How to Setup Google Search Console
Google Search Console (GSC) is one of the most important SEO tools every website owner must use. It helps you track your website’s performance on Google Search, find issues, fix errors, and improve your rankings. Setting it up is simple, and once configured, it becomes your main dashboard for website SEO health.
What Is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is a free tool by Google that helps you understand how your website appears in search results. It shows which keywords you rank for, how many clicks you get, indexing issues, mobile usability problems, sitemap errors, and more.
In simple words: GSC tells you how Google sees your website.
How to Setup Google Search Console (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Go to Google Search Console
Visit search.google.com/search-console and log in using your Gmail account.
Step 2: Add a New Property (Your Website)
You’ll see two options:
- Domain Property – Tracks everything across subdomains and protocols
(Example: example.com, www.example.com, http/https → all included) - URL Prefix Property – Tracks one specific URL path
(Example: https://example.com/ only)
Recommended: Use Domain Property for full tracking.
Step 3: Verify Your Website
To prove that the website belongs to you, Google needs verification. You can verify using:
1. DNS Verification (Recommended)
- Copy the TXT record Google gives.
- Login to your domain provider (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hostinger, BigRock).
- Paste the TXT record in your DNS settings.
- Click Verify.
2. HTML File Upload
- Download Google’s HTML file.
- Upload it to your website’s root folder (public_html).
- Click Verify.
3. HTML Tag Method
- Copy a meta tag Google provides.
- Paste it inside your website’s <head> section.
- Click Verify.
4. Google Analytics / Tag Manager
If GA or GTM is installed, verification happens automatically.
Tip: DNS verification is the easiest and most stable option.
Step 4: Submit Your XML Sitemap
After verification, go to:
Indexing → Sitemaps → Add new sitemap
Enter:
sitemap.xml
Click Submit.
A sitemap helps Google crawl your website faster.
Step 5: Allow Google to Crawl Your Pages
Next, Google will begin reading your website.
Within 24–48 hours, you will start seeing data such as impressions, clicks, and indexed pages.
What You Can Do with Google Search Console (Uses)
1. Track Keyword Rankings
See which search queries bring traffic, their impressions, and click-through rate.
2. Monitor Clicks & Impressions
Understand which pages get the most visibility on Google.
3. Find Indexing Errors
Check pages that are:
- Not indexed
- Blocked
- Redirected
- Having server errors
GSC tells you exactly what to fix.
4. Submit New or Updated Pages
After publishing a blog, use URL Inspection → Request Indexing for faster ranking.
5. Improve Mobile Usability
GSC shows if your website has:
- Touch element spacing issues
- Content wider than screen
- Slow mobile responsiveness
6. Check Core Web Vitals
Helps you improve page loading speed and user experience.
7. Discover Backlinks
See websites linking to your domain and top linked pages.
8. Inspect Coverage Reports
Find broken links, duplicate URLs, and crawling issues.
Example: How a Blogger Uses GSC
Suppose you publish a blog titled:
“Best SEO Tools for Beginners”With GSC, you can:
- See which keywords your blog ranks for (e.g., “SEO tools free,” “best SEO tools”).
- Track click-through rate to improve your title.
- Identify indexing issues if the article doesn’t appear in Google.
- Request indexing after updating your content.
- Check how many backlinks your blog receives.