Passed on 22 May, 2025

2. Google Search Console

When it comes to your website, the more information you have, the better. In this lesson, you'll learn what Search Console is, and how it can help you. We’ll go over some of its useful features as well as how to set it up.

✅ Learning objectivesBy the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:Understand some of the features and benefits of Google Search console.Make the most of some key features like Search Analytics reports.Set up Google Search Console for your business.

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

Understand some of the features and benefits of Google Search console.

Make the most of some key features like Search Analytics reports.

Set up Google Search Console for your business.

Get to know Google Search Console

Google Search Console is your new best friend for getting found online. This is a free of charge service offered by Google that helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot a website's presence in Google Search results.

Refresh your memory

Before you start this lesson, you might want to revisit theContent creation,Organic search, andPaid marketingchannels modules if it’s been a while since you studied them.UnderstandingContent creation,Organic search, andPaid marketingchannelswill help you to better appreciate the benefits of Google Search Console. If you’re already confident with these topics, then let’s get started.

UnderstandingContent creation,Organic search, andPaid marketingchannelswill help you to better appreciate the benefits of Google Search Console. If you’re already confident with these topics, then let’s get started.

What is Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a tool that can show you how your website is doing in Google Search results. You don’t need Google Search Console to appear in search results, but it helps you understand and improve how Google finds your site – making it easier for customers and potential customers to discover you online. It has two main functions.

Google Search Console shows how your site appears in Google Search. You can track clicks, impressions, and rankings to see what’s working and find ways to attract more visitors.

Intro to Google Search Console

Let’s watch a short video about Google Search Console and how it works.

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Transcript

Who can use Google Search Console?

Let’s explore how different roles might use Google Search Console. While responsibilities often overlap, especially in small businesses, understanding the tool’s versatility can help you address a variety of needs effectively.

Find out more with Search Analytics reports

Google Search Console can help you uncover the data you need to make meaningful updates and help you achieve your digital marketing goals – whether you’re a business owner or an aspiring marketer.

Search Analytics reports

Search Analytics reportsanswer important questions, like:Which search queries bring people to your website.What links and pages searches are clicking.Which other sites link to yours.

Which search queries bring people to your website.What links and pages searches are clicking.Which other sites link to yours.

How it works

The Search Analytics report shows words and phrases relevant to your business. For a guest house, they might show:'Guest house Cotswolds'.'Guest house near me'.'Places to stay Cotswolds'.'Accommodation near me'.

'Guest house Cotswolds'.'Guest house near me'.'Places to stay Cotswolds'.'Accommodation near me'.

How it helps

Search Analytics reports show which keywords drive impressions but get few clicks, helping you improve titles, meta descriptions, or content.You can also find new keyword opportunities to guide your strategy and attract more visitors.

You can also find new keyword opportunities to guide your strategy and attract more visitors.

Clicks

Pay attention to clicks. If your site shows in search results but gets no clicks, your content or meta descriptions might not match what people want. Update your content and meta data to better align with searchers’ needs and improve engagement.

Links to your site report

This shows which websites link to yours – like referrals from relevant sites such as travel blogs or local directories. Use this to build partnerships and improve SEO. If links are from unreliable or unrelated sites, remove them to protect your SEO. Use tools like a website checker if you are unsure.

Get more insights to help boost your results

Google Search Console gives you key insights into your site’s performance. Tools like Core Web Vitals and Search Console Insights help you improve user experience, attract more visitors, and grow your search visibility.

Core Web Vitals measure your site’s speed, responsiveness, and layout stability. These impact both user experience and search rankings. Use this data to make your site faster and easier to use.

Goal setter

Imagine you own a small management consultancy business. While you get a lot of recommendations through word of mouth, you don’t get many enquiries through your website. So, you set yourself the goal of increasing website visits by 10% over the next 3 months.What can Google Search Console show you to help you identify areas of your website content to improve to try and get more enquiries?

What can Google Search Console show you to help you identify areas of your website content to improve to try and get more enquiries?

Which keywords bring up your website in search results.

Which sites link to yours.

How much your cost-per-click is.

Which content performs the best.

Submit

Get set up on Google Search Console

Getting set up on Google Search Console is easy. All you need is to sign in with a Google account, input your website, and verify it’s you. This step is only possible if you own or have the necessary permissions for a website. If this doesn’t apply to you right now, feel free to move on to the next section.

Get set up

Head over towww.google.com/webmasters. Get signed in, add your website, and complete the verification to prove you own the website.

Once set up, Google Search Console can generate reports for your site – free of charge.

It has to gather and process data so it might take a few days before you get useful information.

If you get a ‘No data yet’ message, don’t worry. Check back later.

Improve your presence on Google

Now that your site’s set up in Google Search Console, you can use the reports to help improve your presence on Google. This helps more people find your site, brings in more visitors, and can grow your business.

Research activity

Now that you know more about what Google Search Console can do, it’s time to think about how you could use it.Choose which of the activities best suits your current circumstances.Important: If you’re not the business owner, check you have permission from the relevant decision makers before you take the next steps.

Choose which of the activities best suits your current circumstances.Important: If you’re not the business owner, check you have permission from the relevant decision makers before you take the next steps.

Important: If you’re not the business owner, check you have permission from the relevant decision makers before you take the next steps.

Ready to try it

You have both of these:Google Account.Website URL.Next steps: try Google Search Console today, for free at:search.google.com/search-console/welcome

Google Account.Website URL.Next steps: try Google Search Console today, for free at:search.google.com/search-console/welcome

Next steps: try Google Search Console today, for free at:search.google.com/search-console/welcome

search.google.com/search-console/welcome

Preparation needed

You’ll need to do some preparation if you don’t have either or only have one of these:Google Business account.Website URL.Next steps: create a website, set up a Google Business account, or do both.

Google Business account.Website URL.Next steps: create a website, set up a Google Business account, or do both.

Next steps: create a website, set up a Google Business account, or do both.

Research ready

You’re not ready to explore Google Search Console just yet because:You don’t have a Google Business account.You want to spend more time learning about marketing first.You’re not ready to create a business website just yet.Next steps: continue with the course, or Search for Google Search Console training on YouTube to find out more.

You don’t have a Google Business account.You want to spend more time learning about marketing first.You’re not ready to create a business website just yet.Next steps: continue with the course, or Search for Google Search Console training on YouTube to find out more.

Next steps: continue with the course, or Search for Google Search Console training on YouTube to find out more.

Check your knowledge

It's time for you to check and reflect on what you've learned so far.You must complete the knowledge check to move to the next lesson.

You must complete the knowledge check to move to the next lesson.

Question 1 of 2

Search Analytics reports are powerful tools for marketing insights.Which of the following statements are true?Search Analytics reports can show you…

Which of the following statements are true?Search Analytics reports can show you…

Search Analytics reports can show you…

Which other sites link to yours.

When searchers go to other sites.

Which searches bring people to your website.

Which pages searchers visit after leaving your site.

Show Answer

Almost.Search Analytics reports can show you which searches bring people to your website, when searchers click on your links as well as which other sites link to yours.

Search Analytics reports can show you which searches bring people to your website, when searchers click on your links as well as which other sites link to yours.

Question 2 of 2

True or false: You need a Google Account to set up Google Search Console.

True

False

Submit

Yes.It’s true, you’ll need your business’s Google Account, your website URL and to verify that you’re the business owner before you can get going on Google Search Console.

It’s true, you’ll need your business’s Google Account, your website URL and to verify that you’re the business owner before you can get going on Google Search Console.

Lesson complete

Great job!You’ve been introduced to how Google Search Console helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your site's presence in Google Search results. Next, let’s find out how to analyse important data with Google Analytics.Head to the next lesson to find out about how Google Analytics can help you grow your business.

You’ve been introduced to how Google Search Console helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your site's presence in Google Search results. Next, let’s find out how to analyse important data with Google Analytics.Head to the next lesson to find out about how Google Analytics can help you grow your business.

Head to the next lesson to find out about how Google Analytics can help you grow your business.

2. Google Search Console ​

Learning objectives ​

Get to know Google Search Console ​

Refresh your memory ​

What is Google Search Console ​

Intro to Google Search Console ​

Who can use Google Search Console? ​

Find out more with Search Analytics reports ​

Search Analytics reports ​

How it works ​

How it helps ​

Clicks ​

Links to your site report ​

Get more insights to help boost your results ​

Goal setter ​

Get set up on Google Search Console ​

Get set up ​

Improve your presence on Google ​

Research activity ​

Check your knowledge ​

Question 1 of 2 ​

Question 2 of 2 ​

Lesson complete ​