How to Use Google Search Console to Increase Traffic

If you’re looking for a straightforward way to boost your website’s traffic and improve your rankings, Google Search Console is your secret weapon. This free tool gives you powerful insights into how your site performs on Google and helps you uncover hidden opportunities to grow your audience.

With just a few targeted actions, you can transform data into real results: higher click-through rates, better rankings, and more traffic without spending a fortune.

At Redakthor, we’ve perfected a simple six-step process that turns Google Search Console into a shortcut for easy SEO wins. Ready to get started? Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Analyze what’s working and where to improve

The first step in leveraging Google Search Console for SEO wins is to analyze the data and organize it in a way that highlights the most impactful opportunities. By exporting and structuring your data, you can focus on the queries and pages that have the greatest potential for improvement.

How to do it

1. Open the Performance Report:
Navigate to the Search Results section in Google Search Console. Here, you’ll see key metrics like clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position for your queries and pages.

2. Export the Data:

• Click the Export button in the top-right corner of the report.
• Choose the format you prefer, such as Google Sheets, Excel, or CSV.
• For more specific insights, apply filters before exporting, such as narrowing results by date range, device, or country.

3. Organize the Data:
Once you’ve exported the data, open it in your preferred tool (e.g., Google Sheets). Create columns to categorize and prioritize your opportunities:

• Query: The search term.
• Impressions: Total number of times the query appeared in search results.
• Clicks: Total number of clicks the query received.
• CTR (Click-Through Rate): Percentage of impressions that turned into clicks.
• Position: The average position of the query in search results.
• Priority Level: Assign a priority (e.g., high, medium, low) based on the query’s potential impact. For instance:
  • High Priority: High impressions, low CTR.
  • Medium Priority: Queries ranking in positions 8–20.
  • Low Priority: Queries already ranking well or with low search volume.

4. Group by Opportunity Type:

• Separate queries into categories such as “High-Impression, Low-CTR” and “Low-Ranking, High-Potential.”
• Create a tab for each type of opportunity in your spreadsheet, making it easier to focus on specific areas later.

Pro tip

For quick wins, prioritize queries with the highest impressions but the lowest CTR—these often require minor tweaks to see big results.

Read also: How Do Marketers Use Google Analytics?

Step 2: Look at your most popular pages

Identify the pages on your website that are receiving the most impressions or clicks. Analyze the content of those pages to understand what makes them successful. Consider creating similar or complementary content that expands upon those topics.

How to do it

1. Look for High-Performing Queries:

• Open the Performance Report and navigate to the Queries tab.
• Identify search queries with high impressions and clicks. These indicate topics that are already attracting significant attention and can serve as the foundation for future content.

2. Identify Successful Vertical Themes:

• Group similar queries to determine which verticals (topics or categories) are driving the most traffic.

3. Spot Opportunities to Expand Your Best-Performing Verticals:

• For each high-performing vertical, ask yourself:
  • Are there related subtopics you haven’t covered yet?
  • Could you create more content to deepen your authority in this space?

4. Organize and Document Findings:

• Export your data from Google Search Console and sort it into verticals or themes.
• Highlight your strongest verticals and list potential topics for further exploration.

Pro tip

Leverage tools like Google’s Related Searches or AnswerThePublic to uncover related keywords and questions your audience is searching for. Use these insights to create a comprehensive content cluster that builds authority in your niche and keeps users engaged.

Step 3: Uncover high-potential keywords and content gaps

Content gaps are topics or keywords related to your niche that have significant search volume but aren’t yet addressed on your website. By creating content to fill these gaps, you can attract new organic traffic, strengthen your authority, and capture audiences you may have previously missed.

How to do it

1. Analyze Search Queries:
Use Google Search Console to review queries that are driving impressions but have no associated clicks or content on your site. These represent opportunities to create targeted articles or landing pages.

2. Research Related Keywords:
Use keyword research tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google’s Related Searches to discover new topics within your niche. Look for keywords with:

• High search volume.
• Low competition or gaps in your competitors’ content.
• Clear relevance to your audience’s needs.

3. Audit Competitor Content:
Analyze your competitors’ websites to see which topics they’ve covered that you haven’t. Look for detailed guides, FAQs, or product comparisons that could add value to your vertical.

4. Identify Frequently Asked Questions:
Pay attention to common customer questions in reviews, support inquiries, or social media comments. For example, if you sell gemstones and customers frequently ask about durability, you could write a guide like “Which Gemstones Are the Most Durable for Everyday Wear?”

5. Plan Content Around Uncovered Keywords:

• Use the identified gaps to develop new articles, guides, or product pages that directly target those queries.
• Ensure your content aligns with search intent—for instance, informational content for “how-to” queries and product pages for transactional searches.

Example in action

Suppose your website focuses on jewelry, and you notice high search volume for “how to clean emerald jewelry,” but you haven’t written anything on this topic. By creating a step-by-step guide targeting this query, you not only address the gap but also attract users likely interested in purchasing emerald products, boosting both traffic and potential sales.

Pro tip

Prioritize content gaps that are highly relevant to your audience and closely aligned with your business goals. Focus on evergreen topics that will consistently drive traffic over time while addressing common pain points or questions your customers have.

By systematically identifying and filling content gaps, you can establish yourself as an authoritative resource in your industry, expand your vertical, and drive sustained organic traffic growth.

Step 4: Optimize and refresh your content

Once you’ve identified what’s working and pinpointed areas for improvement, it’s time to take action. The goal of this step is to refine your content to align with user intent, enhance on-page SEO, and ensure the best possible experience for both users and search engines. Even small adjustments can drive substantial gains in traffic and engagement.

How to do it

1. Revamp Meta Titles and Descriptions:

• Use compelling, keyword-rich titles and descriptions that encourage clicks. Focus on addressing the user’s search intent and adding urgency or value, such as “10 Winter Coats You’ll Want in Your Closet Today.”

2. Update Content for Relevance:

• Refresh older posts by adding new information, current trends, or updated examples. For example, if you have a blog post about “2022 Summer Accessories,” update it for 2024 with fresh ideas and links to current products.

3. Review Internal and External Linking:

• Add relevant internal links to connect the refreshed content with other high-performing pages. For instance, link a post about “Styling Chunky Gold Necklaces” to product pages or related blog posts like “2024 Jewelry Trends.”
• Check external links for relevancy and functionality. Replace any broken links and consider linking to authoritative sources to boost your credibility.

4. Consider Guest Posting for Backlinks:

• Promote your refreshed content by pitching guest posts or collaborations to authoritative websites in your niche. Use this opportunity to link back to your optimized pages, driving traffic and improving domain authority.

5. Improve On-Page SEO:

• Use primary and related keywords in headers (H1, H2, H3) and body text.
• Optimize images with descriptive alt text and compress files for faster load times.
• Add structured data or schema markup for rich results where applicable.

6. Submit Updates for Indexing:

• Use the URL Inspection Tool to submit updated pages to Google for reindexing. This ensures your changes are recognized and reflected in search results quickly.

Example in action

Say you have a blog post on “How to Style Chunky Gold Necklaces” that’s ranking on page 2. You optimize the title with a keyword like “5 Fresh Ways to Style Chunky Gold Necklaces for Any Occasion” and add a “Trending Now” section featuring your latest products.

By including internal links to your product pages and refreshing images, you make the page more engaging and SEO-friendly.

Pro tip

At Redakthor, we use SurferSEO Premium Credits to on-page optimize every article. This allows us to identify and fill missing sections, expand semantic keywords, and ensure content aligns with competitive benchmarks.

By incorporating these advanced insights, we ensure each page is not just refreshed but fully optimized for both user intent and search engine algorithms.

Ready to optimize your content and start seeing real results? Contact us today, and let’s turn your underperforming pages into traffic powerhouses with expert on-page SEO and data-driven strategies.

Step 5: Create new content to strengthen your vertical authority

After optimizing your existing content, the next step is to focus on creating fresh, high-quality articles that expand on your successful verticals.

This helps you establish even greater authority in your niche while attracting new traffic by targeting untapped queries and long-tail keywords. By building on the momentum of what’s already working, you can fill content gaps and capture a broader audience.

How to do it

1. Map Out Content Clusters:

• Use the queries and verticals identified in Step 2 to plan your new content.
• Group topics into clusters that revolve around a central theme. For example, if your top-performing vertical is “gemstones,” your content cluster could include:
  • “Top 10 Gemstones for Engagement Rings”
  • “How to Identify a Real Ruby”
  • “The History and Symbolism of Birthstones”

2. Target Related and Long-Tail Keywords:

• Use tools like Google’s Related Searches, AnswerThePublic, or Ahrefs to find subtopics and questions related to your core vertical.
• For instance, if “emerald stone” is performing well, consider targeting queries like “emerald hardness” or “how to care for emerald jewelry.”

3. Write Content That Adds Value:

• Ensure your new content addresses user intent and provides actionable insights.
• Use engaging formats such as “how-to” guides, “top 10” lists, or comparison articles to attract clicks.
• Incorporate visuals like infographics, charts, or images to improve user engagement.

4. Connect New Content with Internal Links:

• Strengthen the authority of your new pages by linking them to existing high-performing content in the same vertical.
• For example, link your article on “How to Identify a Real Ruby” to a product page featuring ruby jewelry or your existing blog on “Ruby Stone Benefits.”

5. Optimize for Search Engines:

• Use the high-potential keywords identified in Step 3 and incorporate them naturally into titles, headers, and meta descriptions.
• Ensure proper formatting with subheadings, bullet points, and concise paragraphs to improve readability and SEO.

Example in action

Let’s say “emerald stone” has been a strong performer in your vertical. You can create a series of new posts such as:

• “How to Spot a Fake Emerald: A Complete Guide”
• “Top 5 Reasons Emeralds Are Perfect for Engagement Rings”
• “Caring for Emerald Jewelry: Dos and Don’ts”

Each post not only drives traffic but also reinforces your authority on gemstones and provides opportunities to link back to product pages or related content.

Pro tip

Publish consistently and prioritize evergreen content that stays relevant over time. Complement this with seasonal or trend-based articles to capture spikes in search interest.

By continuously creating new, strategically aligned content, you build a deeper and more comprehensive presence in your vertical. This approach not only improves your authority but also broadens your reach, helping you capture new traffic opportunities.

Step 6: Track progress and refine your strategy

SEO isn’t a one-and-done effort—it requires consistent monitoring and adjustments to ensure long-term success. After implementing the previous steps, it’s essential to track your results using Google Search Console and refine your approach based on what’s working and what isn’t.

How to do it

1. Monitor Key Metrics Regularly:

• Use the Performance Report to track changes in clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position for your target keywords.
• Pay attention to improvements in the rankings of pages and queries you optimized.

2. Identify New Opportunities:

• Look for emerging keywords and search queries in the Performance Report that you can target with new content.
• Monitor your Index Coverage report to ensure all pages are properly indexed and identify any new issues.

3. Conduct Monthly Content Audits:

• Review underperforming content and decide whether to refresh, rewrite, or repurpose it.
• Check internal links to ensure they’re still effective and add new links to recently published content.

4. Evaluate Competitor Performance:

• Use third-party tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs alongside Google Search Console to track how your competitors are ranking for shared keywords. Adapt your strategy to outperform them by offering better, more comprehensive content.

5. Experiment with New Strategies:

• Test different approaches, like targeting long-tail keywords, adding schema markup for rich results, or enhancing user experience with interactive content.

Example in action

After refreshing a blog post on “Gold Jewelry Trends for 2024,” you notice a 40% increase in impressions but a lower-than-expected CTR. By monitoring these metrics, you realize the meta title could be more engaging. Updating it to “10 Gold Jewelry Trends You’ll Love in 2024” helps drive higher clicks.

Pro tip

Set calendar reminders to review your SEO progress at least once a month. Use Google Search Console’s comparison feature to track performance over time and adapt your strategy to maintain consistent growth.

Keep growing: Track, refine, and watch your traffic soar

Google Search Console is an incredibly powerful tool that, when used strategically, can unlock significant growth for your website. By following these five steps—uncovering insights, analyzing performance, optimizing content, strengthening your links, and tracking progress—you can transform your SEO strategy and drive more traffic with less guesswork.

SEO isn’t just about making changes—it’s about making the right changes. With consistent monitoring and refinement, you can stay ahead of the competition and ensure your site continues to attract and engage your target audience.

Ready to maximize your website’s potential? At Redakthor, we specialize in turning Google Search Console insights into actionable strategies that drive results. Whether you need help analyzing your data or executing a full SEO overhaul, contact us today and let’s take your traffic to the next level!