How to Use Google Search Console to Improve Your Website Ranking

1 minute read

Google Search Console (GSC) is one of the most powerful free tools for improving your SEO — but many beginners don’t use it to its full potential.

Here’s a practical step-by-step guide to using GSC to grow your rankings.

1. Add and Verify Your Website

To start, you need to connect your site to Google Search Console.

  • Go to the Google Search Console website
  • Add your domain or URL prefix
  • Verify ownership using one of the recommended methods (HTML file, DNS, or Google Tag Manager)

2. Submit Your Sitemap

A sitemap tells Google what pages to crawl.

  • Create a sitemap (usually yoursite.com/sitemap.xml)
  • In GSC, go to Index → Sitemaps
  • Enter the URL and click Submit

This helps Google discover and index your pages faster.

3. Monitor Index Coverage

Check for errors in the Index Coverage section.

  • Look for pages marked as “Excluded” or with “Errors”
  • Fix issues like redirects, soft 404s, or noindex tags
  • Ensure your important pages are in the “Valid” status

4. Analyze Performance Report

This section shows you how your site performs in search.

  • See total clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position
  • View your top keywords and pages
  • Filter by country or device to see what’s working best

Use this data to improve underperforming pages and optimize popular ones further.

5. Fix Mobile Usability Issues

Mobile-friendliness is a ranking factor.

  • Go to Experience → Mobile Usability
  • Check for errors like small text or clickable elements too close together
  • Adjust your site’s design to pass Google’s mobile usability test

6. Use URL Inspection Tool

Inspect any page on your site to see:

  • If it’s indexed
  • How it appears to Google
  • If there are any crawl or enhancement issues

You can also request indexing after making changes.

Final Thoughts

Google Search Console gives you direct feedback from Google about your site’s performance. By checking it weekly and fixing what it shows, you can steadily improve your rankings and visibility.

Written by Zinzo Digital – Helping small businesses grow smarter online.

Updated:

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