Google Search Console (GSC) is arguably the most important free tool in your digital marketing arsenal. It acts as a direct line of communication between your website and Google, providing invaluable data on how the world’s most popular search engine sees, crawls, and indexes your content.
For Brisbane business owners, setting up GSC is the first step toward local SEO success. It allows you to see exactly which keywords are driving traffic to your site, identify technical issues that might be hiding your pages from potential customers, and ensure your site is mobile-friendly for users browsing on the go.
Prerequisites: What You’ll Need Before Starting
Before we dive into the steps, ensure you have the following ready:
- A Google Account: Ideally use the same account associated with your Google Business Profile or Google Analytics.
- Website Access: You will need the ability to edit your website's DNS settings (via your domain registrar like VentraIP or GoDaddy) or access to the website’s backend (WordPress, Shopify, etc.).
- A Live Website: Your site should be live and accessible to the public.
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Step 1: Sign In to Google Search Console
Navigate to the Google Search Console landing page. Click the 'Start Now' button. You will be prompted to sign in with your Google account.
Screenshot Description: You should see a clean white landing page with a blue 'Start Now' button in the centre and top right corner.Step 2: Choose Your Property Type
Once logged in, you will be presented with two options for adding a 'Property' (your website):
- Domain: This covers all subdomains (m., shop., etc.) and both http and https protocols. This is the gold standard and the method we recommend for most Australian businesses.
- URL Prefix: This only tracks a specific URL (e.g., only https://yourbusiness.com.au). This is easier to set up but less comprehensive.
For this guide, we will focus on the Domain method as it provides the most complete data.
Step 3: Enter Your Domain Name
In the 'Domain' box on the left, type in your root domain (e.g., yourbusiness.com.au). Do not include https:// or www. Just the bare domain. Click 'Continue'.
Step 4: Verify Domain Ownership via DNS
Google needs to prove you actually own the site. For a Domain property, you must use DNS verification. A popup will appear with a 'TXT record'.
Copy the long string of characters provided by Google. You will need to paste this into your domain registrar's settings.
Pro Tip: If you aren't comfortable with DNS settings, you can choose the 'URL Prefix' method instead, which allows for simpler verification via a small file upload or a meta tag, but remember it won't track your subdomains.
Step 5: Log In to Your Domain Registrar
Open a new browser tab and log in to where you bought your domain (e.g., VentraIP, NetRegistry, GoDaddy, or Bluehost). Look for a section labelled 'DNS Management', 'Name Server Management', or 'Advanced DNS'.
Step 6: Add the TXT Record
In your DNS settings, create a new record:
- Type: Select 'TXT'.
- Host/Hostname: Enter '@' or leave it blank (depending on the provider).
- Value/Destination: Paste the string you copied from Google Search Console.
- TTL: Leave as the default (usually 3600).
Save the record.
Warning: DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate across the internet, though for most AU registrars, it's quite fast.Step 7: Complete Verification in GSC
Go back to the Google Search Console tab and click the 'Verify' button. If Google finds the record, you’ll see a green 'Ownership Verified' message. If it fails, wait 10 minutes and try again.
Step 8: Familiarise Yourself with the Dashboard
Once verified, click 'Go to Property'. You’ll land on the Overview page. Note that if this is a brand new setup, your charts will be empty. Google needs about 24–48 hours to start populating data.
Step 9: Submit Your XML Sitemap
A sitemap tells Google exactly which pages on your site are important.
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Sitemaps.
- Under 'Add a new sitemap', type in your sitemap URL (usually
sitemap_index.xmlorsitemap.xml). - Click 'Submit'.
Step 10: Check the 'Core Web Vitals' Report
Google now uses page speed and user experience as a ranking factor. Look at the 'Experience' section in the sidebar. While it might be empty initially, this is where you will eventually see if your site is 'Fast' or 'Slow' for Brisbane users on mobile and desktop.
Step 11: Link to Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
To get the most out of your data, link GSC to your Analytics:
- Open Google Analytics.
- Go to Admin > Property Settings > Product Links > Search Console Links.
- Click 'Link' and select your newly verified property.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Verifying the wrong version: If you use the 'URL Prefix' method, ensure you verify the
httpsversion. Most modern sites use SSL; verifying thehttpversion will result in zero data if your traffic is redirected to secure pages. - Deleting the TXT Record: Once verified, do not delete the DNS record. Google periodically re-verifies ownership. If the record is gone, you lose access to the data.
- Ignoring the 'Coverage' Report: Many owners set up GSC and never look at it again. Check the 'Indexing' report monthly to ensure Google isn't encountering errors when trying to read your site.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- "Ownership verification failed": Double-check that you pasted the TXT record correctly without extra spaces. Also, ensure you saved the changes in your DNS provider's dashboard.
- "Sitemap could not be fetched": This is common for new sites. Ensure the sitemap URL is correct by visiting it in your browser first. If the page loads a bunch of code/links, it's working. Try re-submitting in GSC after 24 hours.
- No Data Showing: GSC is not retroactive. It only starts collecting data from the moment you verify the property. Check back in two days.
Next Steps
Now that your Google Search Console is live, you have started your journey toward better organic visibility. Your next steps should be:
- Monitor your 'Performance' report: See which keywords are actually bringing people to your site.
- Fix Indexing Errors: Address any '404' or 'Server Error' issues Google flags.
- Optimise for Mobile: Use the 'Mobile Usability' report to ensure your site works perfectly for local customers on smartphones.
If you find the technical side of DNS settings and sitemaps a bit overwhelming, the team at Local Marketing Group is here to help. We specialise in technical SEO for Australian small businesses. Contact us today to get your SEO on the right track.