As a digital marketer and content creator, I see Google Search Console (GSC) as one of the most valuable – and often underused – SEO tools available. It goes beyond simple analytics to provide deep insight into how Google crawls, indexes, and interprets your website.
In this post, I’ll break down how I use GSC to analyse performance, fix indexing issues, and optimise my WordPress site for visibility and user experience.
This complements my previous post, How I Used SEO Optimisation to Build My Personal Portfolio Website, by focusing specifically on how I track, test, and improve my site’s performance through Google’s data tools.
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool provided by Google that helps website owners monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot their site’s presence in search results.
It provides real-time insight into how Google’s crawlers view your website – including which pages are indexed, what keywords drive impressions, and whether your site is mobile-friendly and technically sound.
For marketers, it’s an essential part of an ongoing SEO maintenance strategy.
How I Use GSC as Part of My SEO Workflow
When building and optimising my website, I integrated Google Search Console from the start to ensure that my technical SEO setup, content updates, and structural improvements were reflected in real data.
My process typically follows these steps:
- Verify Ownership – I linked my domain to GSC through my WordPress hosting provider to confirm site ownership and allow full tracking.
- Submit XML Sitemap – Ensuring all relevant URLs are discoverable by crawlers. (Generated automatically via Yoast SEO.)
- Monitor Reports – Using key GSC dashboards to identify trends, issues, and opportunities.
- Optimise & Re-test – Making improvements and re-submitting pages for indexing to confirm changes are recognised.
1. Web Search Performance Report
The Performance Report is the first place I check in GSC. It shows:
- Total impressions (how many times my pages appear in search)
- Clicks
- Average CTR (Click-Through Rate)
- Average position (ranking)
I use this data to:
- Identify which keywords are driving traffic.
- See which queries I’m ranking for but not yet clicking through – a sign to improve my title or meta description.
- Track the performance of new content or portfolio projects over time.
For example, after publishing my Visuals & Design Work page, I saw rising impressions for “digital portfolio design” and “creative SEO examples,” confirming keyword alignment.
👉 Tip: Filter results by Page to understand how specific URLs are performing individually.
2. Coverage Report (Indexing Health)
The Coverage Report identifies which pages on your site are indexed, excluded, or have crawl errors.
For my website, I regularly use it to:
- Detect “Crawled – currently not indexed” pages and review them for thin content or technical issues.
- Confirm new portfolio pieces are successfully indexed.
- Identify any “404” or “Soft 404” responses that might need redirects.
If I discover broken links, I use my custom 404 page (see my SEO Optimisation post) to guide users back into the site — reducing bounce rates and keeping engagement high.
3. Links Report (Internal & External Authority)
The Links Report in GSC provides insight into:
- Top linked pages internally (which pages I reference most often)
- Top external links (backlinks from other sites)
- Anchor text used in external links
I use this to refine my internal linking structure, ensuring my most valuable content – such as my Portfolio and Blog – receives the strongest link equity.
Additionally, I monitor inbound links to track brand mentions and collaborative projects, like Inside the Box Magazine.
👉 Learn how I structure internal, external, and backlink strategies in my SEO Website Optimisation guide.
4. Manual Actions & Security Reports
The Manual Actions Report is often overlooked, but it’s vital for ensuring your site complies with Google’s guidelines.
It flags penalties for issues like spammy backlinks, duplicate content, or deceptive behaviour.
Thankfully, my website has maintained a “No Issues Detected” status – confirming that my SEO practices are ethical, transparent, and fully compliant with Google’s policies.
The Security Issues Report also monitors for malware or site hacking – particularly important when using plugins or third-party themes in WordPress.
5. URL Inspection Tool
This tool allows me to test specific URLs to confirm:
- If a page is indexed.
- When it was last crawled.
- Any structured data detected by Google.
- Mobile usability and canonical URLs.
Whenever I add or update content (for example, new blog posts or portfolio items), I use URL Inspection to “Request Indexing” and make sure my updates appear quickly in Google Search.
It’s also an excellent way to debug issues flagged in the Coverage Report before they impact rankings.
6. Continuous Optimisation and Testing
SEO isn’t static. I use Google Search Console alongside other tools like PageSpeed Insights and Google Rich Results Test to maintain quality and consistency.
My ongoing testing routine includes:
- Running Core Web Vitals reports to measure page load performance and interactivity.
- Using URL inspection after major updates to check for crawl or mobile issues.
- Reviewing GSC’s Performance report monthly to analyse traffic trends and keyword shifts.
- Checking for new backlinks or link losses in the Links Report.
I also revisit my SEO foundations after every new content update – ensuring metadata, alt text, and schema markup remain fully optimised.
Practical Example: Testing New Pages
When I added my “Journalism Portfolio” page, I used GSC to:
- Request indexing of the new URL.
- Review the Coverage Report to confirm successful crawl.
- Track impressions in the Performance Report.
- Analyse queries leading to that page (e.g., “student journalism portfolio examples”).
- Refine meta description and internal links based on results.
This kind of iterative testing not only improves rankings but demonstrates a data-driven approach to website management.
Why Google Search Console is Essential for Marketers
For professionals managing multiple digital projects, GSC acts as a central data hub. It helps:
- Prioritise SEO tasks based on real data, not assumptions.
- Validate improvements post-optimisation.
- Understand audience behaviour via search intent.
- Prove ROI for SEO and content efforts through measurable metrics.
Final Thoughts
Google Search Console transforms theoretical SEO into measurable digital strategy.
For me, it’s not just about monitoring – it’s about continuous learning and refinement. By combining Search Console insights with my knowledge of on-page SEO, WordPress optimisation, and user experience, I’ve built a website that demonstrates both creativity and technical expertise.
Related Links
Internal:
- How I Used SEO Optimisation to Build My Personal Portfolio Website
- CV & Skills
- Visuals & Design Work
External:
- Google Search Console Overview
- Google PageSpeed Insights
- Google Rich Results Test
- Yoast SEO Plugin for WordPress
- HubSpot SEO Resource Hub
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