How to Use Google Search Console (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
Google Search Console is one of the most powerful free tools for improving your website’s SEO - but most people either don’t use it, or open it once and quickly back out.
If you’ve ever thought:
“What am I even looking at here?”
“Do I need to understand all of this?”
“What does coverage issue detected mean?!”
...this guide is for you.
Let’s break it down - simply, clearly, and with local businesses in mind.
What Is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool from Google that shows you how your website performs in search results.
It tells you:
What people search before clicking your site
Which pages show up in Google
How often people are clicking through
Whether Google can crawl your pages properly
Think of it as your SEO control panel - no waffling, just facts.
How to Set Up Google Search Console (Quickly)
If you haven’t already set it up, here’s what to do:
Go to search.google.com/search-console
Sign in with your Google account
Choose "Domain" or "URL Prefix" (URL Prefix is fine for most)
Verify your ownership (usually via your website platform or DNS settings)
If you’re using Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress, there are guides or plugins to help connect it in just a few clicks.
What to Focus On (And What to Ignore for Now)
GSC is packed with data, but you don’t need to understand all of it right away. Here are the key tabs that matter most:
1. Performance
This is the heart of Search Console. You’ll see:
Search terms (queries) people typed before clicking
Impressions (how often your site appeared)
Clicks (how often people clicked)
Average position in Google results
Use this tab to see what your website is already showing up for - and what content you can improve to climb higher.
2. Pages
Also under Performance, this shows:
Which of your pages are appearing in Google
How many clicks each page gets
Great for spotting your most visible (or invisible) pages.
3. Coverage
This tab tells you if Google is struggling to access or index certain pages.
It’s worth checking now and then - especially if you see warnings like “Page not indexed” or “Redirect error”.
But don’t stress about every warning.
Many of them are completely fine or temporary.
4. Sitemaps
This is where you can submit your sitemap (often at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml).
It’s a simple way to help Google discover your new or updated pages faster.
How to Use GSC to Actually Improve Your SEO
Here’s what to do with all this data:
✅ Find out what you’re ranking for
Look under Performance → Queries. If you see search terms where your site is showing but not getting clicks, that’s a clue:
→ Improve or update your content to match those searches better.
✅ Spot your top pages
Find out which of your pages get the most clicks. Then ask:
→ Can I add internal links to other pages?
→ Can I expand this into a more in-depth guide?
✅ Check for hidden problems
Every now and then, check Coverage for any major issues - especially if a key page drops out of Google suddenly.
Keep It Simple: You Don’t Need to Be an Expert
You don’t need to check Google Search Console every day.
Even once a month is enough to catch insights, spot problems, and take action.
The trick is not to get overwhelmed.
Start small. Focus on one or two things. Use it to learn, not just look.
And If You're a Local Business in the SO Area...
You don’t have to do this alone.
At SO SEO, I help local businesses use tools like Google Search Console to improve their rankings with zero jargon and no overwhelm.
If you’d like a hand figuring out what’s working on your site (and what needs a boost), just give me a shout.
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that shows how your website performs in search - including what people search to find you, which pages get seen, and if there are any technical issues.
Do I need Google Search Console for my local business?
Yes - it’s one of the most valuable (and free) SEO tools available. It helps you understand how your site shows up in Google and where to make improvements.
Is Search Console the same as Google Analytics?
No - Search Console focuses on how your site appears in search results, while Analytics tracks user behaviour once they’re on your site.
What’s the most useful thing in Search Console?
The “Performance” tab. It shows what people are typing into Google to find your site - and how often you’re appearing and getting clicks for each one.
Is Google Search Console hard to use?
Not with the right approach. You can ignore most of it at the beginning and focus on just one or two tabs that help with SEO - like Performance and Pages.
