If you’re starting your SEO journey and want a free tool that gives you real insights directly from Google — Google Search Console (GSC) is your best friend.
At first, I had no idea how to use GSC. But once I explored it, I realized how powerful it is for improving website performance, tracking search traffic, and fixing issues that stop your pages from ranking.
Let me walk you through exactly how I use Google Search Console to improve SEO, step by step.
What Is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is a free tool by Google that helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your site’s presence in search results.
You don’t need to sign up to appear on Google, but using GSC helps you understand:
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Which keywords are bringing traffic
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Which pages are ranking
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If your website has technical issues
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Whether Google is indexing your pages correctly
It’s like having direct feedback from Google — and that’s gold for SEO.
How to Set Up Google Search Console
Before using it for SEO, you need to set it up:
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Click “Start Now” and sign in with your Google account
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Add Your Website
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Use Domain (for full site) or URL prefix (for a specific URL)
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Verify Ownership
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You can do this using DNS, HTML tag, Google Analytics, or GTM
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Once verified, your dashboard will show data (it may take 24–48 hours)
Key Ways to Use Google Search Console for SEO
Now, here’s how you can actually use GSC to improve your SEO:
1. Check Performance Report
Go to Performance > Search results to see:
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Total Clicks
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Impressions
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Average CTR (Click-Through Rate)
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Average Position
What I Do:
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Look at which queries (keywords) are getting the most impressions
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Identify pages with high impressions but low clicks — maybe I need better titles or meta descriptions
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Filter by country to see where my traffic is coming from
2. Find and Fix Indexing Issues
Go to Pages under Indexing to check:
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Which pages are indexed
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Which are not, and why (errors or exclusions)
What I Do:
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Click on a page with issues, read the explanation (e.g. “Crawled – currently not indexed”)
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Improve the page (add content, fix errors), and click “Request indexing”
3. Submit a Sitemap
A sitemap helps Google understand your website structure better.
Go to Sitemaps → Enter your sitemap URL (usually yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml)
Why It Matters:
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Google discovers your pages faster
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Helps with better crawl coverage
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Can highlight errors in specific sections of your site
4. Monitor Mobile Usability
Under Experience > Mobile Usability, GSC tells you if your site is mobile-friendly.
What I Look For:
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Text too small to read
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Clickable elements too close
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Content wider than screen
Mobile experience is a Google ranking factor, so fixing these boosts your SEO.
5. Check Core Web Vitals
Located in the Experience section — it shows how your site performs in terms of speed, responsiveness, and visual stability.
My SEO Tip:
A fast and stable site keeps users happy, reduces bounce rates, and improves rankings.
6. Use URL Inspection Tool
This lets you see how Google sees a specific page.
What I do:
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Paste any URL to check if it’s indexed
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If not, I click Request Indexing
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It also shows if the page is mobile-friendly and has any crawling issues
7. Track Backlinks (External Links)
Go to Links > External Links to see who’s linking to you.
Why This Helps:
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More backlinks = more authority
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You can identify which content people love to link to
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You can reach out for more link-building opportunities
Bonus: Improve SEO Based on GSC Data
Here’s how I actively use the data to improve:
| GSC Insight | What I Do |
|---|---|
| Keywords with low CTR | Rewrite title tags & meta descriptions |
| Pages not indexed | Fix errors, add content, submit for indexing |
| Declining clicks | Check if rankings dropped or competitors improved |
| High impressions, low clicks | Improve snippet, add FAQs, optimize for intent |
| No backlinks | Start link-building outreach for those pages |
Google Search Console is more than just a dashboard — it’s a roadmap. It shows you where your site stands and what it needs to perform better on Google.When I first started, it felt overwhelming, but now it’s one of the first places I go whenever I want to improve my SEO. And best of all — it’s free.
If you’re trying to grow your site organically, Google Search Console is a must-use tool. Don’t just set it up — use it regularly.
Want help interpreting your Search Console data or have questions about a feature? Drop a comment — let’s grow together!