If you want to increase Google rankings in 2025, you need the right tools and one of the most powerful (and free) tools available is Google Search Console. This tool helps website owners, marketers, and SEO experts track how their site appears in Google Search. It gives clear insights into what’s working, what needs fixing, and where new opportunities lie.
From checking which pages get the most clicks to finding and fixing SEO issues, Google Search Console makes it easier to improve your website’s visibility. In this blog, we’ll show you how to use it step-by-step to grow your traffic and rank higher in search results.
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is a free tool provided by Google that helps website owners and marketers understand how their site is performing in search results. It is one of the most valuable SEO tools by Google, especially if you want to grow your online visibility.
When you connect your website to Google Search Console, you can:
- See how many people are clicking on your pages from Google
- Discover which keywords people are using to find you
- Check if your pages are getting indexed properly
- Find and fix technical SEO problems
- Test your mobile usability and site speed
- View who is linking to your site (backlinks)
In simple terms, Google Search Console helps you track website performance and improve it over time. You don’t need to be a tech expert to use it, the dashboard is beginner-friendly, and the insights it gives are easy to understand.
Whether you run a blog, business site, or e-commerce store, using Google Search Console is one of the smartest ways to stay informed about your SEO and make better decisions for your content.
How to Set Up Google Search Console?
Before you can start tracking your website’s performance, you need to set up the Google Search Console for your site. The good news? It’s free, and the setup process is simple even if you’re not a technical expert.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Google Search Console from the very beginning:
Step 1: Go to Google Search Console
Visit https://search.google.com/search-console.
Click “Start Now” and sign in using your Google account.
Step 2: Add Your Website
You’ll see two options:
- Domain (covers all subdomains and protocols like https/http)
- URL Prefix (tracks only one specific version, like https://www.example.com)
For most users, “Domain” is recommended for full coverage.
Step 3: Verify Ownership
To use the tool, Google needs to make sure you own the site. There are several ways to verify it:
- DNS Record (Recommended): Add a TXT record to your domain settings
- HTML File Upload: Upload a file to your website’s root folder
- HTML Tag: Copy and paste a small code snippet into your homepage’s <head>
- Google Analytics / Tag Manager: If already set up, you can verify instantly
Choose the method that’s easiest for you.
Step 4: Submit Your Sitemap
Once verified, go to the left menu > “Sitemaps”
Type in your sitemap URL (like sitemap.xml) and click Submit
This helps Google crawl your site faster and more accurately.
Step 5: Link Google Analytics (Optional, But Useful)
To get deeper insights, link your Google Analytics account with Search Console.
This gives you more detailed reports on traffic sources, keywords, and user behavior.
Key Reports to Boost Your Rankings
A. Search Performance Report
The Search Performance Report shows how your website is doing in Google Search. It includes data like:
- Total Clicks: How many people clicked your site
- Impressions: How often your site appeared in search results
- CTR (Click-Through Rate): How often people clicked after seeing your page
- Average Position: Where your page ranks in Google
This report helps you discover your top-performing pages and search queries. You can see which keywords bring the most traffic and which ones need improvement.
Tip: To improve SEO with Search Console, identify pages with high impressions but low clicks then update the content or title to boost engagement.
B. Index Coverage Report
The Index Coverage Report tells you which pages Google can and can’t index. If a page has an error, it won’t appear in search results.
This report helps you:
- Find and fix crawl issues
- Check for pages marked as “No Index”
- Spot duplicate content or server errors
If you want to fix SEO issues with Search Console, this report is your go-to. Make sure your most important pages are indexable and error-free.
C. Mobile Usability Report
In 2025, mobile-first indexing is the default. That means Google checks how your website performs on mobile before ranking it.
This report shows:
- If your content fits on smaller screens
- Whether text is readable without zooming
- Any mobile layout or speed problem
If you want to improve your mobile SEO rankings, use this report to fix design and loading issues quickly.
D. Links Report
The Links Report helps you track:
- Which websites link to you (backlinks)
- Your internal links (how your own pages link to each other)
- Top linked pages and anchor text
This is helpful if you’re working to build domain authority. By reviewing who links to your site and what pages are strongest, you can plan better link-building strategies.
How to Fix Common SEO Issues with Search Console?
Google Search Console isn’t just for tracking — it’s also a powerful way to fix SEO issues that hurt your rankings. Here’s how to use it for some of the most common problems:
404 Errors (Page Not Found)
A 404 error happens when a page on your site no longer exists or the link is broken. These errors can negatively affect user experience and search rankings.
- Go to the Index Coverage Report
- Look for errors marked as “Not Found (404)”
- Either restore the missing page or set up a redirect to a relevant page
Using redirects ensures visitors and search engines find the right content.
Mobile Usability Problems
In 2025, mobile-friendliness is essential. If your website isn’t easy to use on phones or tablets, you could lose traffic.
- Open the Mobile Usability Report
- Look for issues like “Text too small” or “Clickable elements too close”
- Fix these in your site’s design or theme settings
Regular checks here help improve rankings on mobile devices.
Pages Not Indexed
If your important pages aren’t being indexed, they won’t appear in Google search.
- Check the URL Inspection Tool for that page
- Make sure the page is not blocked by robots.txt or marked “noindex”
- Fix any issues and click “Request Indexing”
This is one of the fastest ways to fix SEO issues with Search Console and get your pages back in search results.
Request Indexing After Updates
Whenever you update a page (like improving content or adding new keywords), you can ask Google to re-crawl it.
- Use the URL Inspection Tool
- Paste the updated URL
- Click Request Indexing
This speeds up how quickly your changes reflect in search.
If you want better rankings in Google, Google Search Console is one of the best free SEO tools you can use. It shows you what’s working, what needs improvement, and how Google sees your website. From tracking your keywords to fixing technical SEO issues, everything you need is in one place.
Even if you’re new to SEO, Search Console makes it easier to understand your site’s performance and take the right steps to grow. Start using it regularly, and you’ll see how small changes can lead to big results in your Google rankings.
FAQs
Q1: What is Google Search Console (GSC)?
A: A free tool from Google that helps monitor how your website performs in search results.
Q2: How do I verify my site in Google Search Console?
A: You can verify via DNS record, HTML file upload, HTML tag, or via Analytics/Tag Manager.
Q3: Which reports in Google Search Console are most useful for SEO?
A: Search Performance, Index Coverage, Mobile Usability, and Links reports.
Q4: How can I fix pages not indexed in Google?
A: Use the URL Inspection Tool, check for “noindex” tags or robots.txt blocks, and request indexing.
Q5: Why is mobile usability important in Google Search Console?
A: Because Google uses mobile-first indexing, so mobile issues hurt your rankings.
