Google Search Console - Ultimate SEO Tool

Lecture: Create Sitemap with Yoast SEO

What is a Sitemap?

• Definition: An organized map of your website's content that helps both users and search engines

• Purpose: Makes it easier for visitors to find content and for search engines to discover and index pages

• Format: Usually XML format for search engines (list of links to pages, posts, etc.)

• Benefits:

  • Helps Google spider find and index your content faster

  • Ensures Google doesn't miss any pages on your site

  • Allows monitoring of indexed pages

  • Notifies you in Search Console if pages are inaccessible

  • Human-readable versions help visitors navigate your site

Creating a Sitemap with Yoast SEO

1. Go to Plugins → Add New

2. Search for "Yoast SEO"

3. Install and activate the plugin

4. Navigate to Yoast SEO → Settings

5. Go to the Site features tab and scroll down

6. Ensure XML sitemaps feature is turned ON

Accessing Your Sitemap

• Click on "View the XML sitemap" link in Yoast settings

• Your sitemap will contain multiple links (posts, pages, etc.)

• These links may contain lists of other links that Google will follow

Getting Your Sitemap URL

• Right-click "View the XML sitemap" link

• Select "Copy link address"

• This URL will be needed for submission to Google Search Console

Lecture: Add Your Site To Search Console

Property Types in Search Console

1. Domain Property:

   • Includes all versions of your website automatically:

     • Both HTTP and HTTPS versions

     • Naked domain, subdomains, and all interior paths

   • Requires DNS verification

   • Recommended for most users

2. URL Prefix Property:

   • Includes only the exact version of your domain entered

   • Useful for tracking specific segments of your site

   • Example use cases:

     • Tracking specific subpaths (e.g., /france/, /ireland/)

     • Tracking mobile-specific versions (e.g., m.example.com)

Adding a Domain Property (Recommended)

1. Go to Google Search Console

2. Enter your domain name under "Domain" property option

3. Click Continue

4. Google will request ownership verification

Verifying Ownership via DNS

1. Get your TXT record:

   • Copy the string value provided by Google

2. Add the TXT record to your domain provider:

   • Log in to your domain provider (or Cloudflare if using it)

   • Go to DNS settings

   • Add a new TXT record

   • Paste the string value from Google

   • For the name/host field:

     • Enter @ for normal domains

     • Enter subdomain name for subdomains

   • Save/Add the record

3. Verify in Search Console:

   • Return to Search Console

   • Click Verify

   • Successful verification should happen immediately

   • If not verified, wait 24 hours (DNS changes take time) and try again

Important Notes

• Do not remove the DNS record even after verification succeeds

• To add additional properties after the first:

  • Open the menu

  • Click on the property dropdown list

  • Select "Add Property"

  • Repeat verification steps

Lecture: Add Sitemap To Search Console

Checking Your Sitemap

• Verify your sitemap exists by visiting:

  • yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml or

  • yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml

Submitting Your Sitemap

1. In Search Console dashboard:

   • Click Menu

   • Select your property

   • Under "Index" section, click "Sitemaps"

   • Enter your sitemap URL: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml

   • Click Submit

After Submission

• Google will periodically process your sitemap

• You'll be notified if issues are found

• No need to resubmit when you update your sitemap - Google will detect changes

• Errors like 404s on sitemap links will trigger notifications

Monitoring Sitemap Status

• Search Console shows:

  • List of all sitemaps

  • Submission dates

  • Last crawled dates

  • Number of discovered URLs

• Clicking on a sitemap link shows nested sitemaps (e.g., page sitemap, post sitemap)

Coverage Reports

• Access via "Coverage" in sidebar or "See index coverage"

• Shows three categories:

  • Errors: URLs with issues preventing indexing (needs attention)

  • Valid URLs: Successfully indexed pages

  • Excluded URLs: Intentionally excluded pages (noindex tags, canonicals, etc.)

• Focus on fixing Error URLs to improve site indexing

Lecture: Find Top Ranking Keywords of Your Site

Accessing Keyword Data

1. Enter Google Search Console

2. Select your website

3. Go to "Performance" section

Understanding the Performance Report

• Shows list of queries (keywords) people use to find your site

• Displays metrics like clicks, impressions, CTR, and position

• Represents keywords with actual search relevancy to your site content

Finding First-Page Rankings

1. Click "Filter rows" icon

2. Click on "Position"

3. Choose "Smaller than"

4. Enter value "10"

5. Click "Done"

• Result shows all keywords where you rank on Google's first page

• These keywords are prime opportunities for content creation

Analyzing Specific Keywords

• Click on any keyword to see detailed data

• Go to "Pages" tab to see which pages rank for that keyword

• View country-wise or device-wise stats via respective tabs

• Export data as CSV or to Google Sheets for further analysis

Using Keyword Insights

1. Content Optimization:

   • Update existing articles to better target discovered keywords

   • Add sections about top-performing keywords you hadn't planned for

2. Resolving Keyword Cannibalization:

   • If multiple pages compete for the same keyword:

     • Consolidate information into one page

     • Set up 301 redirects from other pages to the consolidated page

     • Or add canonical tags pointing to the main page if you need to keep the other pages

3. Download and Analyze:

   • Export data to spreadsheets for deeper analysis

   • Track CTR, position changes over time