Google Search Console is a free web service offered by Google that helps website owners monitor and maintain their site’s presence in Google Search results when linked to your Google Analytics G4 or traditional GA account.
It enables website owners to check and track their website’s search performance, including the number of clicks, impressions, and average position for specific keywords. Keyword data is gathered from the very first day you open an account and use the verification process.
Although manual warnings are extremely rare (in my career I’ve handled and resolved no less than 4/4 manual spam warnings and 3/3 hacked notifications) decisions and tools for troubleshooting any issues with a website’s indexing in Google Search, such as crawling errors and security issues is a real time advantage.
Would you like to learn more?
Google Search Console Indexing Issues - URLs Not Crawled
To troubleshoot your website’s URLs not being indexed by Google, you’ll need to be verified in Search Console and linked to your Google Analytics or G4 account.
Once verified with your domain, information will be collected allowing you to make marketing in terms of targeting new search phrases in order of priority.
There are several ways to verify your domain in Google Search Console, including:
HTML file upload: You can upload an HTML file provided by Google Search Console to your website’s root directory, which verifies that you have access to the server.
HTML tag: You can add a meta tag provided by Google Search Console to your website’s home page, which verifies that you have access to the HTML code of the page.
Google Analytics: If you have a Google Analytics account linked to your website, you can use it to verify your domain in Google Search Console.
Google Tag Manager: If you have a Google Tag Manager account linked to your website, you can use it to verify your domain in Google Search Console.
DNS TXT or CNAME record: you can add a TXT or CNAME record to your domain’s DNS settings, provided by Google Search Console, which verifies that you have access to the DNS settings of your domain.
Google Domain property: If your website is registered with Google Domains, you can use the Google Domain property option to verify the website.
Index Now and Google Search Console URL Indexing Tool
Yoast SEO is a popular WordPress plugin that helps website owners optimise their content for search engines, including Google. IndexNow is a Microsoft feature which Google hasn’t opened up to using just yet (January 2023) as they declare their system is optimised and there’s no additional need to change their methods at this time.
However, in 2022, many site owners were reporting indexing issues, especially in huge eCommerce stores where products exceeded hundreds of thousands to millions – even thought their current sitemaps were up to date – remained ‘grey’ and unindexed in Search Console.
The Yoast Pro version includes several new features to help improve a website’s search engine visibility, such as XML sitemaps, meta tags, and breadcrumbs including a feature named “Indexables” that allows you to control how your content is indexed by search engines like Google. This is their version of IndexNow for 2023 and beyond.
Google Featured Snippet
An incredible case study to welcome us all into 2023, a client with whom I’ve been working with since October 2022 saw the new addition, or maybe see it as a Google reward, of a featured snippet at the top of Google page 1 for the money related search phrase “Best tile and grout cleaner UK” after just 4 months.
What are your next steps to hiring an SEO freelancer for Google ranking in the UK?
Magento, WordPress and Shopify SEO is the same as Kajabi Google ranking methods, my case studies stretch back to 2008 when I was working for Funky Pigeon in Bristol and the domain rose above Moonpig resulting in a multi million deal with WH Smith to negotiate a supplier deal together.
Book a discovery telephone conversation today, or jump right in and hire me for an SEO consultation with a full refund when you onboard with my zero-contract 30 Day SEO Booster over one month.
