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Google Search Console Setup Guide

By BudgetByte Editorial Team • Published on 04/10/2026

Why Every Business Website Needs Search Console

Launching a new site? We set up Search Console, submit your sitemap and check indexing as part of every build. See our local SEO services.

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that shows how your website performs in Google Search. It tells you which searches your site appears for, how often people click, which pages Google has indexed, and whether anything is stopping your pages from showing up. If you run a business website and haven't set it up, you're missing the only first-hand data Google gives you about your site.

This Google Search Console setup guide walks through creating a property, verifying ownership, submitting a sitemap and making sense of the main reports. It's written for small business owners, not SEO specialists.

Before You Start

You'll need:

  • A Google account. Use one your business controls, not a personal account belonging to a staff member or contractor. You can add other users later.
  • Access to your domain's DNS settings (through your domain registrar or DNS host), or access to your website's code or CMS.
  • Your website's address, including whether it uses www or not.

If you're not sure who controls your domain or hosting, read our guide on who owns your website first.

Step 1: Choose a Property Type

When you open Search Console and add a property, you're asked to choose between two types.

Domain property (recommended)

A domain property covers every version of your site: http and https, www and non-www, and all subdomains. It gives you the most complete data. It must be verified through DNS.

URL-prefix property

A URL-prefix property covers only the exact address you enter, such as https://www.yourbusiness.com.au. It can be verified in several ways, including an HTML file, a meta tag, Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager. It's useful when you can't change DNS settings.

For most businesses, a domain property is the better choice. You can add a URL-prefix property as well if you want separate reports for one section.

Step 2: Verify Ownership

DNS verification (domain property)

  1. Search Console gives you a TXT record that starts with "google-site-verification=".
  2. Log in to your DNS provider and add a new TXT record for your root domain with that value.
  3. Save it, return to Search Console and click Verify.

DNS changes can take a little while to take effect. If verification fails at first, wait and try again. Don't delete the TXT record after verifying, because Google checks it periodically.

Other methods (URL-prefix property)

  • HTML file: upload a file Google provides to your site's root folder.
  • HTML tag: add a meta tag to your home page's head section. Many CMS platforms and SEO plugins have a field for this.
  • Google Analytics or Tag Manager: if you already use them with the right permissions, verification can be done in a click.

Step 3: Submit Your XML Sitemap

A sitemap is a file listing the pages you want Google to find. Most modern website platforms create one automatically. It's often at /sitemap.xml or /sitemap_index.xml.

  1. In Search Console, open Sitemaps in the left menu.
  2. Enter your sitemap URL and click Submit.
  3. Check back later to make sure the status says "Success" and the number of discovered pages looks right.

Your sitemap should list only pages you want indexed: live, canonical pages that return a 200 status. It shouldn't include redirects, error pages, or pages marked noindex.

Step 4: Add Users the Right Way

Under Settings → Users and permissions, you can add your web developer, SEO provider or marketing team.

  • Keep your business account as the owner.
  • Give contractors full or restricted access rather than ownership.
  • Remove access when someone leaves or a contract ends.

Step 5: Check Indexing With URL Inspection

The URL Inspection tool, at the top of Search Console, shows how Google sees a specific page.

  • Paste in the URL of an important page, such as your home page or a main service page.
  • Check whether it says "URL is on Google".
  • If it isn't indexed, the tool explains why, for example that it was discovered but not yet crawled, or excluded by a noindex tag.
  • After fixing a problem or publishing a new page, you can click Request indexing.

Requesting indexing doesn't guarantee a page will be indexed, but it asks Google to crawl it.

The Reports That Matter Most

Performance

This report shows clicks, impressions, average click-through rate and average position for your site in Google Search.

  • Queries shows the searches you appear for. Look for relevant searches with plenty of impressions but few clicks. Improving the page title and meta description for those pages can help.
  • Pages shows which pages get the most visibility.
  • Countries and Devices help you check that you're reaching Australian searchers and mobile users.

Use the date filter to compare periods, for example the last three months against the previous three.

Pages (indexing)

This report shows how many of your pages are indexed and why others aren't. Common reasons include:

  • Not found (404): a page that's linked somewhere but no longer exists. Fix the link or redirect the old URL.
  • Excluded by noindex tag: fine if intentional, a problem if it's a page you want in Google.
  • Page with redirect: normal for old URLs that redirect.
  • Duplicate without user-selected canonical: Google found similar pages and picked one itself.
  • Crawled, currently not indexed: Google saw the page but didn't index it. This is often a sign the content is thin or too similar to other pages.

Core Web Vitals and HTTPS

These reports flag pages with slow loading, layout shifts or responsiveness issues, and confirm that pages are served securely over HTTPS.

Links

Shows which external sites link to you and which of your pages are linked most internally. Useful before a redesign so you don't lose pages that other sites link to.

A Monthly Search Console Routine

Spend 15 minutes each month:

  1. Check the Performance report for big changes in clicks or impressions.
  2. Look at the top queries and pages. Are they the services you want to be found for?
  3. Check the Pages report for new errors.
  4. Review any emails from Search Console about issues.
  5. Inspect any new pages you've published.

If you're planning a redesign or platform change, Search Console data is essential. Our website migration SEO checklist explains how to use it to protect your rankings.

Search Console vs Google Analytics

Search Console shows what happens before someone reaches your site: searches, impressions and clicks from Google. Google Analytics shows what happens after they arrive: which pages they visit, how long they stay and whether they enquire. You need both. Our guide to GA4 setup for small businesses covers the second half.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google Search Console free?

Yes. Search Console is a free service from Google.

How long does it take for data to appear?

After verification, data usually starts appearing within a few days. Performance data is retained for a rolling period, so set it up early.

Does submitting a sitemap improve rankings?

A sitemap helps Google discover and crawl your pages. It doesn't improve rankings on its own, but it makes sure your important pages can be found.

Should I use a domain property or URL-prefix property?

A domain property is usually best because it includes every version of your site. Use a URL-prefix property if you can't edit DNS records.

Get Set Up Properly

Search Console is easy to set up and easy to ignore. If you'd like help verifying your site, fixing indexing problems or making sense of the data, contact BudgetByte or explore our local SEO services.

B
About BudgetByte Editorial Team

The BudgetByte Editorial Team specializes in local SEO and high-performance web development strategies tailored for Australian trades and agencies.

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