SEO
What Is Google Search Console? A Plain-English Guide for UK Businesses
Search Console shows how your website performs on Google: who clicks, which pages are indexed and what needs fixing. Here is how to start and what to check.
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If you want to know how your website is doing on Google, there is one tool that answers it straight from the source: Google Search Console. It tells you how many people found your site on Google, which searches they used, which of your pages Google has added to its index and what is getting in the way.
This guide explains what Google Search Console is, what it shows and how to start using it, without the jargon.
What is Google Search Console?
Google describes Search Console as a tool that can help anyone with a website understand how they are performing on Google Search. You do not need to be technical to use it. It is made by Google, so the numbers come from Google itself rather than a third-party guess.
It is separate from your website and from Google Business Profile. Your website is where customers read about you, your Business Profile is your listing on Google and Maps, and Search Console is the report on how your website shows up in Google’s results.
Not sure what Search Console is telling you?
We’ll go through your results with you, explain what matters and tell you what to fix first. Free, with no obligation.
Do you need Search Console to appear on Google?
No. Google can find pages on your site without it. But without it you are guessing. Search Console tells you whether Google has found your pages, whether it has added them to its index and what people searched for before clicking through. It is the quickest way to spot a problem, such as a page Google has not added, before it costs you enquiries.
What does Search Console show you?
Google lists four main uses: how much search traffic you get, whether your pages are indexed, what problems exist and how fast the site is. In practice, these are the parts most businesses use.
Performance: who found you
The Performance report shows how your site did in Google search. Its main numbers are:
- Clicks: how often someone clicked a link from Google to your site
- Impressions: how often someone saw a link to your site on Google
- Click-through rate: clicks divided by impressions
- Average position: where your pages usually appear, with 1 as the top. It is an average across all the searches your site appeared for, so treat it as a guide
You can also see the searches people used and which pages they landed on. Our guide to what a good monthly SEO report should include explains how to read these numbers month to month.
Pages: has Google indexed your pages?
The Page indexing report sorts your pages into Indexed and Not indexed. A page has to be indexed to appear in search results, so this report matters. Not indexed does not always mean something is wrong. Google says some pages are left out for legitimate reasons, such as a duplicate page or a page you have blocked on purpose.
A few reasons you may see, in Google’s own words:
- Crawled, currently not indexed: Google has visited the page but has not added it yet. It may be indexed later, and Google advises against asking it to crawl the page again.
- Discovered, currently not indexed: Google knows the page exists but has not visited it yet.
- Page with redirect: the address sends visitors to a different page, so the original is not indexed.
New pages often sit in these groups for a while. If you have only just published, give it time before worrying.
Sitemaps: a list of your pages
A sitemap is a file that lists the pages on your site. Submitting one in Search Console is optional, but Google says it may speed up discovery of your pages. Many website builders create one for you.
URL Inspection: check one page
Paste any page address into the box at the top of Search Console and it shows what Google knows about that page. For a new or updated page you can click Request indexing to ask Google to look at it sooner. Three things to know:
- It is a request, not a promise. Google says submitting a request does not guarantee the page will appear in its index.
- There is a daily limit on requests, so use it for your most important pages and rely on your sitemap for the rest.
- Google’s estimates for how long indexing takes range from about a day to a week or two, and sometimes longer.
You can read more about the tool in Google’s URL Inspection guide.
Other reports
Search Console also reports on page speed and mobile experience (Core Web Vitals), manual actions against your site, security problems and structured data. It emails you when Google finds a new issue, so it is worth using an email address you check.
How to get started
- Verify that you own the site. Google asks you to prove ownership before it shows any data. Google’s getting started guide walks you through it, or ask whoever built your website to do it.
- Submit your sitemap. Look for the Sitemaps section and add the address of your sitemap file.
- Check the Pages report after a few weeks. New sites take time, so look for the overall picture rather than single pages.
- Look at Performance once a month. Note your clicks and impressions and what changed. Our guide to how long SEO takes to work sets realistic expectations.
- Act on the emails. If Google reports a problem, fix it or pass it to your web person.
Common mistakes
- Panicking about “Not indexed”. Check the reason first. Many are harmless or temporary.
- Requesting indexing for every page every day. The limit is small and repeating a request does not make Google move faster.
- Judging by one day’s numbers. Search traffic rises and falls. Look at weeks and months.
- Ignoring the searches list. It shows what people actually type, which is the best clue to what content to write next.
- Treating average position as exact. It is an average, and results differ by person and place.
Want help making sense of your results?
We include plain-English monthly reports with our SEO service, so you can see what Google is showing and what we are doing about it. If you are new to all this, start with what SEO is. Try our free website check and we will tell you what we would look at first.
Search Console details checked against Google’s help pages on 8 October 2026. Google changes its tools often, so check its help pages if something looks different.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Search Console free?
Yes, we have used it for our own site without paying anything. Google’s own pages do not use the word, so check Google’s pages if the terms are important to you.
Do I need Search Console if I already have a Google Business Profile?
They do different jobs. Your Business Profile controls how your business listing looks on Google and Maps. Search Console shows how your website performs in search. Local businesses benefit from using both. See how local SEO works for how they fit together.
Does requesting indexing guarantee my page will be on Google?
No. Google says a request does not guarantee that the page will appear in its index. It adds the page to a queue after a quick check.
What does “Crawled, currently not indexed” mean?
Google has visited the page but has not added it to its index yet. It may be added later. Do not keep resubmitting it, and focus on making the page useful and well linked from your site.
How often should I check Search Console?
Once a month is enough for most businesses, plus a look after you publish something important or when Google emails you about an issue.
