Google Search Console is a daunting terrain. So many clickable things, you don’t know where to start! If you’ve managed to set up the console without any headaches, here are 4 tools you can use in Google Search Console to help you get started.
1. HTML Improvements
You’ve made a post and submitted to the console. The next day you click on the “HTML Improvements” section and see that the post you submitted has errors. Here Google Search Console provides a section where you can see basic HTML errors on your site such a meta descriptions, duplicate title tags, and non-indexable content. Addressing the issues in the HTML Improvements section will help the site’s user experience and performance. It all helps with SEO too.
2. Structured Data
Here Google is kind enough to show all the structured data on your site in one section. Structured data if you don’t know, is what tells Google what’s on your site. If you’re a local business, putting structured data on your site is what helps you rank. Once the structured data is set in place, use the structured data tool to check that the information is up-to-date and labeled correctly. If you have a plugin that automatically adds generated schema, it’s important to check and fix anything that is incorrect.
3. Mobile Usability
This is a two-for-one tool. Considering mobile is starting to become more important in ranking than desktop, this is an especially important tool. Here the console reports any errors with usability issues. The errors include Viewport not set, text too small to read, clickable elements too close together, and content wider than the screen. These are just to name a few. Once you fixed the errors, you can check the live version of it using another Google tool.
4. Site Errors
Once Google has crawled your site, checking the Site Errors section will let you know if there are any issues like 404 pages. 404 aren’t necessarily bad, but if you have many 404s, you will be spending your “crawl budget” on them. And not only does it affect your relationship with Google but also with your website visitors. If they see 404s all over your site, they might not come back.
4 Tools to Use in Google Search Console
Recap:
- HTML Improvements – Basic improvements
- Structured Data – Check and update structured data markup
- Mobile Usability – Check and fix any uses for mobile users
- Site Errors – Update any 404s to reduce usage of your crawl budget and keep visitors happy
Have any questions? Let us know on Facebook or send us a message! We’re more than happy to help.
It’s also crucial to know how to keep up with SEO trends in 2017 too.
FAQs
What is the purpose of the HTML Improvements section in Google Search Console?
The HTML Improvements section identifies basic HTML errors such as duplicate title tags, missing or duplicate meta descriptions, and non-indexable content. Addressing these errors can enhance your website’s SEO performance and user experience by ensuring your pages are optimized for search engines.
Why is structured data important for my website?
Structured data provides Google with information about the content on your site, helping it understand and categorize your content better. Properly implemented structured data can improve your site’s search engine visibility and ranking, especially for local businesses and specific content types like recipes or events.
How does the Mobile Usability tool in Google Search Console help my website?
The Mobile Usability tool identifies issues that may affect how users experience your site on mobile devices, such as small text, elements too close together, or content that’s wider than the screen. Fixing these issues ensures your site is mobile-friendly, which is increasingly important for SEO as mobile use surpasses desktop browsing.
What are Site Errors, and why should I fix them?
Site Errors include issues like 404 errors (broken pages) that Google detects while crawling your site. While a few 404 errors are normal, having too many can waste your crawl budget and negatively impact both search engine ranking and user experience. Fixing or redirecting these errors ensures your site runs smoothly and retains visitors.