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What is Google Search Console? Complete Guide to Website SEO Analysis and Management Tool

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When operating a website or managing a blog, you frequently encounter a tool called Google Search Console. It's an essential tool for SEO optimization and search exposure. What is Google Search Console?

What is Google Search Console?​

Google Search Console is a free website performance monitoring and management tool provided by Google. Previously known as Google Webmaster Tools, it provides features to track website search performance, diagnose problems, and optimize exposure in Google search results.

Features of Google Search Console​

  • Search Performance Analysis: You can check in detail which keywords bring traffic to your site, what the CTR (Click-Through Rate) is, and what the average ranking is.
  • Index Status Check: You can identify how many pages Google has indexed and which pages have indexing issues.
  • Crawling Error Detection: You can monitor problems that occur during crawling, such as 404 errors and server errors, in real time.
  • Sitemap Submission: Submit XML sitemaps to help Google better understand and crawl your site structure.
  • Mobile Usability Check: You can check if it's mobile-friendly and receive improvement suggestions.

How to Use Google Search Console​

  • Register Website and Verify Ownership: First register your website in Google Search Console and verify ownership through methods such as uploading HTML files or adding meta tags.
  • Submit Sitemap: Submit your sitemap so Google crawlers can efficiently discover all pages.
  • Analyze Performance Reports: In the search performance tab, analyze which queries bring traffic and identify keywords that need improvement.
  • Check Coverage: Find pages with errors through the index coverage report and fix them.
  • URL Inspection: Check if a specific page is properly indexed, and if there are problems, you can request re-indexing.

Google Search Console Usage Examples​

<!-- Meta tag example for ownership verification -->
<head>
  <meta name="google-site-verification" content="your-verification-code" />
</head>

Real usage cases:

  1. Request indexing with URL inspection tool after writing a new blog post
  2. Check pages with low CTR in search performance report and improve title and meta description
  3. Discover 404 error pages in coverage report and set up redirects
  4. Regularly update sitemap to quickly index new content

Google Search Console Usage Considerations​

Advantages​

  • Free Tool: Completely free and provides powerful features.
  • Accurate Data: Data provided directly by Google is reliable.
  • Early Problem Detection: Can detect crawling errors or security issues early.

Considerations​

  • Data Delay: Not real-time data, usually delayed by 1-2 days.
  • Learning Curve: May feel somewhat complex for beginners and requires learning.
  • Avoid Excessive Index Requests: Repeatedly requesting indexing for the same URL can have adverse effects.

FAQ​

Q: Is Google Search Console free? A: Yes, it's completely free to use. Anyone with a Google account can use it.

Q: What's the difference from Google Analytics? A: Google Analytics focuses on user behavior analysis, while Search Console focuses on search performance and crawling/indexing status.

Q: How often should I check? A: It's recommended to check regularly about once a week, and check indexing status after publishing new content.

Google Search Console is an essential tool for website SEO optimization. It helps you monitor search performance and solve problems to achieve better rankings in Google search results.