Best Guide to Set Up a Google Search Console Property

What is Google Search Console?

Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool that shines a spotlight on your website's presence in Google's search results.

It's your go-to for unlocking SEO insights, making it a powerful tool for webmasters and business owners alike.

This platform offers a clear view of your site's search performance. Think of it as a backstage pass to the Google search stage, revealing everything from clicks to rankings.

GSC is also about embracing best practices. It guides you in optimizing your site for rich results, ensuring your content stands out in SERPs (search engine result pages).

Access to this powerful tool is reserved for verified website owners. This verification step is crucial for accessing your site's private data and sharing it securely.

For anyone looking to boost their site's SEO, Google Search Console is indispensable.

With each new feature, it provides fresher insights and strategies to improve your site's search performance.

Jumping into GSC and creating a Google Search Console Property means more than just data analysis. It's about actively participating in your website's growth.

Ensuring it reaches its full potential in Google's search landscape.

And driving more traffic to your site.

Sign In To Google Search Console

Head over to the Google Search Console homepage. Click the "Start now" button to begin.

You'll need your Google account for this step.

If this is your first time, it's wise to use the same account linked to your Google Analytics account.

This streamlines your experience across Google's services.

Add a Google Search Console Property

After logging in, you might be ready to add new domain properties. This helps track your site's performance across the entire domain.

If you've never set up a new Google Search Console property before, head down to the next section.

If you've have access to multiple properties already, follow the next steps.

Click on **"Search Property" **on the left corner of the screen. From there, select "+ Add Property" at the bottom.

Choose Your Property Type

Picking between a new domain property and a URL-prefix property? Each Google Search Console property serves unique needs.

Domain property - offers a comprehensive overview, collecting data from every nook of your domain. This includes all subdomains and both http and https protocols. Ideal for those desiring a complete picture under a single umbrella.

Verification here means tweaking DNS records, but it's a small step for a broad view. In our book, it’s often the best pick for simplicity and coverage.

URL-prefix property - best for detailed insights on specific areas of your website. It's tailor-made for targeting unique URLs, whether it's a blog section or an e-commerce page. 

This property type allows for a variety of verification methods, offering flexibility if DNS access is tricky. Especially useful for sites with complex structures or those undergoing testing phases.

Curious about the nitty-gritty differences? 

A deeper dive into how new domain properties and URL-prefix properties stack up can be found in this helpful Google article. 

It’s a great resource for making an informed decision.

Ultimately, we lean towards the new domain property for its broad data capture and simplicity.

Your specific needs and site structure should guide your choice. 

Ready to set your site up for success? 

Select your property type and click "Continue" to forge ahead.

Add a Domain Property

Got your domain property set up? Now, let's tackle ownership verification. Your DNS provider plays a key role here.

First, add your website's domain into the "Domain" option on the left. Do not add the* www, http, or https*. 

For example, we would put in "griffinmottconsulting.com". Then, click "Continue".

In another tab, head to your DNS provider's site and log in.

We'll use GoDaddy for this example.

You'll be adding a TXT record to prove you're the boss.

Log-in to your GoDaddy account and click the nine dots at the top. On the drop-down menu, select "Domains".

Next, you will scroll down until you see your domain. On the right side, select the "DNS" button.

You will now be in your domain's DNS Management window. To add your TXT record, select "Add New Record".

You will now adjust your DNS record as followed:

**Type: **TXT

**Name: **@

**Value: **Paste the TXT record from GSC

**TTL: **1 hour

Once you complete the above steps, select "Save".

Now that you have added your TXT file, it's time to verify the domain on GSC.

Head back over to Search Console and select "Verify".

Remember, these changes might need a moment to kick in.

If verification doesn't snap into place right away, no sweat. These things can take a bit.

Try again after a coffee break.

Once everything's verified, you'll get the green light from Google. 

You've just nailed ownership verification!

Add a URL-Prefix Property

Aiming to zoom in on a specific site section? 

A URL prefix property is your tool. Perfect for when your focus is sharp, like just your blog.

For this example, we will target our "Blog" page.

Kick off by punching in your URL under "URL-Prefix".

Hit "Continue" next. 

Google gives a few paths for the verification process. 

HTML File (recommended)

HTML Tag

Google Analytics

Google Tag Manager

Domain Provider

Leaning towards HTML file upload? Download the HTML verification file. 

How to Add a Sitemap

Got your new site added to a Google Search Console property? Great! 

Your next step is ensuring Google knows about all your pages is by adding a sitemap. 

This file acts as a roadmap for Google, listing every URL you're eager to have crawled and indexed.

**Why is this crucial? **

Without indexing, your pages won't show up in search rankings. 

While Google will eventually stumble upon your site, submitting a sitemap via GSC puts you in the fast lane.

Here's the drill: Navigate to "Sitemaps" in GSC's sidebar.

Pop in your sitemap URL and hit "Submit." It's as straightforward as that.

Need help finding your sitemap? Check out this article from SEMrush.

Once submitted, you'll get a confirmation message from Google.

This means your sitemap is on Google's radar, ready to be processed.

Adding your sitemap makes sure Google has the full picture of your site for you to climb the SERPs.

Owners, Users, and Permissions

Delving into Google Search Console (GSC), you'll find roles split between owners and users. 

The access to your Google Search Console property data swings widely based on your hat in this ring.

Owner: The top of the food chain. As a property owner, you wield complete control over the GSC property.

Verified owner: Earned their stripes through verification (think HTML file or tag). They can add or remove users, look at all data, tweak settings, and use every tool available in GSC.

• Delegated owner: Gets their keys to the kingdom from a verified owner. Same powers, different origin story.

User: Still in the game but playing on a smaller field. Their access to GSC data varies.

Full user: Can look but can't touch. They've got the green light to view all data but only some actions are within reach.

• Restricted user: Peering through a narrower window, they catch glimpses of the data but miss out on the full picture.
• Associate: A unique creature. Can't directly access the GSC account or its data. Yet, they can do a bit of legwork depending on their association type.

Ready to add more team members? Here's a quick guide for the property owner:

• Hop over to "Settings" > "Users and permissions."

  

Select "Add User".

Pop in the new user’s email and pick their permission level.

Click "Add," and voilà, they're in.

Just like that, your new user is ready to explore the Google Search Console world under your domain.

Establish Position Tracking for Your Most Important Keywords

To truly harness the power of search queries driving traffic to your site is difficult.

But it shouldn't be.

Setting up a system to monitor the rankings of your most crucial list of keywords in search engines is key.

Google Search Console sheds light on the search queries directing traffic to your site.

But tracking how these terms stack up in SERP rankings—specifically, their average position—you'll need to look beyond.

This is where third-party SEO tools come into play, offering a closer look at where your pages land for pivotal terms. 

Tools like Semrush stand out for their ability to keep a pulse on your keywords' standings in search results.

They require a list of keywords you aim to track, easily refinable with insights from GSC's query reports.

Setting up keyword position tracking is more than just a tactical move; **it's a strategic advantage. **

Knowing your keywords' average position in search engines allows for targeted optimizations.

It ensures your content not only reaches its audience but resonates with them at the top of the search results.

If diving into the depths of keyword position tracking feels daunting, remember help is just around the corner. 

Reach out to our experienced team guidance.

Google Search Console Reports and Features

Google Search Console (GSC) offers a multitude of reports.

Each report is designed to illuminate a different aspect of your website's performance in Google's search landscape. 

Performance Report

Brace yourself for an extraordinary array of search analytics. Every SEO specialist and newbie, this is where your journey to mastering Google search results kicks off.

Total Clicks: This is the count of how many times folks clicked through to your site. It's a snapshot of your site's draw.

Total Impressions: Ever wonder how often your site pops up in searches? This number tells you just that.

Average CTR (Click-Through Rate): It's all about efficiency here. This percentage shows how many of those impressions turn into clicks.

Average Position: Where do you stand in the endless sea of search results? This metric gives you an average ranking of your site's visibility.

Looking for ways to boost those numbers? 

Start with looking at your meta tag. Crafting sharper title tags and meta descriptions can make your site a click magnet.

Here's the lowdown for those starting out or looking to brush up:

Low CTR? Spruce up those title tags and meta descriptions. Make your pages more enticing to potential visitors.

Missing keywords? It might be time to beef up your content. Focus on quality content that targets those essential terms you want to rank for.

URL Inspection Tool

Understand your website's presence on Google with the URL Inspection Tool.

This is your go-to gadget for a behind-the-scenes look at how individual pages are faring in Google's search results.

To access this tool, you'll click on the top bar or by selecting "URL Inspection" from the left navigation.

Index Status: It's like a green light. This tells you if Google has your page in its massive library or not.

Last Crawl Date: When did Google last stop by? This date stamps the last visit, giving you a timeline of interactions.

Mobile Usability: In today's mobile-first world, this is crucial. It checks if your page meets the mark for being mobile-friendly according to Google's standards.

Structured Data: This is about speaking Google's language. It checks for structured data that makes it easier for Google to understand and categorize your page.

Got a page you're curious about? 

Paste its full URL in the tool, hit enter, and unveil details from indexation to mobile usability.

Ever wonder how your page looks through the eyes of Googlebot?

The "Test Live URL" feature lets you see your page from Googlebot's perspective. 

Perfect for catching anything amiss before Google does.

Launching a new page or made edits to a current page? Don't sit back and wait.

Propel it into Google's index faster by selecting "Request Indexing" directly through this tool.

Page Indexing Report

This intricate report is your map to understanding which of your pages Google has discovered and which ones it hasn't.

Pages must be indexed to appear in Google search results. Avoiding indexation problems is a must.

Indexed vs. Non-Indexed Pages: Opening the report, you're greeted with two tabs. One shows your pages that are part of Google's index, basking in the glory of search visibility. The other, a bit more somber, lists those still waiting behind the velvet rope, not yet indexed.

Spotting a dip in your indexed pages? This might be the first clue that there's a hiccup in your site's relationship with Google.

Why are some pages not making the cut?

The report doesn't leave you hanging.

Dive deeper, and it'll reveal the reasons behind the curtain.

Select each option and it will show you exactly which pages are not making the cut. Make the changes, select "Validate Fix" and Google might just move them right back into the index.

Sitemaps Report

The Sitemaps Report is your window into how well Google understands the structure of your site. Ensuring Google can effortlessly glide through your pages is essential to increasing your digital footprint.

On the left hand navigation bar under the "Indexing" tab, you'll find a sub-heading labeled "Sitemaps".

• URL: This is where you told Google to look for your sitemap.
• Type: What kind of sitemap did you submit? XML, RSS, or something else?
• Submitted: The calendar date when you first sent your sitemap Google's way.
• Last read: The latest date Google checked in on your sitemap.
• Status: This one's key. It tells you if Google had a smooth ride ("Success") or hit some bumps ("Has errors," "Couldn’t fetch") while trying to crawl your sitemap.
• Discovered pages: The total page count Google spotted in your sitemap.

Regarding your status, you're aiming for a "Success" label here. It's the green light that your sitemap is in tip-top shape.

But life happens, and sometimes you might spot a "Has errors" or "Couldn’t fetch" instead.

Don't fret:

• Has errors: Time to play detective. Dive into the specifics of these errors, and consult Google's guidelines to fix them.
• Couldn’t fetch: If Google Search Console is playing hard to get with your sitemap, revisit the "URL inspection" tool. A live URL test could shed light on the issue.

If all else fails, give us a shout. We're more than happy to help!

Curious about a specific sitemap? Click on it to drill down into a dedicated report for that submission.

For the cherry on top, the "See Page Indexing" button whisks you away to a report focused solely on the indexing status of your sitemap's pages.

It's here you'll find out if your carefully crafted sitemap pages are getting the spotlight they deserve in Google's index.

Page Experience Report

The Page Experience Report is your crystal ball into how users perceive your site.

It's all about user experience (UX), a critical factor that can either elevate your site or hold it back in Google's eyes.

Core Web Vitals: These metrics are Google's way of quantifying the smoothness and speed of your site. They measure how quickly pages load, how soon they become interactive, and how stable the layout is as it loads.

Mobile Usability: This checks if visitors on mobile devices can browse your site without a hitch. Given the mobile-first world we live in, acing this aspect is non-negotiable.

HTTPS: Security is a big deal for Google and users alike. This metric ensures your site's connection is encrypted and secure, guarding against unwanted eavesdroppers.

As you look into the report, you'll see it dissected into two main arenas: mobile and desktop. 

Each platform gets its own spotlight, reflecting how well your site performs across different devices.

Good URLs Percentage: This number tells you the proportion of your URLs that are delivering a stellar page experience. 

It's a quick gauge of your site's health in terms of UX.

The report details where you're falling short, whether it's Core Web Vitals not being met or mobile usability issues.

Drill down into these numbers for a detailed breakdown of the issues. 

For instance, high Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) times could be dragging down your Core Web Vitals score. Clicking through will show you the exact pages affected by this or other issues.

Fixing these UX snags might require some heavy lifting, often needing a developer's touch if you're not well-versed in the technical side of SEO.

Once you've implemented fixes, don't forget to hit "Validate Fix" to signal Google to reassess your site. It's your way of saying, "Hey, take another look—I've made some improvements."

Enhancements Report

The Enhancement Report zeroes in on the structured data sprinkled across your website. 

It's a crucial component for standing out in search engine results pages (SERPs).

What is Structured Data?

Think of structured data as your site's VIP pass. 

It's a way to communicate directly with Google, providing a clear, structured summary of what your page is about. 

Google uses this info to jazz up your search listings with rich results, which can be a game-changer for your click-through rates (CTR).

This report is like a health check. It will flag any "Invalid" items that could dampen your chances of snagging those eye-catching rich results in SERPs.

Keeping your "Invalid" items at zero is the goal.

Any slip-ups here mean those affected pages might miss their chance to shine as rich results.

Manual Actions Report

The Manual Actions Report is akin to a report card from Google itself.

It details how well your site plays by the rules.

But instead of grades, it's about whether your site has stepped over the line regarding Google's spam policies.

If your site is found bending or breaking the rules, a manual action might be applied.

This can range from a gentle nudge down the search rankings to a total blackout from search results.

The consequences?

Potentially devastating losses in traffic.

Checking for manual actions is straightforward. Dive into the "Manual Actions" section within Search Console. 

What you're hoping to find is a clean bill of health: "No issues detected." 

This means you're in the clear, and your site hasn't tripped any alarms.

However, if you're greeted with "Issues detected," it's time to buckle down.

Google doesn't leave you to figure things out alone, though.

For each type of penalty, there's guidance on how to rectify the issue.

Following Google's steps to address the penalties is your path to redemption.

Links Report

Having a spyglass that lets you peer into the world of backlinks. This a crucial element in the vast sea of SEO.

This report provides a panoramic view of who's talking about your site and how they're connecting to it.

What Are Backlinks?

These are the links from other domains leading to yours.

They're not just paths; they're votes of confidence in the eyes of Google, serving as a significant ranking factor.

To get started, head over to the "Links" section on the sidebar.

Here, the treasure map of your site's backlink landscape unfolds.

Total Number of Backlinks: At the very top, you'll see a tally of all external links pointing to your domain. This number is a rough measure of your site's popularity or importance.

Top Linked Pages: Discover which pages on your site are magnets for backlinks. These pages are your digital ambassadors, drawing the most external attention.

Top Linking Sites: Knowing who links to you the most unveils your strongest allies. These sites are significant contributors to your site's authority.

• Internal Links: These help users and crawlers navigate your own domain. They play a dual role: enhancing site navigation and distributing page authority across your domain.

Shopping Report

For e-commerce warriors and review gurus, the Shopping Report is your digital diagnostics lab.

This report zeroes in on the health of your product-related structured data.

• Product Snippets: Ensuring your products shine in search results with all the right details.
• Merchant Listings: Boosting visibility across Google’s free listings, a vital touchpoint for shoppers.
• Shopping Tab Listings: Capturing attention in the Shopping tab, where motivated buyers browse.

This report gives you detailed content on your consumers activity and is specifically  for ecommerce sites.

Learn More

Our goal is to see you succeed in the digital playground. 

Contact us to learn more about strategies for improving your technical SEO.

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