If you have a website and you are doing any kind of SEO or digital marketing, Google Search Console is one of the first tools you should have in place. It is completely free, it connects directly to Google, and it gives you data you simply cannot get anywhere else.
In this guide I am going to walk you through exactly how to set it up from scratch, which verification method to use, and what you can expect to see once your data starts coming through.
What Is Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is a free tool provided by Google that lets you monitor how your website is performing in Google search results. It shows you things like which search queries are driving traffic to your site, how many people are seeing your pages in search results, which pages Google has indexed, and any technical issues that might be affecting your visibility.
For anyone running SEO on their own website, it is an essential starting point. You cannot make informed decisions about your content or your rankings without it.
Domain vs URL Prefix: Which One Should You Choose?
When you first set up Google Search Console, you will be asked to choose between two property types: Domain or URL Prefix.
The Domain option is the one I recommend for most people. It covers all versions of your website in one go, including http, https, www and non-www variations, as well as any subdomains. This gives you a complete and accurate picture of your website’s performance without having to set up multiple properties.
The URL Prefix option only tracks one specific version of your URL. It is easier to verify but you can end up with gaps in your data if your site has redirects or multiple URL variations.
Unless you have a specific reason to use URL Prefix, go with Domain.
How to Set Up Google Search Console: Step by Step
Step 1: Go to Google Search Console
Go to Google and search “Google Search Console” or head directly to search.google.com/search-console. Sign in with your Google account.
If it is your first time setting up a property you will land on a screen prompting you to get started. If you have used it before, click the property dropdown in the top left corner of the screen and select Add Property.
Step 2: Enter Your Domain
Select the Domain option and type in your website URL. For example, lucamason.com.au. You do not need to include https or www, just the root domain. Then click Continue.
Step 3: Verify Ownership via DNS
Because we are using the Domain setup, Google requires you to verify ownership through a DNS TXT record. This just proves to Google that you actually own the website.
Google will give you a TXT record value to copy. You then need to log in to your domain or hosting provider and add this record to your DNS settings.
Step 4: Add the TXT Record in Your Hosting Provider
Every hosting provider is slightly different but the process is generally the same. You are looking for a section called DNS Management, DNS Records, or Name Servers.
I use Hostinger for my own websites, so I will walk through that as the example. Inside Hostinger, go to your domain, click Domain Overview, then DNS / Name Servers. Under Manage DNS Records, click the dropdown and select TXT. Paste in the value Google gave you into the TXT value field, enter @ in the Name field, and click Add Record.
If you use a different provider like GoDaddy, Crazy Domains, or Cloudflare, just search for the DNS settings section and the process will be very similar.
Step 5: Verify in Google Search Console
Once you have added the TXT record, go back to Google Search Console and click Verify. If the record has propagated correctly, your property will be confirmed and you will have full access to the account.
If it does not verify straight away, wait a few minutes and try again. DNS changes can sometimes take a little time to go through.
What Happens After Verification
Once your property is verified, you will not see any data right away if it is a brand new setup. That is completely normal. Within about 24 hours, Google will start feeding data into your account and you will begin to see your website’s performance information coming through.
It is worth noting that Search Console data only goes back to when the property was first verified, so the sooner you set it up the better. Even if you are not actively using it yet, having it connected means you are building up historical data for when you need it.
What You Can Do With Google Search Console
Once your data starts coming through, there are a few key areas worth getting familiar with.
Performance Reports
This is where you can see how your website is performing in Google search results. It shows you your total clicks, impressions, average click through rate, and average position. You can also drill down to see exactly which search queries people are using to find your site, which pages are getting the most traffic, and which countries your visitors are coming from.
This data is genuinely useful for SEO. If you can see which keywords are already bringing people to your site, you can create more content around those topics and improve the pages that are ranking on page two or three.
Index Coverage
This section shows you which pages Google has crawled and indexed, and flags any pages that have errors or have been excluded. If a page on your site is not showing up in Google search results, this is the first place to check.
Sitemaps
You can submit your sitemap directly through Search Console, which helps Google find and crawl all the pages on your site more efficiently. If you are using WordPress, plugins like Yoast or Rank Math generate a sitemap automatically.
URL Inspection Tool
This tool lets you check the status of any individual URL on your site. You can see whether it has been indexed, when Google last crawled it, and request a re-index if you have recently made changes to a page.
Why This Matters for Your SEO
A lot of people set up a website and just hope it starts appearing in Google. Google Search Console is how you actually know what is happening. It tells you whether Google can find your pages, what keywords you are ranking for, and where the gaps and opportunities are.
For trade and service businesses especially, getting this set up early means you have real data to work with when you start optimising your site. Rather than guessing what is working, you can see it clearly.