What is Google Search Console and why do we use it?
If Refuel has asked for access to your Google Search Console, or you've seen it mentioned in your reports, this article explains what it is and why it matters.
What is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool from Google that shows you how Google sees your website. It provides data about which search terms bring people to your site, how your pages appear in search results, and whether Google is encountering any technical issues when crawling your site.
Think of it as a direct communication channel between your website and Google.
Why does Refuel use it?
Google Search Console is an essential tool for managing your SEO. Your Refuel team uses it to:
Monitor search performance
GSC shows which keywords your site appears for in Google search results, how many times your pages were shown (impressions), how many times they were clicked, and your average ranking position. This data feeds directly into your monthly SEO report.
Identify and fix technical issues
If Google has trouble accessing or understanding your pages, GSC reports the problems. Common issues include pages that couldn't be crawled, mobile usability problems, and pages that aren't being indexed.
Submit new content
When we publish new pages or blog posts on your site, we can use GSC to request that Google crawl and index them faster than it would naturally.
Track core web vitals
GSC reports on your site's loading speed, visual stability, and interactivity, factors that Google uses in its ranking algorithm. If any pages have performance issues, we can see them here.
Review security issues
If Google detects malware, hacking, or other security problems on your site, GSC alerts us so we can resolve them quickly.
Do I need to do anything with Google Search Console?
No. Your Refuel team manages Google Search Console as part of your SEO services. You don't need to log in or make any changes.
However, if you're interested in seeing the data yourself, you're welcome to explore it at search.google.com/search-console using the Google account that has access.
How is it different from Google Analytics?
| Google Search Console | Google Analytics | |
|---|---|---|
| What it measures | How your site performs in Google search results | What visitors do on your website |
| Data source | Google's own search data | Tracking code on your website |
| Key metrics | Impressions, clicks, average position, indexing status | Sessions, users, pageviews, conversions |
| Best for | Understanding your search visibility | Understanding user behaviour |
Both tools are important and complementary. Your Refuel team uses data from both to build a complete picture of your site's performance.
Common questions
Why did Refuel ask for access to my Google Search Console? We need access to monitor your search performance, fix technical issues, and submit content for indexing. Without it, we'd be working without critical data. See Granting access to Google Search Console for instructions.
Can I break anything if I log into Google Search Console? It's unlikely. Most actions in GSC are read-only (viewing data). The settings that could affect your site (like removing URLs from search results) require deliberate steps. If you're exploring, feel free to look around, just avoid removing URLs or submitting disavow files without consulting your Refuel team first.
Is Google Search Console the same as Google Webmaster Tools? Yes, Google Webmaster Tools was the old name. It was rebranded to Google Search Console in 2015, but you may still see the old name referenced occasionally.