Google Search Console is one the first setups that should be done when you’re in the beginning stages of starting your website. When I am getting started with a new client, I like to review their digital tools. I see where they are and how far they’ve come. By giving them a benchmark, I can see what the next steps are. And Google Search Console is far too often missed.

Yes, Google Analytics is important and most clients are already using that, which is great. They taken the first step. But the next step is to prepare your Google Analytics account. And that next step is to connect your Google Search Console to your Google Analytics account.

If you haven’t already setup your Google Analytics account, you’ll want to start here. If you aren’t sure if you need Google Analytics, then you’ll want to go read why you need it on your website.

What is Google Search Console?

Google Search Console is a free tool, provided by Google, to help you measure your site’s search traffic and performance. It also alerts you of any issues that need to be fixed.

Some of the features of Google Search Console to optimize and enhance your site include:

• AMP – Accelerated Mobile Pages report to help fix errors
• Mobile Usability – test and improve usability problems
• Rich Results – structured data can appear in search results

Why should I Connect Google Search Console to Google Analytics?

Google Search Console allows you an inside look of what search queries bring users to your website. This tool directly tells you what people are searching and why they’re finding your website. Hello keywords!

This is vastly important information that you can use when analyzing your website’s content. Using the keywords that your audience is searching is more likely going to allow them to find relevant content. And this directly impacts your SEO. SEO is Search Engine Optimization, but we’ll get into that in a later post.

You’ll be able to identify landing pages on your website that have good CTR, but poor positions in search results. These could be important pages, but people have trouble finding when they conduct their search. This is essentially a roadmap for how you can improve your website’s ranking in the search results.

How to Connect Google Search Console to Your Google Analytics Account

1. If you’re not sure if you’ve already connected the two tools, you can easily find out by logging into your Google Analytics account and navigate to the Acquisition > Search Console > Landing Pages report. If you see the following message, then you have not connected the two.

2. Click on the Set up Search Console data sharing button. This will lead you to the Property Settings in the Admin section of your Google Analytics account. Scroll down to the Search Console section and click Adjust Search Console.

3. On the Search Console Settings page, you have the option to apply the data to different views. I want this information in all my views, so I’ve selected the three in my Property. You may only have one view at this time. Press Save.

4. If you don’t have your domain connected in step 3, then here’s another way to get it done. Head to Property Settings > All Products > click on Link Search Console (all the way at the bottom)

5. Instead of seeing the image from step 3, you’ll see a page like below where it’s telling you a domain needs to be added. Click the Add button.

6. From my view, I have all to choose from all the domains I already have setup in the Search Console. Three of which I have already connected to different Google Analytics Properties. My next step is to choose the correct domain that I want to link and press save.

7. If you do not have any domains listed in the results, you’ll want to click Add a site to Search Console. This will then take you directly to the Search Console to add a domain.

8. When you’re logged into Google Search Console, you’ll want to add a new property.

9. On the pop-up, you’ll want to select the property type Domain or URL prefix. Select Domain and type in your domain name. Click Continue.

10. For the next step, you’ll need to verify your domain. This requires a little technical setup of adding a .txt file to your domain provider (such a Godaddy). You can find the verification information here.

11. Once your property is verified, then you can go back to Step 3 to connect the Search Console domain into your Google Analytics. Then you’re done! You’ll now be able to see the search queries report in your Google Analytics account.

Final Thoughts

Google has great free tools for you to use in your digital marketing. From analytics to actual crawl errors, Google Search Console is a tool you need in your toolbox.

If you are using the Search Console already, what do you love about it? Share in the comments below!