Ranking high in search results definitely means you’re doing something right. But if no one is clicking on your link, does it really matter?
Google Search Console (GSC) integration allows you to monitor GSC data and compare it with other SEO points on a single ranking graph.
With total clicks, total impressions, average CTR, and average position embedded into your ranking chart, it’s easier to contextualize your website traffic and gain a deeper understanding of how users interact with your content.
# How to Connect a SerpWatch Project with GSC?
There are two ways you can connect SerpWatch with Search Console: in the project setup and directly from the project-level ranking chart.
NOTE: Antivirus programs can sometimes block GSC integration. If are still unable to connect your GSC account with SerpWatch after disabling the antivirus program, please contact our support team via live chat or at [email protected].
# Connect GSC in the Project Setup
You can connect SerpWatch with GSC either while adding a new project or editing an existing one.
In the Project Setup, click “Next” until you reach the Setup Notifications, Automation, and Integration modal:
Next, click the “Google Search Console” button:
Click “Connect to Google Search Console”:
Give your GSC account a name (this is for in-app use only and it serves to help you differentiate between different GSC accounts):
Choose the Google account you want to connect:
Check the two boxes to allow SerpWatch to view and manage your GSC data (2) and click “Continue” (2):
Choose the GSC account you want to connect from the drop-down box*:
*SerpWatch will display GSC data for the main domain connected to the email address of the project – regardless of how many domains you have on GSC.
Once you select the account, click “Select”:
You have now successfully connected your SerpWatch project with Google Search Console:
If you later want to connect another project with a different GSC account, click the “Google Search Console” button in the Edit Project setup, click “Add New Account” and repeat the process described above:
# Connect GSC from the Ranking Chart
Log into the project Dashboard and click the project you want to connect with GSC:
Click the Search Console tab:
Click “Connect to Google Search Console”:
Repeat the process described above:
- Give your GSC account a name;
- Choose the Google account you want to connect;
- Check the boxes to allow SerpWatch to view and manage your GSC data and click “Continue”;
- Choose the GSC account you want to connect from the drop-down box;
- Click “Select” to confirm.
# What Do GSC Metrics Mean?
SerpWatch embeds the following types of GSC data into your ranking chart:
# Total Clicks
The total number of times your website was clicked on over a certain time period.
# Total Impressions
The total number of times your website showed up in search results over a certain time period.
# Average CTR
The ratio of clicks to impressions (how many people click your link out of the ones who see it in search results).
# Average Position
Average SERP position for all of your pages over a certain time period.
# How to Filter GSC Data?
You can filter GSC data on the ranking chart for a specific time period, by country, and device.
# Time Period
By default, the app will show data for the current month but you can also choose a time range from the date picker in the top right corner of the ranking chart.
Click “Filter” to confirm:
# Country
To filter GSC data by county, select one of the countries from the drop-down box in the top right corner of the ranking chart and click “Filter” to confirm: :
# Device
To filter GSC data by device, check either Desktop or Mobile in the top right corner of the ranking chart and click “Filter” to confirm:
# Why are SerpWatch and Google Search Console Showing Different Results?
You may notice that Google Search Console data in your SerpWatch ranking chart differs from that in the Google Search Console tool.
According to Google, there are several reasons for data discrepancies between GSC Performance reports and other tools.
These reasons include:
- Data privacy (some queries are omitted from GSC reports to protect user privacy);
- Other tools may process GSC data differently;
- The latest data in the GSC reports is sometimes preliminary and there can be a lag between the numbers;
- Local time zones can affect GSC results shown in other tools.
Read more about discrepancies between GSC and other tools.
Note also that Google Search Console and Google Analytics results may differ.
This is because GSC and GA measure different metrics.
GSC keeps track of clicks (the number of times people click on your website in search results), whereas GA records sessions (a group of actions taken by a user on your website within a given time period).
For example, if a user clicks your link once, clicks the back button, and then clicks the link again shortly after, GSC would record this as two clicks, while GA would count this as just one session.
This is just one scenario and there are a number of variables that Google takes into account when recording sessions.
Read more about how Analytics defines web sessions.
Keep in mind that it is expected to see more clicks in GSC than sessions in GA since users can block Analytics from recording their activity on a website, but they can’t block GSC from recording clicks in Google search results pages.