Setting up Google Search Console: a guide for businesses

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google. It shows you which search terms your site appears for, how often it is clicked and whether Google has problems with it. Setting it up is worth it for every business with a website.

Step 1: Add a property

Go to search.google.com/search-console and sign in with your Google account, ideally the one that also manages your Business Profile. Then you add a so-called property. There are two types:

• Domain property: covers all variants of your domain, with and without www as well as http and https. This is usually the best choice.
• URL prefix property: only covers exactly the address you enter.

Step 2: Verify ownership

You verify a domain property with a DNS record. Google shows you a TXT record that you add in the domain settings with your provider. That usually takes just a few minutes. It can take a little longer until the record is visible everywhere.

For a URL prefix property there are other ways, for example a small HTML file on the server or a meta tag in the source code.

Step 3: Submit a sitemap

A sitemap is a list of all pages of your website for search engines. It is usually located at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. In Search Console, open "Sitemaps", enter the address and click "Submit". This way Google learns about new pages faster.

The most important reports

• Performance: clicks, impressions, average position and the search queries your site appears for. This is where you see how customers really search for you.
• Pages: which pages are in Google's index and which are not, each with a reason.
• URL inspection: check a single address and request reindexing after changes.
• Core Web Vitals: how fast your pages load for real visitors, once enough data is available.
• Security and manual actions: notices if Google has detected a problem such as malware or a policy violation.

What you should look at regularly

For a small business, a look once a month is enough. Check the performance report: which search queries bring clicks? Are there terms where you are shown often but rarely clicked? Then it is worth revising the title and description of the matching page. Google also sends you an email if there are serious problems.

Frequently asked questions

Is Search Console the same as Google Analytics?

No. Search Console shows how your site performs in Google Search. Analytics measures what visitors do on your site and usually requires consent on the website. Search Console runs entirely at Google and adds nothing to your site, apart from a file or meta tag if you choose that verification method.

Will it make me easier to find?

Not automatically. But Search Console shows you where to start and helps you spot errors early.