If you are new to SEO, one thing that might be stressing you out is Google Search Console (GSC). You see how it’s incredible everywhere but can’t figure out how to use it for your SEO in Geelong.
Here’s the picture:
SEO is important to reach the audience through your website. >> To excel in SEO, you need access to precise data and insights that can help you understand how search engines view your site and identify areas for improvement. >> GSC provides you with the essential data you need.
That’s why understanding GSC is important for SEO. Now, let’s dig deep!
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console, previously known as Google Webmaster Tools, is a powerful and free web service provided by Google. It is designed to help website owners, webmasters, and SEO professionals monitor and improve their website’s performance in Google’s search results.
Using Google Search Console for SEO
Once you set up your website in GSC, you can use it for various reasons. Here are some of the most important for your SEO in Geelong.
1. Monitor Your Website’s Performance
The “Performance” section in Google Search Console is where you can gain insights into how your website is performing in Google’s search results. Here’s what you can do:
- View Search Queries: You can see the search queries that users use to find your website. This data can help you understand which keywords are bringing traffic to your page and which ones need more optimisation.
- Analyse Click-Through Rates (CTR): You can also check the CTR for each search query. If a query has a high impression count but a low CTR, it may be an opportunity to improve your meta descriptions and title tags.
- Track Page Performance: You can view the performance of individual pages on your website. With this, you’ll be able to identify your top-performing pages and the ones that may need improvement.
- Filter and Compare Data: GSC also allows you to filter and compare data by various metrics, such as date range, countries, devices, and more. It helps you to spot trends and make data-driven decisions.
2. Submit and Monitor Your Sitemap
A sitemap is a map for search engines that directs them to find and index your website’s pages. In Google Search Console, you can submit your sitemap to ensure Googlebot can crawl your site efficiently.
Hiring a professional SEO in Geelong can be helpful in this, as it can be slightly technical for some. Otherwise, go to the “Index” section, click on “Sitemaps”, and then click on “Add a new sitemap”. Enter your sitemap’s URL and submit it.
After submitting your sitemap, you can monitor how many of your submitted pages have been indexed by Google. If you notice a significant discrepancy between submitted and indexed pages, investigate potential issues.
3. Fix Crawl Errors
Crawl errors can negatively impact your website’s SEO in Geelong. You can use GSC to identify and address these errors. Common crawl errors include:
- 404 Not Found Errors: These occur when a page on your website is no longer available. Use Search Console to identify these pages and either redirect them or update your internal links.
- Server Errors: If Google encounters server errors while crawling your site, it can’t index your pages. Monitor for server errors and work with your hosting provider to resolve them.
- Blocked Resources: Ensure Googlebot can access all of your website’s resources (CSS, JavaScript, images, etc.) by checking for blocked resources in the “Coverage” report.
4. Enhance Mobile Usability
In today’s mobile-first world, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial for SEO. Google Search Console can help you ensure your site is mobile-friendly.
In the “Enhancements” section, you can review the mobile usability report to find any issues that might affect how your website performs on mobile devices. Then, address any errors, such as text that is too small to read or clickable elements that are too close together.
5. Structured Data and Rich Results
Using structured data on your site can help Google understand your content better and display rich results in search. GSC allows you to check if your structured data is valid and see how rich results are performing in the “Enhancements” section.
6. Manage Manual Actions
In some cases, Google might take manual actions against your website if it violates their guidelines. If your site has received a manual action, you can find details and instructions on how to resolve it in the “Security & Manual Actions” section of GSC.
Would You Rather Have Expert SEO in Geelong?
Make My Website is an excellent provider for all digital services in Australia. Whether you need web design in Melbourne or SEO in Geelong, you can freely reach out to them. Its services extend to many locations in Australia.
Head to MMW’s official page and check out more about its services and associated costs. Good luck!
