Google Search Console: 8 Steps to Boost SEO & Rankings
Introduction
Google Search Console (GSC) is a powerful free tool that helps website owners, SEO professionals, and digital marketers monitor their site’s performance in Google search results. It provides insights into keyword rankings, indexing issues, mobile usability, Core Web Vitals, and much more.
Why Google Search Console is Crucial for SEO
Tracks organic search performance (clicks, impressions, CTR).
Identifies and fixes indexing errors.
Helps optimize mobile usability and page experience.
Monitors backlinks and internal linking structure.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to set up Google Search Console, its key features, and how to use it for SEO growth in 2025.
How to Set Up Google Search Console
Step 1: Access Google Search Console
Go to Google Search Console and sign in using your Google account.
Step 2: Add Your Website as a Property
Click “Add Property” and enter your website URL.
Step 3: Verify Ownership
GSC provides two verification methods:
- Domain Verification (via DNS settings) – Recommended for full tracking.
- URL Prefix Method (via HTML file, Google Analytics, or Tag Manager).
Step 4: Submit Your Sitemap for Indexing
- Navigate to “Sitemaps” under Indexing.
- Enter your sitemap URL (e.g.,
https://example.com/sitemap.xml). - Click Submit and check for errors.
Key Google Search Console Features for SEO Success
Performance Report (Track Keywords & Clicks)
The Performance Report provides insights into:
✔ Total clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position.
✔ High-performing and low-performing keywords.
SEO Tip: Improve CTR by optimizing your meta title & descriptions.
Index Coverage Report (Fix Indexing Issues)
✔ Shows which pages are indexed and which have issues.
✔ Common errors:
- Crawled – Currently Not Indexed (Needs content improvement).
- Duplicate Without User-Selected Canonical (Fix canonical tags).
Solution: Improve content, remove duplicate pages, and request reindexing.
URL Inspection Tool (Check Individual Pages)
✔ Enter a URL to check if it’s indexed by Google.
✔ Run a Live Test to detect mobile usability & page errors.
✔ Request Reindexing after making updates.
Use Case: Fixing a “Crawled – Not Indexed” issue by improving content.
Sitemap Submission (Help Google Crawl Your Site Faster)
✔ Ensures Google discovers new and updated pages.
✔ Fixes errors like “Couldn’t fetch sitemap”.
SEO Tip: Keep sitemaps clean—remove broken links and unnecessary redirects.
Mobile Usability Report (Improve Mobile SEO)
✔ Identifies mobile-friendliness issues:
- Text too small
- Clickable elements too close
Use Case: Fixing a mobile usability error to improve rankings.
Core Web Vitals (Boost Page Experience & Rankings)
✔ Monitors Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
✔ Helps fix slow-loading pages that impact rankings.
Use Case: Improving LCP by optimizing images and enabling lazy loading.
Security & Manual Actions (Avoid Google Penalties)
✔ Checks for manual actions (Google penalties due to spammy practices).
✔ Identifies security issues like malware or hacked content.
Action: Regularly monitor security issues and remove toxic backlinks.
Links Report (Analyze Backlinks & Internal Links)
✔ Identifies top referring domains and backlinks.
✔ Shows internal linking structure to improve page authority.
SEO Tip: Use internal links strategically to boost underperforming pages.
How to Use Google Search Console for SEO Growth
✔ Find new keyword opportunities from the Performance Report.
✔ Fix indexing errors for better search visibility.
✔ Optimize CTR by improving title tags & meta descriptions.
✔ Monitor backlinks and remove spammy links using the Disavow Tool.
✔ Use Google’s “Page Experience” report to improve rankings.
Examples (Real Use Cases of GSC for SEO Success)
Example 1: Fixing Low CTR
Issue: A page ranks in the top 5 but gets low clicks.
✔ Solution: Optimized the meta title & description to be more engaging.
✔ Result: CTR increased from 1.5% to 4.2%, boosting traffic.
Example 2: Resolving Indexing Problems
Issue: A blog post marked as “Crawled – Not Indexed”.
✔ Solution: Improved content quality, added internal links, and submitted for reindexing.
✔ Result: The page got indexed and started ranking in search results.
Conclusion
Google Search Console is an essential tool for tracking SEO performance, fixing errors, and optimizing search rankings.
Google Search Console SEO Checklist:
Monitor the Performance Report for keyword trends.
Fix indexing errors in the Coverage Report.
Submit a sitemap to improve crawling.
Optimize for Core Web Vitals to enhance user experience.
Check backlinks & internal links regularly.
Check GSC weekly to stay on top of SEO improvements!
FAQs on Google Search Console
1. How often should I check Google Search Console?
It’s best to check GSC weekly to monitor performance, fix errors, and improve SEO.
2. How do I fix indexing issues in GSC?
Use the Index Coverage Report to find issues, improve content quality, and request reindexing.
3. What is the difference between Google Search Console and Google Analytics?
✔ GSC tracks SEO performance, indexing, and ranking issues.
✔ Google Analytics tracks website traffic, behavior, and user interactions.
4. How can I improve CTR using GSC?
Check the Performance Report, find pages with low CTR, and optimize their meta titles & descriptions.
5. Does Google Search Console help with backlinks?
Yes, the Links Report shows backlinks & internal links, helping improve link-building strategies.
