What is Google Console

Google Search Console used to be called Google Webmaster Tools. It has been an essential part of the Online Marketing toolkit for a considerable amount of time and became considerably more important in 2011 when Google introduced https to it’s https and the dreaded ‘Not Provided’ element to Analytics.
Although not a replacement for detailed search query data, Google has added some tools into Google Search Console that help fill the gap left by “not provided”.

How to set up Google Search Console

Ideally, get set up on Google Analytics first, then adding Google Search Console is very easy. Here is how:
Setting Up Google Analytics

  1. Go to Google Search Console.
  2. First you will need to log in. You can login with the account you created for Analytics.
  3. Once you have successfully logged in, click the “Add A Property” button at the top of the page.
  4. Enter the URL of your website, then click continue.
  5. Next you’ll be asked to verify that you own the website in one of four ways:
    1. If you have access to the root of your website you can upload a html file.
    2. If you manage your hosting yourself, you can verify via your hosting provider.
    3. If you use Google Tag Manager, you can verify via Google Tags.
    4. Or, by far the quickest and easiest method, verify ownership via your Google Analytics Tracking ID.

If you already have a Google Analytics Tracking ID installed, and we would highly recommend that you do, then setting up Google Search Console is very easy. Simply click the Verify button, and that’s it!

If you have any problems setting this up, or have any problems with Google Console in general, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.