Google Search Console is Google's free tool that shows how your site appears in search results: indexed pages, the queries people type, clicks, rankings and technical errors. It is the only tool that gives you data straight from Google about your search performance. At Mazette.co, we set it up on every Webflow site we deliver.
What exactly is Google Search Console?
Search Console answers three questions: does Google know my pages, does it show them, and do people click on them. It tells you which pages are indexed or excluded, which queries your site appears for, with what average position and click-through rate. It also flags the problems that keep a page from being indexed or that hurt the mobile experience.
It does not replace Google's other tools, which answer different questions:
- Google Search Console: what happens before the click, in the search results.
- Google Analytics: what visitors do once they are on your site (page views, journeys, conversions).
- Google Trends: how interest in a topic or keyword evolves over time, independently of your site.
How to set up Google Search Console
- Sign in at search.google.com/search-console with a Google account.
- Add a property. The Domain type covers every version of your site (www, non-www, http, https) and is the one we recommend. The URL prefix type covers a single version only.
- Verify the property. For a Domain property, add the TXT record provided by Google at your registrar. For a URL prefix on Webflow, paste the verification code into the dedicated field in the site's SEO settings, then publish.
- Submit your sitemap in the Sitemaps tab. On Webflow, it is generated automatically at /sitemap.xml as soon as the option is turned on.
The first data usually appears within a few days.
The reports to check first
- Performance: clicks, impressions, click-through rate (CTR) and average position, by query, page, country and device. This is the most useful report for spotting pages that rank well but do not generate clicks.
- Page indexing: the number of indexed pages and the list of excluded pages, with the reason for each exclusion.
- Sitemaps: the read status of your sitemap and the number of URLs discovered.
- Core Web Vitals: measured on your real visitors, page by page, on mobile and desktop.
- URL Inspection: the status of a specific page, with the option to request indexing after a change.
Common errors and how to fix them
- Crawled, currently not indexed: Google has seen the page but decided it does not add enough value. Enrich the content, avoid duplicates and strengthen internal links to the page.
- Discovered, currently not indexed: Google knows the URL but has not crawled it yet. It is often a sign of weak internal linking.
- Not found (404): the page no longer exists. Set up a 301 redirect to the closest page if it received traffic or links.
- Alternate page with proper canonical tag: the page points to another version considered the main one. This is normal for intentional duplicates, but worth checking if the page should be indexed.
- Page with redirect: the URL redirects to another one. Make sure your internal links and your sitemap point straight to the final URL.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Search Console free?
Yes, the tool is completely free. All you need is a Google account and access to your domain name or your site to verify ownership.
How much data history does Search Console keep?
Performance data covers the last 16 months and arrives with a delay of about two days. To keep a longer history, you need to export it regularly.
How long does it take for a page to be indexed?
From a few hours to several weeks, depending on the site's authority and the quality of its internal linking. Requesting indexing through URL Inspection speeds up discovery, but does not guarantee indexing.
To go further, test your page speed with our PageSpeed Insights page, or discover our SEO support for Webflow sites.
