Google Search Console Tips
Google Search Console (previously called Webmaster Tools) is a free tool provided by Google for website owners to monitor performance and traffic. GSC also offers search engine optimization recommendations and fixes. Our SEO Office Hours recaps below cover a range of advice from Google to help you better understand and get the most out of this fundamental SEO tool.
Pages With ‘Submitted URL Not Selected as Canonical’ Message in GSC Won’t be Indexed
If you see the ‘Submitted URL not Selected as Canonical’ message for a URL in Google Search Console, that means the page isn’t being indexed.
GDPR Won’t Affect the Data You Get from Google Search Console
You’ll still be able to see the same data in GSC after GDPR comes into effect because it uses aggregate data rather than having any data tied to individual users.
Sites Not Showing Fully in Search Console Should Check For Technical Issues
If a site isn’t showing up fully in Google Search Console this could be because you aren’t looking at the right version of the site; http/https, www/non-www all matter. If you are looking at the correct version then there may be a technical reason blocking Googlebot from crawling the site or perhaps the site has accidentally been removed from search using the site removal tool in GSC. John recommends looking for crawl errors in GSC and checking that there aren’t any pending removals.
Add Markup to Pages if Encountering Difficulties with the Data Highlighter
If issues are encountered adding markup to pages with Data Highlighter in GSC, John recommends adding this markup directly to the page as it would likely be quicker than determining the issue experienced with Data Highlighter.
Test JavaScript Frameworks With the Rich Results Feature in GSC
Use the rich results feature in Google Search Console to test JavaScript frameworks as you are able to see the rendered HTML and check that all the elements have been pulled in.
Noindex Errors Are Differentiated by Source of URL in the New Search Console
In the new Search Console the noindex errors are differentiated by the source of the URL. Google will assume an error on your side if you submit a noindexed URL, as opposed to finding noindexed URLs found through crawling.
The Site Move Setting Takes a While to Update in Search Console
The setting for a site move sometimes sticks in Search Console for a while even if Google has recognised and processed the migration. Check Google Analytics to make sure traffic is going to your new site correctly.
Fetch as Google Doesn’t Make Any Changes to the Index
Fetch as Google only requests the page so it can’t be used to bring Google’s attention to an updated status code, for example. In order to affect the index you need to use Submit to Index where additional processing will be done.
Not Set’ Queries in GSC & GA Are Queries Filtered Out For Privacy Reasons
Not set’ queries in Search Console and Analytics are queries that have been filtered out for privacy reasons.
HTML Improvements in GSC Flags Issues But Aren’t Critical to Resolve
HTML Improvements notifications in Search Console flags issues you might not be aware of but they aren’t necessarily critical to resolve. For example, duplicate titles in a paginated set probably isn’t an issue you would want to fix.