Google Search Console: What is it and why should you be using it?

We’ve written quite a bit about how SEO (search engine optimization) is a critical part of website management. One of the leading search engines, Google, has made it easy to monitor and maintain your website’s SEO. Google Search Console is a free service that you absolutely should take advantage of. Here’s a closer look at what Google Search Console is and why you should be using it.

What is Google Search Console?

Google Search Console is a free service that Google offers to everyone. Don’t worry if you haven’t signed up for it yet…your website will still be included in Google search results even if you don’t have an account! The free service will help you understand how Google bots see your site, as well as offer suggestions for making improvement. If you have ever wondered how your site performs in search results, then Google’s Search Console is the answer. You can use the information to see how your site is performing in Google search results and troubleshoot issues early.

These are the free tools and reports that this search console provides:

• Confirm that Google is crawling your site.
• Request re-indexing of new or updated content.
• Notify you of indexing problems so you can address them.
• View Google Search traffic data to determine how your content is performing.
• Receive alerts when Google encounters issues on your site.
• Identify and troubleshoot issues for mobile usability and other issues.

Why Should You Use It?

The free tools and reports that Google Search Console makes available are a big part of why you should use this free service. Who doesn’t want a behind the scenes look at how their website is performing in Google’s search results? The ability to trouble shoot issues and improve your visibility in search results is invaluable. The more your site appears in search results, the more traffic your site will receive! Increased traffic to your site means more opportunities for your business or brand to reach clients and customers.

Obviously, anyone who is a site administrator for your website will benefit from access to the search console’s information. Site admin and web developers can use the service to resolve data errors, monitor and fix  server errors, address site load issues, and more. Search Console will help maintain the healthy operation of your website.

You don’t have to manage the technical side of your website to find Google Search Console useful, however. Business owners and marketers can glean a lot of useful information from the reports. Focusing on online marketing will help you optimize your site’s performance. You can use the information from Search Console reports to conduct marketing analysis of your site and make informed decisions about your site’s content.

Are you ready to add this powerful, free tool to your cache of website building tools? Get started by creating an account at Google Search Console, or you can leave it to the pros. The team at Houndstooth Media Group is happy to help you monitor and make the best use of your Google Search Console results.