What is Google Search Console, and do I need it?
Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that shows how your website is doing in Google Search: which searches show your site, how often people click, and whether Google can find and index your pages. If you have a website and want customers to find it on Google, you should set it up. It costs nothing.
ShoaibUpdated 3 min read
What does it actually show me?
| Report / tool | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Performance | Clicks, impressions, click-through rate and average position, by search query, page, country and device |
| URL Inspection | Whether Google has indexed a page and why or why not, with an option to test the live page and request indexing |
| Sitemaps | Lets you submit your sitemap and see any errors Google found reading it |
| Links | Which sites link to yours |
Search Console Help says the Performance report shows three months of data by default, and you can change the date range.
Do I really need it?
Search Console Help is clear that you don't need to sign up to appear in Google. But without it you're guessing. It's where Google tells you about indexing problems, and it can send you alerts about spam or security issues. It's also the only place to see the actual searches that bring people to your site.
How do I start?
- Sign in to Search Console with a Google account.
- Add your website and verify that you own it.
- Submit your sitemap in the Sitemaps report.
- Check back after a few days. Data takes time to fill in.
For the full steps to getting found, see how to get your website to show up on Google.
What if the searches I want aren't showing?
That's normal early on, because SEO takes time. For those searches, a search ad can put you on the page now. See how Google Ads actually works.
Want Search Console set up and read for you as part of your digital marketing? See our SEO, GEO & AEO service.