Can People Find Your Website on Google? Here’s How to Check (Free Google Tool)
If you’ve launched a new website (or had one for a while), you might be wondering:
“Can people actually find me on Google?”
It’s a fair question - especially for local businesses that rely on being seen online. The good news? There’s a free tool from Google that can tell you exactly that.
It’s called Google Search Console, and it’s like a report card for how your website appears in Google Search.
What Is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool that helps you understand how your website shows up on Google. Once your site is connected, you can:
See what search terms (keywords) bring people to your site
Check which pages are being shown in search results — and which aren’t
Spot issues that are stopping Google from indexing (listing) your site
Track clicks and impressions over time to see how your visibility is improving
Why It Matters for Local Businesses
If you run a small business in the SO area, showing up in search is half the battle.
You want people to find you when they search for things like:
“Plumber near me”
“Hairdresser in Southampton”
“Best coffee shop in SO18”
If your pages aren’t being indexed or aren’t performing well, you’ll miss out on local traffic and customers. GSC helps you see where things stand — and what to fix.
How to Set It Up (In Plain English)
Go to Google Search Console
Click ‘Start now’ and sign in with your Google account.
Add your website domain (or URL prefix).
Verify ownership - this might involve adding a small file to your site, or connecting through your domain provider.
(Tip: If you’re using Squarespace, it has a built-in method to verify easily.)Once verified, you’ll start seeing data within a few days.
What to Check First
Once your data starts coming in, focus on:
Performance Report - shows how many people are seeing and clicking your pages
Coverage Report - shows which pages are indexed and if there are any errors
Mobile Usability - makes sure your site works well on phones (important!)
What If My Site Isn’t Showing Up?
This could mean:
Your site is too new (give it a week or two)
Google can’t access some of your pages (check the Coverage tab)
You need to submit a sitemap
You haven’t added enough helpful content yet
If you're unsure what any of that means - that's where I come in.
Here’s how…
Google Search Console is one of the most valuable (and underrated) tools for small businesses wanting to improve their SEO.
It’s free.
It’s powerful.
And it gives you a clearer view of how well your website is actually working.
Want help making sure your site shows up on Google?
Get in touch - I’ll make sure you’re not invisible online.
What is Google Search Console?
It’s a free tool from Google that shows how your website appears in search results and highlights any issues affecting your visibility.
How do I know if my site is on Google?
Google Search Console shows you which of your pages are indexed (listed) on Google, and whether there are problems stopping them from appearing.
Can I use Search Console if I don’t know much about SEO?
The basic features are beginner-friendly — and even just checking the performance and coverage reports gives you helpful insight.
