What it shows
The Performance report lists the searches your site appears for, with clicks, impressions, click-through rate and average position. Indexing reports show which pages Google has added and why others were left out. Other reports cover Core Web Vitals, mobile usability and security issues.
How it differs from Google Analytics
Search Console covers what happens before the click, in Google's results. Google Analytics covers what visitors do after they arrive. Most sites use both together.
Setting it up
You add your site as a property and prove you own it, usually with a DNS record or a file on your site. Then you submit your sitemap so Google can find your pages more easily.
Why Google Search Console matters
Search Console is the most direct view of how Google sees your site. It helps you spot pages that aren't indexed, find searches where you almost rank and catch technical problems early, all for free.
The pages Google never saw
A contractor wondered why new service pages weren't showing up in search. Search Console showed Google had found them but not indexed them because they were thin and nearly identical. Rewriting each page with real local detail got them indexed within weeks.
Common mistakes
Setting it up and never looking
Problems can sit for months unnoticed. Check the main reports at least once a month.
Chasing average position alone
Average position can be misleading. Look at clicks and impressions for specific pages and searches.
Ignoring indexing warnings
Pages marked 'crawled, currently not indexed' often need better or more distinct content, not just resubmission.
Where we work on this