Google Search Console Tips
Google Search Console (previously called Webmaster Tools) is a free tool provided by Google for website owners to monitor performance and traffic. GSC also offers search engine optimization recommendations and fixes. Our SEO Office Hours recaps below cover a range of advice from Google to help you better understand and get the most out of this fundamental SEO tool.
Search Console Crawl Errors May Take a Year to Update
It takes some time to report crawl errors in Search Console, and detect when they have updated, potentially up to a year for some URLs.
The URL Removal Tool Blocks Pages Appearing in SERPs but Doesn’t Prevent Indexing
The URL removal tool in Search Console to hide individual pages from appearing in search results but doesn’t stop them being indexed. You can also use to the tool to remove all URLs under a shared path. You shouldn’t use the tool for general maintenance, only for something critical you want removed as quickly as possible.
Session IDs should be a Separate Parameter
If you add session IDs as a separate parameter instead of a semi-colon, then they can be managed more easily with the Search Console Parameter handling tool
Sitemap Index Counts Report the Exact Submitted URLs
Sitemap Index counts report the exact URL you sumbit including trailing slashes. If Google chooses to index a different copy of the same page, the submitted URL wouldn’t be reported as indexed.
Search Console Backlinks Include Nofollowed Links
Google includes nofollowed links in the Search Console backlinks data to discourage a focus on followed links, and help you understand which content is generating the most links.
Hreflang Data in Sitemaps May be Shown as ‘No Return’ Error Until the URLs are Recrawled
Until pages have been recrawled, you might see hreflang ‘no return hreflang’ errors in search console for hreflang data added to a Sitemap.
Manual Penalties from Migrated Domains will be Visible in Search Console
Any manual penalties from migrated domains which are affecting your new domain will be visible in the Manual Actions report in search console.
Your Site Isn’t Mobile Friendly’ is Only Shown to Verified Webmasters
The message in search results saying ‘Your site isn’t mobile friendly’ is only displayed to webmasters with the site verified in Search Console.
Use Multiple Search Console Verification Methods
Use 2 more unrelated verification methods so that if one fails, the other methods will still work.
Search Console Property Sets Aggregates Impressions and Rankings
In a property set, if multiple sites are ranking independently for the same keyword, Google only registers an impression and takes the ranking for highest ranking site.