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What Is Google Search Console?

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that helps you:

  • Monitor your website’s performance in search

  • See which keywords bring traffic

  • Submit sitemaps

  • Fix indexing issues

  • Improve SEO performance

Create / Log Into Google Account

Go to:
👉 https://search.google.com/search-console

Log in using your Google account.

If you don’t have one, create it first.

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Add Your Website Property

When you click “Add Property”, you’ll see two options:

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  • Option A: Domain Property (Recommended)

  • Tracks everything:

  • http & https

  • www & non-www

  • All subdomains

    Example: example.com

Option B: URL Prefix
Tracks only the exact URL entered.


Example: https://www.example.com/

Verify Website Ownership
Google must confirm you own the site.

If You Chose Domain Property

You must verify via DNS record.

  1. Copy the TXT record Google provides

  2. Go to your domain provider:

    • GoDaddy

    • Namecheap

    • Cloudflare

  3. Open DNS settings

  4. Add new TXT record

  5. Paste Google’s verification code

  6. Save

Wait 5–30 minutes, then click Verify

If You Chose URL Prefix

You have several verification options:

Option 1: HTML File Upload

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  1. Download verification file

  2. Upload to website root folder via:

    • cPanel

    • FTP

    • Hosting file manager

 

Option 2: HTML Meta Tag

 

Add this inside <head> of homepage:

<meta name="google-site-verification" content="yourcodehere" />

 

Option 3: Google Analytics (If Already Installed)

If you're using Google Analytics, verification can be automatic.

 

Option 4: Google Tag Manager

If you use Google Tag Manager, you can verify instantly.

Submit Your Sitemap (VERY IMPORTANT)

After verification:

  1. Click Sitemaps

  2. Enter:

sitemap.xml

Or:

https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml

  1. Click Submit

What Is a Sitemap?
It’s a file that tells Google:

  • Which pages exist

  • When they were updated

  • Site structure

If you use:

  • WordPress → usually auto-created

  • Shopify → auto-created

  • Wix → auto-created

Typical location:
yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml

Connect Google Analytics (Recommended)

Although separate tools, connecting:

  • Google Analytics

  • Google Search Console

Gives deeper insights like:

  • Keywords + conversions

  • Landing page performance

You can link them inside Google Analytics → Admin → Product Links → Search Console Links.

Understand Main Dashboard Sections

🔎Performance

Shows:

  • Total clicks

  • Impressions

  • CTR

  • Average position

  • Keywords

  • Pages ranking

This is where SEO magic happens.

📄Pages (Indexing Report)

Shows:

  • Indexed pages

  • Not indexed pages

  • Errors

  • Warnings

Fix errors here to improve rankings.

🛠Experience
Includes:

  • Core Web Vitals

  • Mobile usability

  • HTTPS status

🔗 Links
Shows:

  • Backlinks

  • Internal links

  • Top linking sites

🚀  Request Indexing for New Pages

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Whenever you publish new content:

Use top search bar

Paste URL

Click Request Indexing

This speeds up visibility.

⚠️ Common Beginner Mistakes

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❌ Not submitting sitemap
❌ Verifying wrong version (http vs https)
❌ Removing verification tag after setup
❌ Ignoring indexing errors
❌ Not checking performance data

⏳ How Long Until Data Shows?

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Verification: Immediate

Indexing: Few days to few weeks

Performance data: 24–48 hours

Full SEO impact: 3–6 months

🎯 Pro Tips

✔ Always use HTTPS
✔ Fix “Crawled – currently not indexed” pages
✔ Monitor top performing keywords
✔ Improve pages ranking on position 8–20
✔ Submit updated sitemap after major changes

🧠 Quick Checklist

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✅ Add property
✅ Verify ownership
✅ Submit sitemap
✅ Connect Analytics
✅ Check indexing
✅ Monitor performance weekly

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