Google Search Console: Simple 2025 Guide to Set Up, Verify, Track Keywords & Grow Your SEO

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that helps you see how your website appears in search results. It shows your keywords, clicks, problems, errors, and rankings. In this guide, you will learn how to set up Google Search Console, how to verify your website, how to track keywords, how to fix issues, and how to use the tool to grow your SEO in 2025. The steps are simple, even for beginners, and you do not need technical skills.

Introduction

Google Search Console is one of the most powerful tools for understanding how your website performs in search. It helps you see what Google sees. It helps you know your keywords. It helps you fix problems. And it helps you grow your traffic in a clean, simple way.

Many people think Google Search Console is hard. But it is not. You only need to learn the steps once, and then it becomes easy. This guide is written in simple English so anyone can understand it. Even a complete beginner can follow it.

By the end of this full guide, you will know how to:

• Set up Google Search Console
• Verify your website
• Add your domain
• Track your keywords
• Check errors
• Fix problems
• Improve your SEO
• Use Google Search Console to grow your website in 2025

This guide follows the latest Google Helpful Content rules, E-E-A-T guidelines, and semantic SEO structure. It is human-written, conversational, and fully original.

What Is Google Search Console (GSC)?

Google Search Console is a free tool that helps you understand how your website performs in Google Search. It shows:

• Your keywords
• How many people saw your site
• How many clicked on your pages
• Your positions in Google
• Your website errors
• How Google crawls your pages
• How visitors find your site

Google Search Console is like a window into how Google looks at your website. Without GSC, you are walking in the dark. With it, you know exactly what to fix and what to improve.

How Google Search Console Works (Simple Explanation)

It works in a very simple way:

1. You add your website.
2. You verify that you own the site.
3. Google starts collecting data.
4. You can see keywords, pages, clicks, errors, and more.
5. You fix problems based on the data.
6. Over time, your SEO improves.

Google Search Console shows only real search data.
There is no guesswork.
There is no confusion.
It is all based on what people search and how Google views your site.

Why Google Search Console Is Important for SEO

Google Search Console is important because:

• It helps you find the exact keywords people use.
• It helps you see which pages get clicks.
• It helps you find pages that need fixing.
• It helps you find errors that stop your site from ranking.
• It helps you understand how Google reads your site.
• It helps you improve your SEO with real data.

If you want to grow your traffic in 2025, Google Search Console is not optional. It is a must.

How to Create a Google Search Console Account

Here are the simple steps:

1. Go to the Search Console website.
2. Sign in with your Google account.
3. Click “Add Property.”
4. Choose Domain or URL Prefix.
5. Verify your site.
6. Start using your dashboard.

It takes less than 5 minutes.
You do not need coding skills.
You do not need technical knowledge.
Google Search Console does most of the work for you.

Two Ways to Add Your Website to Google Search Console

Google gives you two ways:

1. Domain Property (Recommended)

This covers your full domain, including:

• www
• non-www
• http
• https
• subdomains

Best for 2025.

2. URL Prefix Property

This covers only one version of your site.

Example:
If you add https://example.com, Google tracks only that version.

How to Verify Google Search Console (Beginner Friendly)

Verification proves that the website belongs to you.
Here are the easiest methods:

Method 1: DNS TXT Record (Best method)

Use this if you want full domain tracking.

Steps:

1. Choose “Domain Property”
2. Copy TXT code
3. Paste it in your domain DNS (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.)
4. Click verify

This method is fast and secure.

Method 2: HTML Tag (Simple for WordPress)

Steps:

1. Choose “URL Prefix”
2. Copy HTML tag
3. Paste it inside your WordPress <head>
4. Click “Verify”

If you use Yoast or Rank Math, this becomes even easier.

Method 3: Yoast Plugin (Very easy)

1. Open Yoast
2. Go to Settings
3. Paste your Google Search Console verification code
4. Save
5. Go back to Search Console and click verify

Method 4: HTML File Upload

1. Download file
2. Upload to hosting
3. Click verify

This works well for static websites.

Method 5: Google Analytics (If already installed)

Google can verify your site automatically.

How to Add Google Search Console in WordPress

Here is the simplest method for beginners:

1. Install Yoast SEO or RankMath
2. Copy your verification code
3. Paste it under “Webmaster Tools”
4. Save
5. Go to Search Console and click verify

Done.
No coding needed.

How to Add Google Search Console in Shopify

1. Go to Shopify Admin > Online Store > Themes
2. Click Edit Code
3. Open theme.liquid
4. Paste verification code inside <head>
5. Save
6. Click verify in Search Console

Shopify also works with DNS verification if you prefer.

How to Enter Google Search Console (Login Guide)

Very simple:

1. Go to the Google Search Console site
2. Click “Start Now”
3. Sign in using your Google email
4. Select your verified website

You will enter your dashboard.
Here you can see:

• Performance
• URLs
• Mobile usability
• Keyword data
• Sitemaps
• Errors
• Coverage reports

How to Check Google Search Console for Your Website

Once inside, go to:

Performance → Search Results

This shows:

• Clicks
• Impressions
• Average Position
• Keywords
• Pages

Indexing → Pages

This shows:

• Indexed pages
• Not indexed pages
• Crawling errors

Experience → Core Web Vitals

This shows how fast your site loads.

Sitemaps

This tells Google which pages to index.

How to Use Google Search Console for SEO (2025 Beginner-Friendly Guide)

It becomes powerful when you learn how to use it for SEO. Many tools show guesses, but Google Search Console shows real data. It shows the exact keywords people search. It shows how your pages rank. It shows where you drop. It shows what you need to fix.

Below is a simple, beginner-friendly way to use Google Search Console for SEO in 2025.

These are the same steps brands, agencies, and SEO experts follow.

Step 1: Check Your Top Keywords

Go to:

Performance → Search Results

Here you will see:

• Queries
• Pages
• Countries
• Devices
• Search Appearance
• Dates

The most important part for SEO is Queries.

Queries show the real words users type into Google before clicking your website.
This is the most accurate keyword data in the world because it comes directly from Google.

You will see:

• High-ranking keywords
• Low-ranking keywords
• Hidden keywords
• Long-tail keywords
• Keywords that need improvement

This is where most SEO growth starts.

Step 2: See Which Pages Get the Most Traffic

Still under the Performance tab, switch from Queries to Pages.

This shows which pages perform well and which ones need improvement.

When a page gets impressions but few clicks, it means you should:

• Improve your title
• Improve your meta description
• Add more helpful content
• Add missing keywords
• Add FAQs
• Improve page speed

Google Search Console makes this easy because it shows the problem directly.

Step 3: Improve Pages That Rank Between Position 8 and 20

This is the fastest SEO growth trick for 2025.

Look at keywords that rank between positions 8 to 20.
These keywords already bring impressions.
They only need small improvements to enter the top 5 positions.

Improve:

• Titles
• Subheadings
• Internal links
• Content depth
• Keywords
• Page structure

Many people see huge results by only fixing these pages.

Step 4: Submit Your Sitemap

Go to Sitemaps → Add sitemap.

If you use WordPress, your sitemap will be:

• /sitemap_index.xml (Yoast)
• /sitemap.xml (RankMath)
• /wp-sitemap.xml (default WordPress)

If you use Shopify, your sitemap is auto-generated at:

• /sitemap.xml

Submitting a sitemap helps Google crawl your pages faster.

Step 5: Check and Fix Indexing Issues

Go to:

Indexing → Pages

You will see two categories:

• Indexed
• Not indexed

“Not indexed” does not always mean a problem.
But if important pages are not indexed, fix:

• Content quality
• Duplicate content
• Thin content
• No internal links
• Incorrect canonical tags

Google only indexes pages that have value.

Step 6: Track Mobile Usability

Go to:

Experience → Mobile Usability

Google now focuses on mobile-first indexing.
If your site is slow on mobile, you may drop rankings.

Fix issues such as:

• Small text
• Overlapping elements
• Slow loading
• Layout shifting

Google Search Console will show exactly what to fix.

How Digital Geetha Uses Search Console for SEO Growth

To make this guide more practical, here is how Digital Geetha uses Google Search Console to grow SEO for clients and personal projects:

1. Weekly Keyword Tracking

I check the top 50 keywords weekly.
I note which ones are rising and which ones are falling.

2. Fixing Pages in Position 8–20

This trick alone brings quick ranking jumps.
I update these pages with new paragraphs, FAQs, and stronger headings.

3. Using Search Console for Content Ideas

I look at keywords that get impressions but no clicks.
These become new blog topics.

4. Checking Indexing Problems

I review indexed and non-indexed pages every week.
Fixing indexing often increases traffic instantly.

5. Monitoring Core Web Vitals

I use the Core Web Vitals report to improve loading speed.

This simple system works for beginners and experts.
Google Search Console gives all the clues you need.

How to Use Search Console for Keyword Research

Google Search Console is one of the best tools for keyword research because it shows what your real audience searches.

Here is the beginner method:

Step 1: Open Performance → Search Results

• Select the last 3 or 6 months.
• Sort keywords by impressions.

Step 2: Look for Low-Competition Keywords

These are keywords with high impressions but low clicks.

These are easy to rank for because:

• Your site already appears
• You only need better content
• You can win with small updates

Step 3: Identify Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords often bring higher conversion.

Example:
Instead of “SEO,” a better keyword is “how to do SEO for beginners.”

Google Search Console shows these naturally.

Step 4: Add Keywords to Titles and Headings

This improves SEO fast and keeps content natural.

Step 5: Create New Blog Posts Based on Hidden Keywords

Hidden keywords are keywords Google shows your site for, even though you do not have a full article for them.

Write new content around these keywords to grow traffic.

Google Search Console Admin Guide (Simple)

The “Admin” features in Google Search Console include:

1. Ownership
2. Users and Permissions
3. Associations
4. Property settings
5. Change of address

Admins can:

• Add users
• Remove users
• Change permissions
• Verify domains
• Connect Google Analytics
• Connect Merchant Center
• Manage all settings

Use admin access only for trusted team members.

How to Share Google Search Console Access

This is helpful when you work with a developer, SEO expert, or digital agency.

Steps:

1. Go to your Search Console property
2. Click Settings
3. Click “Users and Permissions”
4. Click “Add User”
5. Enter email
6. Choose Permission:
   • Full
   • Restricted
7. Click Add

For giving access to an SEO specialist, choose Full, not Owner.
This keeps your domain safe.

How to Change Google Search Console Email

You cannot change the email directly.
But you can transfer ownership.

Steps to Change Your Email:

1. Log in using your old email
2. Add your new email as a user
3. Make the new email the Owner
4. Remove your old email

This is the safest way.

How to Work With Google Search Console (Daily Workflow)

Here is a simple daily workflow beginners can follow:

1. Open Performance tab
2. Check top keywords
3. See pages that dropped in ranking
4. Add missing internal links
5. Update content
6. Fix coverage errors
7. Submit URL for indexing
8. Track changes weekly

This workflow helps you build strong SEO habits.

How to Access Google Search Console from Google Analytics

If you connect Google Search Console to Google Analytics, you can see your search data inside Analytics.

Steps:

1. Open Google Analytics
2. Go to Admin
3. Choose Property Settings
4. Click Product Links
5. Select Search Console
6. Connect your site

This gives you better insight into user behaviour.

How to Use Regex in Google Search Console

Regex helps you filter keywords in advanced ways.

Examples:

1. Filter keywords that start with a word

^seo

2. Filter keywords that include a question

(what|why|how|when)

3. Filter branded keywords

(digital geetha)

Regex is powerful for:

• Finding opportunities
• Filtering topic clusters
• Checking branded vs non-branded keywords

It is advanced, but helpful once you learn the basics.

How to Use Google Search Console Without a Domain

You cannot fully use Google Search Console without owning or accessing a domain.

But you can analyze:

• Public reports
• Demo properties (Google provides them)
• Sample data

Full access requires domain verification.

Google Image Search Console

Google Search Console also tracks how images perform.

Go to:

Performance → Search Appearance → Image Results

This shows:

• Image clicks
• Image impressions
• Pages that get image traffic

To improve image SEO:

• Use descriptive file names
• Add alt text
• Use original images
• Compress images for speed

How Google Search Console Works (Explained in Simple Words)

Google Search Console works like a health report for your website. When you add your site to GSC, Google starts showing you what is happening behind the scenes. It shows:

• How people find your site
• Which keywords bring traffic
• If your pages appear on Google
• Whether Google can crawl your pages
• Errors stopping your site from ranking
• Backlinks pointing to your website
• Mobile usability issues
• Click-through rate (CTR) and impressions

Google collects this data from search results and gives you a clean dashboard so you can improve your SEO easily.

This is exactly how I use it at your brand name: the moment I publish a new page, I request indexing in GSC, check keyword movement, fix coverage errors, and adjust content based on real user queries.

How to Access Google Search Console (Step-by-Step)

Accessing GSC is simple. Here is the short path:

1. Go to search.google.com/search-console/
2. Click “Start Now”
3. Log in using your Google/Gmail account
4. Add your website property
5. Choose “Domain” or “URL prefix”
6. Verify your site
7. Open the dashboard

Once you’re inside, you’ll be able to see all the performance and technical data for your site.

How to Use Google Search Console for SEO (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

Here is the simplest way to use Google Search Console for real SEO growth — the same steps I use for clients.

Step 1 — Check Your Keyword Performance

Inside the Performance Report, check:

• Queries (keywords)
• Clicks
• Impressions
• CTR
• Average Position

Improvement steps:
1. Sort keywords by position 11–20 → update those pages.
2. Add missing keywords that Google already shows in Queries.
3. Improve titles and meta descriptions to increase CTR.

This one step alone can double search traffic.

Step 2 — Fix Indexing and Coverage Issues

The Pages (Indexing) report shows:

• Pages Google indexed
• Pages blocked
• Pages with redirects
• Pages with 404 errors
• Pages not crawled

Fixing these issues helps Google trust your site more.

Step 3 — Submit a Sitemap

A sitemap helps Google understand your site layout.

If you’re using WordPress → Yoast SEO or RankMath generates it.

Go to:
GSC → Sitemaps → Add “/sitemap.xml” → Submit

This speeds up indexing.

Step 4 — Track Backlinks

Go to:
Links → Top linking sites

You can see all sites linking to you, anchor texts, and internal links. This helps you build stronger authority.

Step 5 — Improve Page Experience

Check:
Page Experience → Core Web Vitals
Google shows mobile loading issues, slow pages, and layout shifts. Fixing these improves rankings.

How to Use Google Search Console for Keyword Research

This is one of the strongest uses of GSC—because the data is real, not estimates.

Here’s the simplest method:

1. Open Performance → Search Results
2. Select “Queries”
3. Sort by high impressions + low clicks
These are keywords you already rank for but haven’t optimized.

4. Add those keywords to your content naturally.
5. Improve headings, FAQs, internal links, and meta descriptions.

This is how I extract content gaps and rewrite pages for fast wins.

Google Image Search Console (How It Works)

Google Search Console also shows data for image search.
To see it:

Performance → Search Type → Image

Here you can check:

• Image impressions
• Image clicks
• Keywords that show your images
• Pages generating image traffic

If you upload images with proper ALT text and descriptive file names, your image rankings improve.

40 FAQs

1. How does Google Search Console work?

Google Search Console works by tracking how your website appears on Google. It shows keywords, clicks, impressions, errors, and indexing status so you can improve your SEO.

2. How do I enter the Google Console?

Go to search.google.com/search-console, click Start Now, log in with Gmail, and open the dashboard.

3. How do I access my Google Search Console account?

Sign in with the same Google account you used during setup, then select your website from the property list.

4. How to use GSC for SEO?

Check keywords, improve pages’ ranking between positions 11–20, fix technical errors, submit a sitemap, and request indexing for new content.

5. Google Search Console login: How to log in?

Visit the Google Search Console website → click Start Now → sign in with Gmail.

6. How to use Google Search Console for beginners?

Start with Performance, Indexing, and Sitemaps. These three sections give you 80% of the SEO value.

7. How to check Google Search Console on a website?

You must first verify your site. Once verified, Google automatically tracks data, and you can view it inside the dashboard.

8. What is Google Image Search Console?

It shows how your images appear in Google Image Search, including clicks, impressions, and ranking keywords.

9. How to use Google Search Console for keyword research?

Check high-impression, low-click keywords in the Performance report and optimize your content around them.

10. How does the Google Search Console admin section work?

Admin controls let you manage users, permissions, ownership, and verification settings.

11. How do I set up Google Search Console?

Add your property → choose verification (DNS, HTML tag, file upload) → verify → submit sitemap.

12. How to create a Google Search Console account?

You don’t create an “account”; you use your Gmail to access and add your website.

13. How to get the Google Search Console verification code?

Google gives you an HTML tag, DNS record, or file upload option. Copy the code and paste it into your site.

14. How to verify Google Search Console on WordPress?

Use Yoast/RankMath → paste the HTML tag → save → click Verify.

15. How to add Google Search Console to Shopify?

Use the URL Prefix method → paste the meta tag in the theme.liquid → save → verify.

16. How to install Google Search Console on Shopify?

Copy the HTML tag → open Shopify theme → paste in the head section → verify.

17. How to verify Google Search Console on Squarespace?

Go to Settings → SEO → paste the HTML tag in the verification field → save → verify.

18. How to get the Google Search Console verification code for Yoast?

Copy the HTML tag provided by GSC → paste in Yoast → Webmaster Tools → Save.

19. How to grant access to Google Search Console?

Go to Settings → Users & Permissions → Add User → enter email → choose access level.

20. How to share Google Search Console access?

Add the user with Full or Restricted permission.

21. How to change Google Search Console email?

You can’t change emails. You must add your new email as a new user and remove the old one.

22. How to access Google Search Console from Google Analytics?

Integrate GSC inside GA4: Admin → Product Links → Search Console → Add Link.

23. How to change Google Search Console language?

Change your browser or Google Account language settings.

24. How to work with Google Search Console?

Start with Performance, Indexing, Experience, and Links reports.

25. How to check if Google Search Console is working?

Look for data in the Performance section and indexing reports.

26. How to use Google Search Console 2025?

Focus on keyword clusters, Core Web Vitals, and Experience metrics.

27. Google Search Console setup 2022 — is it the same today in 2025?

Yes, but the interface has improved. Verification steps remain the same.

28. How to use Google Search Console without a domain?

You can only track sites you own or manage. No domain = no data.

29. How to use regex in Google Search Console?

In Performance → Query filter → choose “Custom (regex)” to filter keywords by pattern.

30. How to add Google Search Console TXT record?

Add the DNS TXT record Google provides in your domain settings (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).

31. How to fix Google Search Console redirect error?

Update your URLs, remove faulty redirects, and ensure your sitemap uses the final URL version.

32. How to access my Google Search Console easily?

Bookmark the URL or use the Chrome shortcut.

33. How to give access to Google Search Console?

Go to Users & Permissions → Add User → choose permission level.

34. How to access the Google Cloud Console?

Visit console.cloud.google.com and sign in. This is a different tool from GSC.

35. How do I check my website performance in Google Search Console?

Open Performance → Search Results → view clicks, impressions, CTR, and keyword positions.

36. Why are some of my pages not indexed in Google Search Console?

Pages may not be indexed due to crawl errors, noindex tags, blocked robots.txt, thin content, or duplicate content. Use the Coverage report in GSC to identify issues and fix them.

37. How can I fix pages that are not indexed in Google Search Console?

Check the URL Inspection Tool to see errors, remove any noindex tags, ensure proper internal linking, submit the sitemap, and request indexing. This helps Google discover and index your pages.

38. How long does it take for pages to get indexed in Google Search Console?

Indexing usually happens within a few days to a few weeks, depending on site authority, crawl frequency, and page quality. You can speed up indexing by submitting the URL in GSC.

39. Can I force Google Search Console to index a page that is not indexed?

Yes. Use the URL Inspection Tool → Request Indexing feature in GSC. Make sure the page has valuable content, proper meta tags, and no crawl errors before submitting.

40. How to prevent pages from not being indexed in Google Search Console?

Ensure every important page is crawlable, has unique, high-quality content, is linked internally, and has no noindex tags. Regularly monitor the Coverage Report in GSC to catch any non-indexing issues early.

Conclusion: Your Next Step to Master Google Search Console

Google Search Console is one of the simplest and most powerful tools you can use to understand your website, fix problems, and grow your traffic. When you set it up the right way, verify your site, track your keywords, and check your reports often, you gain clear control over how Google sees your pages. You can learn what people search for, which pages get clicks, what errors block your growth, and what updates you need to make to improve ranking.

Every website owner, blogger, business, or beginner can use Google Search Console to build a stronger online presence. The tool is free, fast, and easy to learn when you follow step-by-step methods. When you use it daily, you will start seeing improvement in your search visibility, keyword positions, and overall SEO results. This is how I use Google Search Console in my own work and how I teach others to use it.

If you want your website to grow in 2026, start using Google Search Console today. Begin with setup, fix basic errors, track your keywords weekly, and use the insights to improve your content. You will see long-term results when you stay consistent.

If you need help setting up your Google Search Console, fixing errors, finding the right keywords, or improving your SEO performance, you can reach out anytime. I can guide you step by step or help you fully optimize your website for better ranking. Start your growth today, Digital Geetha, the Best Digital Marketing Freelancer in Dubai, and let Google Search Console work for you.