Google Webmaster Tools is by far one of the most useful and important of all SEO tools. Nevertheless, it’s also one of the most routinely overlooked. It may not be the most feature-rich suite of SEO tools on the market, but the fact that it’s provided byGoogle itself speaks volumes for its value.
After all, the vast majority of SEO strategies implemented by an SEO company are engineered and implemented to satisfy this one major search engine.
What Is Google Webmaster Tools?
In essence, Google Webmaster Tools is the guidebook and blueprint you need to implement an effective SEO strategy. Contrary to popular belief, Google makes it abundantly clear what’s expected from webmasters out to climb the rankings. They provide all the information and insights needed to cover each and every SEO requirement.
When combined with Google Analytics, Google Webmaster Tools can be particularly useful. This way, you’re provided with detailed instructions on how to satisfy Google’s indexation algorithm, along with how your website is performing at the time. After which, it’s down to you to take care of the rest.
Getting Started with Google Webmaster Tools
Best of all, you don’t need any specific experience or expertise to get started with Google Webmaster Tools. Simply head over to this page and complete the verification process, in order to confirm your ownership of the website in question. Follow the instructions provided by Google and you’ll be up and running in a matter of minutes.
The Most Valuable Google Webmaster Tools
Upon accessing your Google Webmaster Tools account for the first time, you may be perturbed by the sheer volume of complex information available. Nevertheless, there’s a handful of tools that provide the most valuable and important insights of all, which include the following:
Search Queries
Pay close attention to the Search Queries section, as this is where you’ll see the keywords that brought visitors to your website in the first place. This is essential for enhancing and optimising your keyword research processes, along with gaining access to invaluable data on search terms you may have otherwise overlooked.
Links
As the name suggests, this Google Webmaster Tool provides detailed information regarding your site’s internal and external links alike. You’ll then be able to carry out regular link audits, preserving quality backlinks and eliminating any that could be harming your SEO profile.
Crawl Errors
Any crawl errors on your website only stand to dilute your SEO strategy. Rather than trawling your pages and coding for errors manually, you can use Google’s Spider Simulator to crawl your entire website in seconds. After which, you’ll have the opportunity to address any errors detected.
Keywords
Last up, the Keywords tool differs from the Search Queries tool by scanning your website for keywords within your content. So rather than viewing the keywords used to find your website, you’ll be looking at information regarding the keywords you’re currently focusing on. By noting your use of specific search terms and their significance, you’ll be in a far better position to optimise your keyword research and content marketing strategies accordingly.
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Image Credits: Google Webmaster Tools from frankie’s/Shutterstock