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Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free Google service that shows how a site performs in Google Search: queries, clicks, indexed pages and the problems Google finds.

How it works

Once the store verifies it owns the site, Search Console reports how often its pages appear in results, for which queries, how many people click and which pages are indexed. The site appears in Google Search with or without it, and the data stops at the click.

A site Google identifies as an online store may also get a Shopping section with the Merchant opportunities report. With the store’s Merchant Center account associated, you can manage shipping and returns settings there. Merchant Center counts clicks on free listings, so the two tools show different numbers. Our guide explains where to see free listings performance.

Where you see it

  • Performance report: clicks, impressions, CTR and average position by query, page, country, device and search appearance.
  • Page indexing report and URL Inspection: which pages are indexed and why others are not.
  • Change of Address tool: tells Google the site moved to a new domain.

Example

Example store, not client data.

Last week the tableware shop’s Performance report showed 2,000 clicks from Google Search. For the same days, GA4 showed 1,800 sessions from google / organic: 1,800 ÷ 2,000 = 90%.

Not to be confused with

  • Google Analytics 4 — measures what visitors do on the site, from every channel, and counts sessions rather than clicks.
  • Merchant Center — holds the product data and reports clicks on products, free and paid.

Right and wrong readings

  • Wrong: “2,000 clicks against 1,800 sessions means 200 visits were lost.” Right: Google says clicks and sessions won’t match; compare the trend of each.
  • Wrong: “Clicks fell over the last two days, so traffic is dropping.” Right: the data can be a couple of days late, and the newest days are preliminary.

Sources