Most Brisbane business owners treat Google Search Console (GSC) like a scary technical dashboard they only check when something goes wrong. In reality, it is the only place where Google talks to you directly about how your website is performing in their search results—and it’s a goldmine for growing your local presence.
Understanding these reports allows you to stop guessing and start knowing exactly what your customers are typing into their phones while they're walking down Queen Street or sitting in a cafe in Paddington. This guide will walk you through the dashboard without the technical jargon, so you can actually use this data to get more leads.
Prerequisites
Before we dive in, make sure you have:- A verified Google Search Console account for your website.
- At least 2-4 weeks of data (if you’ve just set it up, the reports will look a bit empty—don't panic, Google just needs time to gather the stats).
- Access to your Google account login.
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Step 1: Navigating the Overview Screen
When you first log in, you’ll see the Overview page. Think of this as your high-level health check.
What you’ll see:- Performance chart: A quick look at how many people are clicking through to your site.
- Indexing: This shows you how many of your pages Google has actually found and put in its library.
- Experience: This covers things like mobile usability and how fast your site loads.
Step 2: Decoding the Performance Report (The Heart of GSC)
Click on Performance in the left-hand menu. This is where you’ll spend 80% of your time. This report tells you exactly which keywords are driving traffic to your site.
The Four Key Metrics:- Total Clicks: How many people clicked from Google to your site.
- Total Impressions: How many times your site showed up in a search result (even if they didn't click).
- Average CTR (Click-Through Rate): The percentage of impressions that resulted in a click. (Formula: Clicks ÷ Impressions x 100).
- Average Position: Your average rank on Google (e.g., Position 1 is the very top; Position 11 is usually the top of page two).
Step 3: Analysing Queries vs. Pages
Scroll down below the main chart. You’ll see a table with several tabs. This is where most people get stuck because there is so much data, but it's simpler than it looks.
- Queries Tab: These are the actual words people typed into Google. Look for phrases like "plumber near me" or "best coffee in Brisbane." Are you showing up for what you think you are?
- Pages Tab: This shows you which specific pages on your site are the most popular.
Step 4: Understanding the Indexing Report
On the left sidebar, click Indexing (sometimes called 'Coverage'). This is the technical part that often scares people, but here is the plain English version:
- Indexed (Green): Google has seen the page and it can show up in search results.
- Not Indexed (Grey/Red): Google knows about the page but has decided not to show it to users.
Step 5: Checking Mobile Usability
In Australia, over 60% of searches happen on a mobile device. If your site is hard to use on a phone, Google will penalise your ranking.
Go to the Experience section and click Mobile Usability.
What to look for:- Text too small to read: Exactly what it sounds like. Your font needs to be bigger.
- Clickable elements too close together: This is the "fat finger" problem—buttons are so close that you can't tap one without hitting the other.
This report is annoyingly sensitive. Sometimes it flags an error that doesn't seem to exist when you look at your phone. If that happens, click "Validate Fix" and Google will take another look. Usually, it clears itself up.
Step 6: Using the URL Inspection Tool
At the very top of the screen, there is a search bar that says "Inspect any URL." This is your "manual override" button.
If you've just updated a page on your site—maybe you've added your new ABN, updated your Brisbane office address, or added a new service—copy the URL of that page and paste it into this bar.
Steps to take:- Paste the URL and hit Enter.
- Click "Request Indexing."
This tells Google, "Hey, I've changed something, please come and look at it now instead of waiting for your next scheduled crawl." It’s the fastest way to get your changes reflected in search results.
Step 7: Checking for Manual Actions (The "Naughty Corner")
Under the Security & Manual Actions tab, click Manual actions.
Hopefully, you see a green tick that says "No issues detected." If you see anything else, it means a human at Google has reviewed your site and decided you are breaking their rules (usually via spammy tactics or hidden text).
Pro Tip: If you've hired a cheap SEO agency in the past that used "black hat" tricks, this is where you'll see the damage. If you have a manual action, your site will likely disappear from search results entirely until it's fixed. This is rare for most local Aussie businesses, but it's worth checking once a month.---
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Obsessing over daily fluctuations: Your rankings will go up and down every day. It's like the weather in Brisbane—sometimes it's sunny, sometimes there's a sudden storm. Look at the 3-month trend instead of the daily view.
- Ignoring "Search Queries": Many people look at how many clicks they get but never look at what people searched for. You might find you're ranking for something totally irrelevant, which is a sign you need to tweak your website copy.
- Comparing GSC to Google Analytics: These two tools use different tracking methods. GSC tracks what happens on Google; Analytics tracks what happens on your site. Their numbers will never match perfectly, so don't waste time trying to make them align.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- "No Data Available": If you just verified your site, wait 48 hours. If it's been longer, check that you verified the correct version of your site (e.g., https:// vs http://).
- Sudden Drop in Impressions: Check the Manual Actions section first. If that's clear, check if your website was down for a few days. Google stops showing sites that it can't reach.
- Validation Failed: If you try to fix a mobile usability error and it fails, it's often because your site's cache hasn't cleared. Clear your website cache (via your WordPress plugin or hosting) and try again.
Next Steps
Now that you understand what the reports mean, your next task is to act on the data. Start by identifying your top 5 "Queries" and see if the pages they lead to are actually converting those visitors into customers.
If all of this feels a bit overwhelming, or you'd rather spend your time running your business than squinting at graphs, we can help. At Local Marketing Group, we live and breathe this data to help Brisbane businesses grow.
Want a professional to audit your Search Console and find the hidden opportunities? Contact us at Local Marketing Group and let’s get your site performing the way it should.