How to Add your Website to Google Search Console
Do You Know How Google Sees Your Website?
Having a website is one thing, but knowing if people can actually find it through Google? That’s where Google Search Console (GSC) comes in.
It’s a free tool from Google (yay!) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how your website is doing in search results. If you’ve ever wondered how people end up on your site, or why your pages aren’t showing up on Google, this is the tool to check.
Also, by adding your website to GSC you are inviting Google to take a look around your website, which powers up your chances of showing up in a Google search. You’re essentially telling the Google bots to Index all of your pages, keywords and content.
Note: Your site will need to be live for at least 72 hours before you’ll be able to add it to Google Search Console.
What Does Google Search Console Actually Do?
Google Search Console helps you:
See what people are typing into Google to find your website
Track which pages are performing best
Check that Google is actually indexing (reading and storing) your website properly
Flag any mobile or security issues
Improve your site’s visibility in Google search
Think of it as your website’s health checkup and performance tracker, all in one!
Why Should Small Business Owners in WA Care?
Here’s why it matters (and why it’s worth five minutes of your time):
You’ll Know Which Keywords Visitors are Using
Find out which keywords are bringing people to your site and which pages they’re landing on.
You’ll Spot Problems Early
Sometimes pages aren’t being indexed by Google, which means they won’t show up in search. GSC will flag this so you can fix it.
You’ll Stay Mobile-Friendly
Most people browse on their phones. GSC will let you know if something’s not working well on mobile.
You’ll Catch Security Issues Fast
If your site ever gets hacked or flagged for malware, GSC will notify you straight away.
You’ll Make Smarter SEO Decisions
Instead of guessing, you’ll be able to use real data to improve your site’s visibility and search ranking.
How to Set Up Google Search Console
Here’s the quick version:
Go to Google Search Console and log in with your Google account
Click “Add Property” and enter your website URL
Verify ownership (usually by copying a TXT record to your domain DNS or uploading a file; don’t worry, they explain it step-by-step)
Submit your sitemap; this helps Google understand your site’s structure and index your pages properly. Squarespace sitemaps are simply yourdomainname.com.au/sitemap.xml
Ask GSC to Inspect and then Index each of your key pages. You can submit each page up to 10 times a month. Don’t forget to Index each new or updated page, blog, event or Shop
Need a hand? We can help if it feels a bit confusing.
What to Do Once It’s Set Up
To get the most out of GSC:
Check your Performance Report regularly
See which search terms people are using to find you
Fix any flagged issues quickly
Such as crawl errors or mobile formatting problems
Pay attention to mobile usability
Google really cares about this, and so do your customers
Use the insights to guide your content
Create new blog posts or pages based on top keywords people are already searching for
Want Help With It?
If you'd like help getting set up, or you want us to have a quick look at how your site is performing, feel free to get in touch with us at BOSS. We're here to make the digital side of your business feel a lot less confusing (and a lot more useful).
