Google Search Console Tutorials and Training

Every day tasks with Google Search Console

How to Create a Sitemap for Google Search Console

Creating a sitemap for Google Search Console is crucial for SEO. This guide simplifies the process with step-by-step instructions for WordPress and non-WordPress users. Learn to create, submit, and maintain your sitemap to ensure search engines index your site efficiently, improving visibility and driving more traffic to your content. ...Read more.

An introduction to Google Search Console

This introduction to Google Search Console takes you through all the important areas of Search Console and gives you an overview of why they are important, and how to get the most out of them. ...Read more.

Google Search Console Glossary

Terms and definitions for everything you may come across in Google Search Console. ...Read more.

How to Link Google Search Console to GA4

In this blog post, we will give you a step-by-step guide to show you how to connect your Google Search Console account to your GA4 property. This will give you access to several reports and metrics, not usually found within GA4 which will give you even more data to make better decisions for your business. ...Read more.

How to Use Google Search Console for Keyword Research

Read up on how to use Google Search Console for keyword research. You will learn how to find quick win keyword opportunities, how to optimise individual pages / articles, and how to find and segment your brand traffic from your non-brand traffic. All without leaving Google Search Console. ...Read more.

How to use Google Search Console to optimize articles

How to use the query data in the Google Search Console performance reports to optimize and improve your existing articles and content. ...Read more.

Using Regular Expressions in Google Search Console

Do advanced filtering on page and query data in Google Search Console using regular expressions (RegEx). We take you through how to use them in GSC, and have some great examples to get you started. ...Read more.

XML Sitemaps – a guide for SEOs

What are XML sitemaps, why your site should have them, and how are they used by Google to find pages on your site. ...Read more.

Redirects guide – what they are and why they matter for SEO

Everything you need to know as an SEO about redirects. When they are useful, which type to use, plus common issues and how to troubleshoot any issues you may have. ...Read more.

What is a Canonical Tag and Why Does It Matter for SEO?

In this guide we explain what canonical tags are, and how they can help Google understand which page is the target to rank for a particular topic. We cover reasons to use, best practices, and the correct way to implement canonical tags to keep Googlebot happy. ...Read more.

Robots.txt and SEO

Learn how to properly use your website's robots.txt file. Find out what it does, how to safely use it to block search engines crawling sections of your site, plus common errors and issues people come across when editing it. ...Read more.

Google Search Console Enhancements: The Complete Guide to Using Structured Data

In this article, we'll talk you through what structured data is, what rich results are and all the different elements to be found within the Enhancements section of Google Search Console. ...Read more.

What is Discover in Google Search Console?

This guide delves into the essence of Discover traffic from Google. We talk about what Google Discover traffic is and how to get your content featured within this section of Google's own app. We also talk about the Follow feature, also available directly in Google's search app, how this works and how it relates to Google Discover. ...Read more.

How to Share Access to Google Search Console with Others

This blog post gives you a step-by-step guide to adding users to properties within Google Search Console. We will show you exactly how to do this with screenshots so you can share this with the more junior members of your team. We also use the first part of this guide to explain the different permission levels that GSC offers. ...Read more.

Frequently Asked Questions and Problems

Google Search Console Domain vs URL Prefix

When setting up Google Search Console, you can choose between a domain property and a URL prefix property. A domain property covers all variations of your site, while a URL prefix property targets a specific section. This article explains the differences, pros, and cons of each to help you choose the best option for your site's needs, ensuring effective site management and performance tracking. ...Read more.

What is the Best Google Search Console Alternative?

Discover the top Google Search Console alternative. Learn why SEOTesting is the best choice, with enhanced reporting and testing capacity, saving you time and allowing you to make the most of your Search Console data. ...Read more.

My Google Search Console (GSC) Account Does Not Show Any Data

We go through the most common reasons why your GSC site property may not be showing performance data, with some steps you can take to fix the problem. ...Read more.

What are Impressions in Google Search Console?

We take a look at what the impressions number in Google Search Console represents and how it is calculated. ...Read more.

Google Search Console Data Limitations

While it's hugely valuable and critical to every SEO, being able to understand the limitations of the data available within Google Search Console is important. ...Read more.

Why has my Click Through Rate Dropped in Google Search Console?

Have you seen a big drop in click-through rate reported in Google Search Console even though your keyword ranking hasn't changed? We look at some of the potential reasons for this. ...Read more.

How to Fix Redirect Error in Google Search Console

We review the main reasons the Redirect Error is reported in Google Search Console and the common ways to fix them. ...Read more.

What Does Average Position Mean in Google Search Console?

The Average Position metric in Google Search Console performance reports can be a confusing number. We look at how it's calculated and how best to use it to help your SEO reporting. ...Read more.

Help! Google Search Console is Not Updating

Logging in to your account and finding that Google Search Console is not updating is very inconvenient, especially for SEOs who rely on it to monitor organic performance. In this blog post, we go through the various different reasons your Google Search Console may not be showing up-to-date information and what you can do to fix it. ...Read more.

How to Fix the "Ownership Verification Failed" Error in Google Search Console

Encountering the "Ownership Verification Failed" error in Google Search Console can be frustrating due to a large number of possible causes. This article explores the error's nature, causes, and solutions. From verifying the correct Google account to rectifying server issues, various steps are crucial. Learn how to solve the "Ownership Verification Failed" error within Google Search Console quickly and easily by following the steps outlined in this article. ...Read more.

No Referring Sitemaps Detected – What is this issue? How do I solve it?

What is the "No Referring Sitemaps Detected" message, often displayed on various pages of your page indexing report within Google Search Console? In this blog post, we take you through what the message means, how you can fix it, and we will answer some of the web's most searched questions surrounding this error message. ...Read more.

What Data Does Google Search Console Provide About My Website?

This article answers the question of what data Google Search Console is capable of holding about your website at any given time. It also answers a few other questions about what GSC is and whether it can be classed as a ‘proper’ SEO tool. To find out more, give the post a read. ...Read more.

Google Search Console’s Best Features According to the Experts at SEOTesting

This blog post provides an in-depth guide to Google Search Console’s best features. It covers critical features such as the Performance Report, URL Inspection Tool, Page Indexing Report, Sitemaps Report, and Page Experience Report. The post explains how to use these features to monitor website performance, resolve indexing issues, and enhance user experience, ultimately increasing a site’s visibility in Google search results. ...Read more.

How Long Does Google Search Console Keep My Data?

This article explores Google Search Console's 16-month data retention policy, detailing the types of data held, its uses for SEO, and the challenges posed by this limitation. It suggests alternatives like SEOTesting for longer-term data storage and analysis to enhance website performance in Google's search results. ...Read more.

Does Google Search Console Include Paid Traffic?

This article addresses a common query about whether Google Search Console (GSC) includes paid traffic data. It clarifies that GSC exclusively tracks organic search metrics and does not cover paid campaign data from Google Ads. The article suggests using Google Ads or GA4 for insights into paid traffic. Additionally, it provides an overview of the types of data GSC offers, including queries, page popularity, and traffic by country and device. ...Read more.

What is the Difference Between Google Analytics and Google Search Console?

We delve into the differences between Google Search Console and Google Analytics. We explore each tool, its strengths and weaknesses, and whether they can be used together. On top of all this, we also give you details on the key differences between the tools. ...Read more.

How Accurate is Google Search Console?

This article delves into Google Search Console's accuracy and usefulness for SEO, detailing its reliability in providing insights on website traffic, ranking, and issues. It highlights the differences between first-party and third-party data, addressing the precision of clicks, impressions, and average positions, and explains potential discrepancies with Google Analytics data. ...Read more.

Coverage Report Statuses

Google Search Console Errors: How to Find and Fix Them All

When you see errors in your Google Search Console Page Indexing Report, it can be difficult to find out what the errors mean and how to solve them. In this article, we take you through all the Google Search Console error codes, what they mean and how to fix them. ...Read more.

Crawled – currently not indexed. What is it and how to fix?

Learn what the URL status 'Crawled - currently not indexed' in Google Search Console means. Some common issues that can lead to this status being set for a page, and how to go about fixing them. ...Read more.

Discovered - currently not indexed. What it is, and how to fix it?

Learn what the URL status 'Discovered - currently not indexed' in Google Search Console means. Some common issues that can lead to this status being set for a page, and how to go about fixing them. ...Read more.

Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt. What is it and how to fix it?

What does 'Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt' mean when it's reported in Google Search Console, and how do you go about resolving the reported issues? ...Read more.

How to Fix the Excluded by ‘Noindex’ Tag Error in Google Search Console?

The excluded by 'noindex' status is a coverage status given by Google Search Console to show when a page has not been included in Google's index. In this article, we will explain more about this status and how to fix it on your own website. ...Read more.

How to Fix Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag in Google Search Console

Discover the significance of the Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag message in Google Search Console. Uncover the role of canonical tags in managing duplicate content and get insights into whether fixing this error is necessary. Follow our step-by-step guide to resolve the issue and enhance your website's SEO performance. ...Read more.

How to fix Duplicate, Google Chose Different Canonical than User in Google Search Console

This article will show you why Duplicate, Google Chose Different Canonical than User happens, how you can find pages with this indexing error, and the steps you can take to fix it. ...Read more.

Duplicate Without User-Selected Canonical – How to Fix this Indexing Issue

Discover how to resolve the Duplicate Without User-Selected Canonical error on Google Search Console. This error indicates duplicate content without a user-defined canonical tag, potentially harming SEO and user experience. Learn why it matters, how to identify affected pages, and various solutions including 301 redirects, canonical tags, and more. ...Read more.

How to Fix Server Error (5xx) in Google Search Console

This article highlights the importance of addressing and resolving 5xx server errors. These errors can negatively impact your website performance, rankings and user experience. This article covers their significance, causes, and steps to fix them. Proactively addressing these issues is crucial for maintaining a reliable online presence and ensuring long-term SEO success. ...Read more.

URL Blocked by Robots.txt – What is this Error? How do I Fix It?

The Blocked by Robots.txt error within Google Search Console can sometimes be a complicated error to find and fix. In this article, we’ll take you through exactly what the error is and what it means for your website. We will also give you the step-by-step guide on how to find URLs affected by this error and how to fix the error. ...Read more.

How to Fix the Submitted URL Marked ‘Noindex’ Error in Google Search Console

In this blog post, you will learn everything you need to know about the common Google Search Console error, Submitted URL Marked 'Noindex'. You will learn what the error means, be talked through how to find all the URLs on your site that have this error. You will also be taken through a step-by-step guide on how to fix the error. ...Read more.

How to Fix the Blocked Due to Unauthorised Request (401) Error in Google Search Console

Use this blog post to learn all about the Blocked Due to Unauthorised Request (401) error within Google Search Cole. Within the article, we talk about what the error code is, how to use your Page Indexing Report to find impacted URLs, and, of course, how to fix the error code. ...Read more.

How to Fix Blocked Due to Access Forbidden (403) Error in Google Search Console

Within this blog post, you will learn all about the complex Blocked Due to Access Forbidden (403) error within Google Search Console. We give you all the information you need to know. We'll talk through what the error is, what causes the error, where to find impacted pages, and how to fix the error within your GSC dashboard. ...Read more.

How to Fix URL Not Found (404) Errors in Google Search Console

This blog post aims to teach you all you need to know about any URL Not Found (404) errors inside Google Search Console. We'll use this post to explain what the errors are, whether they need to be fixed, where to find them in your Google Search Console account, and how to fix them. ...Read more.

How to Fix the Blocked Due to Other 4xx Issue in Google Search Console

This blog post will teach you all you need to know about the Blocked Due to Other 4xx Issue that constantly appears within your Google Search Console account. We will use this post to explain what the error is, what causes the error, where to find instances of the error within GSC, and (of course) how to fix the error. ...Read more.

How to Fix a URL Blocked by the Page Removal Tool in Google Search Console

In this article, you will learn how to fix a URL that is being blocked by the Page Removal Tool in Google Search Console. You’ll learn what the error is and what it means, whether seeing the error means there is a problem with your SEO, how to find instances of URLs being blocked and, of course, how to fix it! ...Read more.

Using the Google Search Console API

Introduction to Google Search Console API with C#

Get started working with the Google Search Console API and C# code with this complete walk through on how to get access to query data in Search Console. ...Read more.

Striking distance keywords report using Google Search Console API and C#

Filter the query data coming back from the Google Search Console API, so we report on queries that are on page 2. These 'Striking Distance' keywords are low hanging fruit that we can work on to get them into the top 10 search results. ...Read more.