The new features of Google Search Console

The Google Search Console (GSC), formerly known as Google Webmaster Tools, is an SEO analysis tool for measuring the performance of a website. This free analysis tool offers several useful features for search engine optimization. Our experiences with clients show that while the Search Console is often used, the full extent and use of individual functions are often not fully known. Since Google has recently made some changes to the GSC, adding or removing various functions in the process, we will show you the most important changes through practical examples.

What is the Google Search Console?

The free service of Google Search Console offers comprehensive ways to monitor, manage, and fix any errors regarding the presence of a website in the Search Engine Result Pages (SERP). The tool can be used as a direct channel between Google and the webmaster. Besides tips for improving the presence, webmasters also receive technical information about their site.

Setting up Google Search Console

To use the GSC, all you need is a Google account and free registration in Google Search Console. Each Google account has the capacity to add up to 1,000 websites or mobile apps.

First, access the Google Search Console to set it up. To be able to set up your personal Google Search Console, you must log in with your Google account. Make sure it is the same account you use for all other webmaster tools. Following this step, search in the dashboard for the menu item “Add property” and enter your URL.

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Fig1.: Google Search Console - Adding a property in GSC[/caption]

On the homepage of the former Google Webmaster Tools, there are currently two options for use. On the one hand, the old, traditional version of the GSC, and on the other, the newer version, which is much more intuitive and offers some new useful features. Google plans to transfer all functions of the Search Console into the newer version in the future. But for now, both views and thus many of the advantages of the original tool are still available. The analysis period can also be individually set in the new Google Search Console. However, for the first time, data can now be analyzed for a longer period, up to 16 months.

A click on the “Date” button allows you to easily set the desired time frame.

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Fig. 2.: New dashboard of the GSC[/caption][caption id="attachment_25062" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Fig. 3.: Old dashboard of the GSC[/caption]

OLD: Crawling Error Report – NEW: Index Coverage Status Report

The primary goal is optimal Google indexing because only then can you benefit from the most powerful search engine. The indexed pages of a domain should be checked regularly. In the old version, this could be verified under the indexing status. In the new GSC dashboard, crawling errors are displayed in the new “Index Coverage Report.”

There is a distinction between the webpage level and a new URL inspection tool, which allows URLs to be checked separately. The advantage here: The new report focuses on the errors relevant to Google from the past month, thus providing information on significant errors that may lead to exclusion from the index. The old report, on the other hand, contained errors from the last 3 months, which were sometimes outdated or only temporary. With the help of the new report, problems can be evaluated more easily, prioritized, and grouped according to recurring issues.

For example, if you gave a specific URL to be crawled via your sitemap and it results in a 404 message, this is recognized as an error in your Google Search Console. If this is not the case, it is not noted as an error. In the old view of the Search Console, all crawling errors found by the Google bot on a website were listed. It was difficult to keep track of the relevance of individual error messages there. With the new solution, it is easier to maintain the overview to avoid exclusion from the index.

In the following example, 6,765 URLs have currently been indexed by Google without errors, and 801,714 URLs are known to Google but have been excluded from indexing. The red and yellow graphs show crawling errors and valid pages with warnings. To determine why pages were excluded or why there were error messages and warnings, a detailed look into the table is necessary.

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Fig. 4.: Errors and warnings in the GSC[/caption]

Here, the trend of pages that show errors or warnings is depicted. Additionally, there's a detailed explanation of why the respective problem occurred. Tip: Errors need to be fixed, warnings can be fixed!

OLD: Security Issues – NEW: Security Issues Report

To detect attacks on your domain by hackers or implemented malicious codes in the source text, it was previously possible to receive hints through a notification function of Google Search Console. If you activated the messaging function under “Search Console settings,” you were alerted to possible security issues on your webpage.

The new version also reports on security issues of a domain and offers recommendations for action. It concerns content areas that cause harmful downloads, malware, and misleading pages due to hacking attacks. This area is visible when Google imposes penalties against a website.

OLD: Structured Data – NEW: Status Reports on Rich Search Results

Using structured data, you can mark SEO information such as data for products, events, or recipes. Google uses this information to provide more precise search results. Directly in Google Search Console, you can check under “Improvements” whether Google lists the tags of structured data and whether there are any errors or warnings. In the following example, products were integrated.

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Fig. 5.: Status report on rich search results[/caption]

If you navigate to the “Queries” in the side menu, you will get direct queries with rich results.

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Fig. 6.: Overview of rich results[/caption]

NEW: Test for Rich Media Results

To avoid poor results like those in the previous example before integration, you can check the implementation of structured data using Google's structured data testing tool. There, the data from a URL or individual code snippets can be retrieved directly for control. Additionally, there is another tool for testing with the rich media results test. With this tool, you see not only which elements are detected but also their errors, warnings, and properties.[caption id="attachment_25068" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]

Fig. 7.: Test for rich media results

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Fig. 8.: Test results for rich results[/caption]

Conclusion

The Google Search Console is a high-quality tool for analysis, planning, and control in search engine optimization. The tool is free and based on the original data from Google.

With the Google Search Console, you have a powerful tool at your disposal to ensure outstanding and sustainable positioning in online marketing. Therefore, we recommend using the GSC for a comprehensive analysis of your web presence.

How can we support you

If you have any questions about the article or need assistance with setting up and using the Google Search Console, we look forward to your inquiry through our contact form or by phone.