Google Search Console is an essential SEO tool for website owners. It provides website owners with valuable insights into how their website is performing in Google search results, and it helps them identify and fix any issues that might affect their website’s search visibility. The performance data provided by GSC, such as search queries, clicks, impressions, and average position, can help website owners optimize their content and website structure to improve their search engine rankings.

How Do I Access Google Search Console?

To access Google Search Console, you need to have a Google account. If you do not have one, you can create one for free. Once you have a Google account, follow these steps:

Go to Google Search Console’s website: https://search.google.com/search-console/welcome
Click the “Start Now” button.
Enter your website URL in the provided field and click “Continue.”
Verify your website ownership using one of the available verification methods.

Once you have verified your website ownership, you will have access to Google Search Console’s features and tools.

What is Google Search Console vs Analytics?

Google Search Console and Google Analytics are two different tools that provide website owners with different sets of data. Here are some of the main differences between the two:

Purpose: Google Search Console’s main purpose is to help website owners monitor and optimize their website’s performance in Google search results. On the other hand, Google Analytics’ primary goal is to provide website owners with insights into their website’s user behavior, traffic sources, and conversions.
Data: Google Search Console provides website owners with performance data, such as search queries, clicks, impressions, and average position. In contrast, Google Analytics provides website owners with traffic data, such as pageviews, bounce rate, time on page, and demographics.
Tracking: Google Search Console tracks search engine performance data, while Google Analytics tracks user behavior data.

In conclusion, Google Search Console is an essential SEO tool that provides website owners with valuable insights into their website’s performance in Google search results. It is free to use and provides a lot of information.