For the first three years of my first website’s life (25+ years ago), I had no idea how people were finding me, what they were searching for, or whether Google even knew my site existed. I was essentially running a business with my eyes closed, hoping and praying people would somehow stumble upon my work. Spoiler alert: hope is not a marketing strategy.
We need to talk about something that might feel intimidatingly technical but is actually one of the most caring things you can do for your business: setting up Google Search Console. It’s like having a conversation with Google about how they see your website. Trust me, you want to be part of that conversation.
Let’s explore this free tool that can transform your understanding of how your message is being discovered online.
What Google Search Console Actually Is (And Why It Matters)
Think of Google Search Console as your direct line of communication with the world’s largest search engine. It’s Google’s way of telling you:
- How often your website appears in search results
- What specific words people type to find you
- Which pages are performing well (and which aren’t)
- If there are any technical issues preventing people from finding you
- How your site looks to search engines versus how it looks to humans
Here’s why this matters for your calling. If you have a message to share and people to serve, shouldn’t you know whether those people can actually find you? Google Search Console helps ensure your digital light isn’t hidden under a bushel.
The Gentle Truth About Being Found Online
As entrepreneurs, many of us have complicated feelings about marketing and self-promotion.
But here’s a reframe.
Making sure people can find your website isn’t about ego or pushing yourself forward. It’s about stewardship.
When you set up Google Search Console, you’re being a good steward of the platform and message God has given you. You’re ensuring that the people who need what you offer can actually discover it when they’re searching for help.
Why Flying Blind Hurts Your Mission
Without Google Search Console, you’re making important business decisions based on guesswork instead of data. You might:
- Create content around topics no one is actually searching for
- Miss opportunities to help people who are looking for exactly what you offer
- Never know if technical issues are preventing people from finding you
- Waste time on strategies that aren’t actually working
- Feel frustrated because you can’t understand why your website isn’t bringing in clients
Google Search Console isn’t about gaming the system or manipulating search results. It’s about understanding how people naturally search for solutions and making sure your genuine help is discoverable when they need it.
Instead of constantly creating content and hoping it works, you can create more intentionally based on what people are actually seeking.
What Google Search Console Tells You (The Good Stuff)
Your Search Performance Story
See exactly which search terms bring people to your website. You might discover that people find you through searches you never expected, or that you’re missing opportunities for obvious keywords related to your services.
Your Website’s Health Report
Get alerts if Google finds issues with your site that might prevent people from finding or using it properly. It’s like having a friendly diagnostic tool that catches problems before they hurt your visibility.
Your Content’s Impact
Understand which pages are your star performers and which ones might need some love. This helps you focus your energy on creating more of what actually serves your audience.
Your Mobile Experience
Since most people search on their phones, Google Search Console shows you specifically how your mobile site is performing and if there are any mobile-specific issues to address.
Common Fears About Google Search Console (Let’s Address Them)
“It Looks Too Technical”
The interface has definitely improved over the years, and you don’t need to understand every feature to benefit from the basics. Start with the simple reports and gradually explore more as you get comfortable.
“I Don’t Have Time to Monitor Another Tool”
You don’t need to check it daily. A monthly peek at your search performance and any urgent messages is enough to stay informed and make better decisions.
“What If I Discover Bad News?”
Knowledge is power, even when it reveals problems. It’s better to know about issues so you can address them than to wonder why your website isn’t working for your business.
“I’m Afraid I’ll Break Something”
Google Search Console is primarily a monitoring and reporting tool. You can’t break your website by looking at the data or even by submitting basic information like sitemaps.
First Steps with Google Search Console
Step 1: Claim Your Property
Go to search.google.com/search-console and add your website. Google will ask you to verify that you own the site through several different methods – choose the one that feels most comfortable for your technical skill level.
Step 2: Submit Your Sitemap
A sitemap is like a table of contents for your website that helps Google understand your site structure. Most website platforms can generate this automatically – you just need to submit the URL to Google.
Almost always, the sitemap is something like yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.
Step 3: Explore the Performance Report
This shows you how people find your site through search. Start here to understand your current visibility and discover opportunities. The Queries are the words or phrases people are using that you’re showing up for in the search results. The impressions are the number of times you showed up when someone searched. The clicks are how many times someone clicked to your website when you showed up. And your click through rate is the percentage of times your link was clicked when it appears in search results. You can also see your page rank. That means, what position your website shows up in search results for a particular search query. You want that number to be as low as possible.
Step 4: Check for Messages
Google uses Search Console to communicate important information about your site. Check the messages section to see if there are any issues that need attention. Many times these are indexing errors, which means, reasons why a particular page or website section won’t be appearing in the search results. Not every one of these can be fixed, because some parts of your website don’t need to be in search results (the check-out page for example).
Making Sense of the Data (Without Overwhelm)
Remember, we’re embracing rhythms over hustle. You don’t need to become an SEO expert overnight. Focus on these key insights:
What’s Working Well. Which pages and search terms bring you the most visitors? Double down on creating similar content.
What’s Not Working. Are there pages that show up in search but people don’t click on? Maybe the titles or descriptions need improvement.
New Opportunities. Are people searching for things related to your work that you haven’t written about yet? Consider creating helpful content around those topics.
Technical Issues. Any urgent messages that might be preventing people from finding or using your site properly.
Your Sustainable Approach to Search Console
Monthly Check-ins
Set a recurring calendar reminder to spend 15 minutes reviewing your search performance. Look for trends, new opportunities, and any messages from Google.
Seasonal Content Planning
Use the data to inform your content strategy. If you see searches increasing for certain topics during specific times of year, plan content around those natural rhythms.
Gentle Optimization
Instead of trying to optimize everything at once, pick one small improvement each month based on what you learn from Search Console.
Questions for Reflection
- How can I be a better steward of my online presence and the message I’ve been given to share?
- What would it look like to approach SEO and discoverability as acts of service rather than self-promotion?
- How might understanding how people search for help change the way I create content?
- What fears do I have about “technical” tools, and how can I address my mindset around those concerns?
The Heart Behind the Data
At its core, Google Search Console is about connection. Google helps the right people find the right resources at the right time. When you understand how people are searching for help and ensure your website can be found, you’re practicing good stewardship over your message and calling.
Take a few minutes today to consider: “How can I be more intentional about making my resources discoverable by the people who need them?” Sometimes the most caring thing we can do is ensure we can actually be found when help is needed.
