Setting Up and Using Google Search Console for Beginners

How To Set Up and Use Google Search Console

Posted 3 years ago by Max Komonov

Google Search Console (GSC) is桂a桂powerful 껸꾈삣桂free platform that lets you track 껸꾈삣桂manage your site�셲 search performance. Getting started is桂pretty easy, 껸꾈삣桂the桂pay-off is桂totally worth it.

Google is桂an桂expansive search engine, so桂GSC has a桂lot to桂offer. In桂this guide, we�셪l cover everything you need to桂get started桂�� from making your account to桂getting verified 껸꾈삣桂more. We�셪l also talk about GSC�셲 most important tools 껸꾈삣桂insights so桂you�셱e ready to桂get the桂most out of桂the桂platform.

Here�셲 how to桂use Google Search Console.

How To桂Set Up桂Google Search Console

First up, how to桂set up桂Google Search Console. Like other Google tools, you�셪l need a桂 to桂launch your GSC account. The Google account you use to桂launch GSC will function as桂the桂owner of桂your GSC account, so桂be桂sure to桂use one that�셲 up桂f늡곶桂the桂job.

Google lets you use your personal 늡곶桂work account credentials f늡곶桂GSC, 늡곶桂you can use the桂details from a桂Google Analytics 늡곶桂Google Ads account.

Once you�셶e picked an桂account 늡곶桂made a桂new one, head over to桂the桂.

From here, enter a桂domain 늡곶桂a桂URL prefix. Since you�셱e just getting started with GSC, you should probably enter a桂domain. Entering a桂URL prefix limits GSC�셲 function to桂a桂single portion of桂your website while entering an桂entire domain gives the桂platform (and you) access to桂every level. If桂you don�셳 launch your GSC account with your whole website, you�셪l limit your ability to桂improve search performance to桂a桂small section of桂your site.

Creating a桂new property in桂Google Search Console

In桂many cases, site owners use a桂URL prefix since verifying domain ownership is桂a桂little more complicated. But if桂you can, sticking with a桂domain is桂better. The verification process takes a桂little longer, but it�셲 worth the桂effort.

Speaking of桂verification桂�� that�셲 your next step. Here�셲 how to桂verify site ownership on桂Google Search Console.

Google Search Console Verification

Google wants to桂make sure you actually own your website before they give you access to桂important search performance data. As桂we桂talked about, the桂verification process depends on桂whether you entered a桂URL prefix 늡곶桂a桂domain. While verification f늡곶桂a桂URL prefix can take a桂few paths, domain verification has just one method.

Before we桂dive into each verification process, let�셲 define some key terms you�셪l need to桂understand.

Property桂�� a桂broad term f늡곶桂websites, single URLs, mobile apps, 껸꾈삣桂other online assets people 늡곶桂businesses own
Domain桂�� the桂name of桂a桂website without http(s):// 껸꾈삣桂www, such as桂ecwid.com
Subdomain桂�� extensions added to桂domains, such as桂
URL桂�� the桂address f늡곶桂a桂webpage (a桂domain is桂the桂name of桂a桂website while a桂URL is桂an桂address f늡곶桂a桂specific page within that website)
URL Prefix桂�� the桂protocol that appears before a桂domain (for example, http:// 늡곶桂https://)

Site verification f늡곶桂a桂Domain property

Verifying a桂domain-level property means you�셱e proving you own a桂whole website桂�� all the桂pages, all the桂subdomains, everything. After you enter your domain, you�셪l see a桂pop-up window with verification instructions. Domain-level verification requires confirmation through your DNS provider (a.k.a. the桂company you purchased your domain from).

The next steps will vary slightly depending on桂your provider, but we�셪l cover everything you need to桂know to桂successfully complete the桂verification process.

걀꾈桂넨농깎桂pop-up instructions window, look f늡곶桂the桂drop-down menu titled Any DNS provider. Click on桂that menu 껸꾈삣桂see if桂your provider is桂listed. If桂available, selecting your provider will give you specific instructions f늡곶桂confirming ownership. Otherwise, you�셪l just see the桂general instructions f늡곶桂verifying ownership with any桂provider.

No桂matter who your provider is, you�셪l need a桂TXT record starting with google-site-verification. This string of桂characters appears on桂the桂pop-up window alongside a桂copy button 껸꾈삣桂connects your provider with GSC.

If桂your provider is桂listed in桂the桂drop-down menu, follow your specific on-screen instructions. If桂it�셲 not listed, copy the桂TXT record 껸꾈삣桂sign in桂to桂your provider�셲 website. Find the桂domain you�셱e verifying 껸꾈삣桂look f늡곶桂menus 늡곶桂sections mentioning 혫DNS.혬 From here, follow your provider�셲 instructions 껸꾈삣桂paste the桂copied TXT record in桂the桂provided section.

After entering your TXT record, you should see a桂message confirming successful verification. This process can take a桂few days, so桂be桂patient. If桂you don�셳 get confirmation, double-check your TXT record to桂ensure you entered the桂proper characters.

Site verification f늡곶桂a桂URL Prefix property

If桂you can�셳 늡곶桂don�셳 want to桂verify a桂domain, you can verify a桂URL prefix instead. (Again, verifying a桂domain-level property is桂highly recommended.) As桂with domain verification, you�셪l see a桂pop-up window after you enter your URL prefix property.

You have a桂few verification options桂�� 껸꾈삣桂all of桂them require some technical skill. If桂you don�셳 have experience dealing with the桂technical side of桂your site, you might want to桂work with someone more familiar with the桂subject.

Even though any桂URL prefix verification method can work, Google recommends verifying with an桂HTML file.

This method requires access to桂the桂root directory of桂your website桂�� which means you�셪l need access to桂your server. Do桂not attempt this method if桂you don�셳 have experience with your root directory.

Select HTML file from the桂verification options menu, then download the桂provided file
Access the桂root directory of桂your site 껸꾈삣桂upload the桂file
Return to桂the桂GSC verification page 껸꾈삣桂click Verify

If桂everything works properly, you�셪l see a桂message confirming verification.

How To桂Add User to桂Google Search Console

With verification out of桂the桂way, it�셲 time to桂actually start using Google Search Console.

GSC is桂often used by桂teams, so桂adding users is桂important. Google makes this easy by桂offering four main permissions levels: Owner, full user, restricted user, 껸꾈삣桂associate.

Owners are in桂charge of桂the桂GSC account. They can remove 껸꾈삣桂add other users, change user permissions, 껸꾈삣桂view all the桂details about their search performance.
Full users have a桂similar level of桂access, but they can�셳 add 껸꾈삣桂remove users.
Restricted users are further limited 껸꾈삣桂can only view data allowed by桂the桂owner.

To桂add a桂user to桂Google Search Console, open GSC 껸꾈삣桂select the桂relevant property. Click on桂the桂settings icon, then the桂Users &桂permissions tab. Click Add user, then follow the桂on-screen instructions.

To桂remove a桂user, access the桂same Users &桂permissions tab. You�셪l see a桂list of桂active users桂�� look f늡곶桂the桂user you�셱e removing 껸꾈삣桂click on桂the桂menu next to桂their name. Finally, select Remove access.

With all your users ready to桂go, it�셲 time to桂give Google a桂sitemap.

Google Search Console Sitemap

A桂sitemap is桂exactly what it桂sounds like桂�� a桂map of桂your website 껸꾈삣桂its content. The map is桂given to桂Google as桂a桂file containing information about your site�셲 pages, photos, videos, 껸꾈삣桂other media.

The map helps Google�셲 search engine understand your website 껸꾈삣桂how its components interact. Google uses the桂map to桂crawl your site more efficiently, which can ultimately improve your search performance.

Do桂I桂need a桂sitemap to桂use Google Search Console?

No, you don�셳 need a桂sitemap to桂use GSC 껸꾈삣桂your pages can be桂indexed without one. However, it桂might be桂a桂good idea to桂submit one anyway.

In桂most cases, sitemaps are important f늡곶桂large websites since Google could have trouble crawling them properly. There isn�셳 a桂clear-cut definition of桂혫large,혬 but your site will benefit from a桂sitemap if桂it桂has more than 500桂pages.

Sitemaps are also useful if桂your pages are isolated. For example, Google might have trouble crawling 껸꾈삣桂indexing if桂your home page 껸꾈삣桂shopping pages aren�셳 interlinked. You can fix this by桂crosslinking your content 껸꾈삣桂pages, 늡곶桂by桂submitting a桂sitemap.

How do桂I桂find my桂sitemap 껸꾈삣桂submit it桂to桂Google Search Console?

You can submit a桂sitemap using GSC if桂you decide it�셲 necessary f늡곶桂your situation. First, locate your sitemap. Not all sitemaps are in桂the桂same place, but you can typically find yours by桂searching f늡곶桂your domain followed by桂one of桂the桂following:

/sitemap.xml
/sitemap_index.xml

For example, /sitemap.xml

Once you have your sitemap, go桂to桂GSC 껸꾈삣桂pick the桂relevant property. Next, look f늡곶桂Index, then Sitemaps on桂the桂navigation panel. If桂you�셶e submitted sitemaps in桂the桂past, remove any桂outdated submissions, then add your new map by桂following the桂instructions under Add a桂new sitemap.

Google Search Console Tools You Should Use

With your account made 껸꾈삣桂ready to桂go, it�셲 time to桂use the桂platform�셲 tools.

Some tools may be桂more valuable than others depending on桂your specific website 껸꾈삣桂situation. However, there are three tools that all website owners should use to桂get started. Here�셲 what they are, how to桂access them, 껸꾈삣桂how to桂use them.

The Performance Report

New GSC users should look at桂their Performance Report right away. This tool shows you how your site performs in桂Google Search results, including its average position, click-through rate, 껸꾈삣桂other important data. You can use this tool by桂opening GSC, clicking the桂Overview tab of桂the桂property you�셱e analyzing, then selecting Open Report.

After opening your report, you can view the桂data as-is 늡곶桂filter it桂to桂get more specific info. For example, how does your site perform on桂mobile devices? What about performance among searchers specifically in桂the桂U.S.? You can use one filter, 늡곶桂compile multiple to桂get even more specific data.

On桂your report page, click +桂굣래걔 in桂the桂filter section
Add the桂relevant filter
View the桂updated data

Google Search Console Remove URL Tool

Site owners may need to桂block certain URLs from entering the桂search results page桂�� 껸꾈삣桂they can do桂that with the桂Removals tool. This tool temporarily removes URLs from the桂search results page. If桂you need to桂remove a桂page permanently, Google requires .

Using the桂Removals tool keeps a桂selected URL from the桂search results f늡곶桂about six months. The URL you�셱e removing has to桂be桂part of桂a桂property you own. Google doesn�셳 always accept removal requests, but you will be桂notified if桂껸꾈삣桂why your request is桂rejected. If桂you have multiple URLs that could point to桂the桂same page, you can submit them f늡곶桂removal alongside your main URL.

Open the桂
Click on桂the桂Temporary Removals tab 껸꾈삣桂select New Request
Select Temporarily remove URL 껸꾈삣桂provide the桂URL

The Coverage Report

As桂we桂talked about, Google sometimes has trouble crawling 껸꾈삣桂indexing pages. The good news is桂Google tells you if桂껸꾈삣桂when this happens via Index Coverage reports. These reports alert you to桂any桂indexing problems, tell you which pages have been properly indexed, 껸꾈삣桂show you which pages Google found on桂your site.

You can access your index coverage report by桂opening GSC 껸꾈삣桂looking at桂the桂left side of桂your screen. Under the桂Index tab, click on桂Coverage. The default view has an桂Error tab, that�셲 where you�셪l learn more about indexing problems.

걀꾈桂넨농깎桂Index Coverage report page, select the桂Error tab
Scroll down to桂view each error (Google tells you what the桂problem is)
Resolve one of桂the桂errors, then re-check your Coverage report to桂see if桂the桂fix was successful

Get Started Today!

Those three tools are really just the桂beginning of桂Google Search Console. Once you get your account up桂껸꾈삣桂running, you�셪l have access to桂a桂ton of桂valuable features to桂improve your site�셲 search performance. Google is桂the桂biggest search engine in桂the桂world, so桂get started today!

桂

About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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