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Google Search Console: Complete Guide
Learn to use Google Search Console: verify your website, submit sitemap, analyze searches, detect errors and improve your SEO.
Introduction
Google Search Console (GSC) is Google’s free tool that shows you how the search engine sees you. It’s different from Analytics: Analytics tells you what visitors do on your website; Search Console tells you how Google finds you and what errors it has reading it.
If you do SEO, Search Console is your main tool. In this article you’ll see how to use it in depth.
You already have a basic verification guide in our knowledge base. This is the complete usage guide.
What you can do with Search Console
- See if your website is indexed in Google.
- See which searches bring you visits.
- See your average position in each search.
- Detect indexing or mobile usability errors.
- Submit the sitemap so Google reads you sooner.
- See which websites link to you (backlinks).
- Receive alerts if Google detects problems on your website.
How to verify your website
- Go to search.google.com/search-console.
- Add your domain (domain property) or a specific URL (URL prefix property).
- Verify ownership (with a TXT record in DNS, an HTML file or a tag in
<head>). - Done. Google starts collecting data.
TXT record in DNS verification is the most complete, because it covers the entire domain including subdomains. If your domain is at miHosting, you can add the record from the panel.
Main reports
Performance
It’s the most useful report. It shows you:
- Queries: what searches people make to find you.
- Pages: which URLs receive most Google visits.
- Countries: where searches come from.
- Devices: mobile, desktop or tablet.
- Average position: in what position you appear for each search.
- CTR: percentage of people who click after seeing you.
If your average position is 15 but your CTR is low, you can improve the title and description so more people click.
Index coverage
Shows which pages of your website Google has indexed and which it hasn’t. If there are pages you want to rank and they’re not indexed, there’s a problem.
Sitemaps
Here you submit your sitemap (yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml) for Google to read. It’s the way to say “these are all my pages”.
Page experience
Shows if your pages pass Core Web Vitals and if they’re mobile compatible.
Links
Shows which websites link to you (backlinks) and what text they use in links. It’s valuable information for off-page SEO.
How to use Search Console to improve your SEO
1. Review queries that bring you traffic
In Performance → Queries, look at what searches bring you visits. If there are relevant searches where you appear in position 10-20, you can optimize those articles to climb positions.
2. Detect and fix indexing errors
In Coverage, look for pages with errors. If Google can’t index an important page, it won’t appear in results.
3. Submit the sitemap
In Sitemaps, submit yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. If you use WordPress with Yoast or Rank Math, the sitemap generates itself.
4. Review mobile experience
In Page experience → Mobile usability, check there are no errors. If Google detects your website doesn’t look good on mobile, it penalizes you.
5. Request indexing of new URLs
When you publish a new page, you can ask Google to index it in URL Inspection. This way you don’t wait for Google to discover it on its own.
Useful tips
- Review Search Console once a week. No need for more, but don’t let it go months.
- Resolve errors ASAP. An indexing error can cost you visits.
- Use URL inspection. It’s the fastest way to know if a page is indexed.
- Connect GSC with Analytics. This way you also see searches in Analytics.
- Don’t be scared by drops. Traffic fluctuates. Look at trends, not single days.
Common problems
”Not submitted” in sitemap
Check the sitemap is accessible (go to yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml in the browser). If it gives an error, the sitemap isn’t well generated.
Pages not indexed
It may be that Google hasn’t read them yet (patience), that they have noindex, or that there’s an error. Use URL inspection to see the reason.
Sudden traffic drop
Check if there are new errors in GSC, if you’ve made changes to the website or if there’s a penalty. GSC alerts you to security or spam problems.
No search data appears
If your website has little traffic, Google may not show all queries for privacy. It’s normal.
Frequently asked questions
Is Search Console free?
Yes, totally. It’s an official Google tool.
Do I need Search Console if I have Analytics?
Yes, they’re complementary. Analytics measures visitors; Search Console measures how Google sees you.
How long does Google take to index after submitting the sitemap?
From a few days to a few weeks. Indexing isn’t immediate.
Can I ask Google to remove a page from its index?
Yes, with the URL removal tool in GSC. It’s temporary; to make it permanent, use noindex.
Does Search Console tell me my Google position?
Yes, in the Performance report. It shows the average position for each search.
Search Console: the essential SEO tool
Google Search Console is the most important SEO tool. It tells you how Google sees you, what brings you visits and what errors you should fix. Without it, you do SEO blind.
If you need help configuring or interpreting Search Console, at miHosting we advise you. Open a ticket from your client panel.