Google Search Console Explained

Google Search Console
Commercial:	yes
Type:	Webmaster tools
Owner:	Google

Google Search Console (formerly Google Webmaster Tools) is a web service by Google which allows webmasters to check indexing status, search queries, crawling errors and optimize visibility of their websites.^[1]

Until 20 May 2015, the service was called Google Webmaster Tools.^[2] In January 2018, Google introduced a new version of the search console, with changes to the user interface. In September 2019, old Search Console reports, including the home and dashboard pages, were removed.^[3]

Features

The service includes tools that let webmasters

• Submit and check a sitemap.^[4]
• Check the crawl rate, and view statistics about when Googlebot accesses a particular site.^[5]
• Receive alerts when Google encounters indexing, spam, or other issues on your site.^[6]
• Show you which sites link to your website.
• Write and check a robots.txt file to help discover pages that are blocked in robots.txt accidentally.^[7]
• List internal and external pages that link to the website.
• Get a list of links which Googlebot had difficulty in crawling, including the error that Googlebot received when accessing the URLs in question.
• Set a preferred domain (e.g. prefer example.com over www.example.com or vice versa), which determines how the site URL is displayed in SERPs.
• Highlight to Google Search elements of structured data which are used to enrich search hit entries (released in December 2012 as Google Data Highlighter).^[8]
• View site speed reports from the Chrome User Experience Report.
• Page Experience Report including - Core Web Vitals, and HTTPS.^[9]
• Receive notifications from Google for manual penalties.^{[10] [11]}
• Provide access to an API to add, change and delete listings and list crawl errors.^[12]
• Check the security issues if there are any with the website. (Hacked Site or Malware Attacks)
• Add or remove the property owners and associates of the web property.
• Check Merchant Listings Report and Product Snippet Report

Google Search Console Insights

Google Search Console Insights, introduced in 2021, is an analytical feature of Google Search Console. It combines data from Google Search Console and Google Analytics, to provide webmasters and content creators with insights into the performance of their content across Google's services.^[13]

Functionality and integration

As an integrated component of Google Search Console, Insights utilizes the data collection capabilities of both Google Search Console and Google Analytics. It offers a unified dashboard that shows how content is discovered by audiences and how it interacts with them. This feature aims to bridge the gap between website performance metrics and user interaction data, facilitating a deeper understanding of content engagement and search performance.^[14]

Development

Although Google Search Console Insights offers significant potential, it has remained in beta since its launch. This extended beta phase has prompted concerns among some users regarding the timeline for its final release. The ongoing beta status may contribute to uncertainties about the stability and reliability of its features, which could affect user adoption and trust in its effectiveness.

Google Search Console Insights is regularly updated in response to user feedback and the evolving needs of the webmaster community. These updates are aimed at enhancing the tool's analytical capabilities and the accuracy and relevance of the data it presents, ensuring it remains useful for its intended audience.

See also

• Bing Webmaster Tools
• Google Insights for Search
• Google Analytics
• Schema.org
• Google Tag Manager
• Google PageSpeed
• Google Optimize

External links

• Documentation to Improve SEO | Google Search Central
• Google Search Console (New version)
• Web site: Official Google Webmaster Central Blog . 2010-02-16 . Webmaster Central Blog . 2010-02-16.
• Web site: Official Google Webmaster Central Help Forum . 2010-02-16 . Webmaster Central Help Forum . 2010-02-16.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Linking Google Analytics to Webmaster Tools. 2021-04-08. Google Developers. en.
2. Web site: Announcing Google Search Console - the new Webmaster Tools. 2015-05-21.
3. Web site: Saying goodbye to the old Search Console. 2019-09-10.
4. Web site: SEO Starter Guide: The Basics Google Search Central. 2021-04-08. Google Developers. en.
5. Web site: Crawl Stats report - Search Console Help . 2023-04-05 . support.google.com.
6. Web site: About Search Console - Search Console Help . 2023-09-02 . support.google.com.
7. Web site: How To Use Search Console Google Search Central. 2021-04-08. Google Developers. en.
8. Web site: How to use Google Data Highlighter, part 1. Boudreaux. Ryan. 2013-06-18. TechRepublic. 2015-09-04.
9. Web site: Page Experience report - Search Console Help . 2023-04-05 . support.google.com.
10. Web site: DeMers. Jayson. 3 Steps to Take When You Suspect an Algorithmic Penalty From Google. searchenginejournal.com. 7 March 2014.
11. Web site: Cutts. Matt. View manual webspam actions in Webmaster Tools. 7 March 2014.
12. Web site: Webmaster Tools API Google Developers. Google Developers. 2015-06-02.
13. Web site: 2021-06-17 . Improve your content with Search Console Insights . 2024-05-07 . Google . en-us.
14. Web site: Google Search Console Insights behind the curtains Google Search Central Blog . 2024-05-07 . Google for Developers . en.