In this article · 8 sections
- Setting up
- The Performance report
- Pages (indexing) report
- URL Inspection
- Other useful reports
- Monthly routine (15 minutes)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Search Console the same as Google Analytics?
- Why does Search Console show fewer clicks than Analytics?
- How long does data take to appear?
- Need help reading your reports?
Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that shows which searches bring people to your website, which pages are indexed, and what problems Google finds. Every business website should have it set up — it's the closest thing to a direct line to Google.
Setting up
- Go to Search Console and sign in with your Google account.
- Add a property. The Domain property (verified with a DNS TXT record) covers all versions of your site — http, https, www and subdomains. A URL-prefix property is easier to verify via an HTML file or meta tag.
- Verify ownership.
- Submit your XML sitemap (for example
https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml) under Sitemaps.
The Performance report
Shows clicks, impressions, average CTR and average position for your site in Google Search.
- Queries tab: real searches people used — great for content ideas.
- Pages tab: which pages earn the most clicks.
- Countries and devices: where and how people search.
Tip: look for queries with high impressions but low CTR — improve those page titles and descriptions.
Pages (indexing) report
Shows which pages are indexed and why others aren't: "Crawled – currently not indexed", "Duplicate without user-selected canonical", "Not found (404)", "Excluded by noindex". Not every unindexed URL is a problem, but important pages should be indexed.
URL Inspection
Paste any URL to see if it's indexed, when Google last crawled it, and the canonical Google chose. After publishing or updating an important page, use "Request indexing".
Other useful reports
- Core Web Vitals: real-user speed and stability issues.
- HTTPS: pages not served securely.
- Enhancements: structured data errors (breadcrumbs, products, FAQ).
- Security issues and Manual actions: check these first if traffic suddenly drops.
- Links: which sites link to you and your most-linked pages.
Monthly routine (15 minutes)
- Compare last 28 days vs previous period in Performance.
- Check Pages for new errors.
- Check Security issues and Manual actions.
- Note 3–5 new query ideas for content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Search Console the same as Google Analytics?
No. Search Console shows how you appear in Google Search; Analytics shows what visitors do on your website.
Why does Search Console show fewer clicks than Analytics?
Search Console counts only Google Search clicks; Analytics counts all traffic sources.
How long does data take to appear?
Usually a few days after setup.
Need help reading your reports?
Joboo Web sets up Search Console for every site we build. See our GA4 guide or contact us.