Many website owners understand the importance of Google Analytics in monitoring website performance as it relates to site visitors and traffic. But there is a second Google product also helpful in monitoring website performance.
Previously known as Google Webmaster Tools, Google Search Console (GSC) allows you to monitor performance, identify issues, submit sitemaps or content to be crawled, examine search queries and more.
The GSC is also where Google will notify you of issues such as blacklisting, malware and critical website related errors.
Like many Google tools, GSC is free. You just need a Google account and the ability to verify yourself as an authorized “webmaster.”
For an overview on setting up GSC and understanding its dashboard and features, read Search Engine Watch’s “Google Search Console: A Complete Overview.”
