Google Search Console and Google Analytics are tools I recommend for any new blogger as a default. They provide an incredible amount of insight about how visitors find your blog and how they interact with it. They are both also highly recommended tools to check for SEO. When you have these two tools set up, you can make your data easier to interpret by linking your Google Search Console and Google Analytics accounts together.
I’m going to show you how to connect Google Search Console and Google Analytics so you can pull your Search Console data into Analytics. I’ll outline one of the most important reasons to do so.
By the end of this post you’ll understand:
- Why you should connect Search Console data in Google Analytics.
- How to connect them.
- A neat keyword analysis trick when you’ve connected them!
You’ll need to have set up Google Search Console and Google Analytics accounts to benefit from this tutorial.
Why Should You Connect Google Search Console to Google Analytics?
You’d normally check your keyword data and domain engagement in GSC then check your visitor activity in GA. The first and most obvious reason to connect your Search Console data to Analytics is you’ll get to see all your data in one place.
Google Search Console shows you a whole bunch of data about keyword queries such as the:
- Actual keyword search someone made where your pages appeared as a search result.
- Number of times your pages show for a specific keyword search.
- Landing pages shown for keyword searches.
- Average position your pages appeared.
- The number of clicks each search query generates.
The data related to the keyword searches people make to find your blog has been hidden in Google Analytics since around 2013 when Google implemented the “not provided” keyword value to hide them. However, connecting Search Console data in Google Analytics reveals the majority of them again in your Analytics account!
Not only this, once you’ve connected Search Console data in Analytics, all other useful metrics for page interaction can be drilled down to specific keywords. You can literally see if and how different keyword searches driving traffic to your pages result in different visitor interactions.
This is gold for Google organic keyword analysis AND visitor behavior analysis relating to your blog!
Many people still do not connect these two accounts together and it’s madness! Especially considering it’s such an easy thing to do.
Here’s how…
How to Connect Search Console Data in Google Analytics
You must have created a Google Search Console Account and verified your domain using the same login you use to access Google Analytics.
Step 1
Sign in to Google Analytics and select the account for your site.
Click the Admin option in the bottom right-hand side of the Google Analytics navigation sidebar as shown below. This takes you to your main GA Admin page.
Step 2
In the Property column of your Admin page, click the Property Settings option.
Step 3
Scroll down the Property Setting page and look for the Search Console settings area.
Step 4
If you haven’t already associated your Google Analytics account with Google Search Console, you’ll see an option to add a GSC account. Click the “Add” link as shown below.
Clicking the “Add” link takes you across to the Google Search Console, where you’ll land on the Enable Search Console data in Google Analytics page.
Find the domain you want to connect in Google Analytics, click the radio button next to it and click Save.
Your Google Search Console and Google Analytics accounts are now connected!
Viewing Keyword Data from Google Search Console in Google Analytics
Remember I told you in my introduction that once you connect Search Console data in Google Analytics you’ll be able to see the organic keyword queries people are using in Google to find you site?
Now you’ve connected the two systems together, you’ll be able to see most of the keywords that were previously hidden behind the (not provided) keyword in a new reporting area in Analytics relating to the Search Console.
I’ve written a detailed post about this here: The (not provided) Keyword in Google Analytics. Towards the bottom of that post, I explain precisely where to look to find your Google Search Console keyword data in GA.
If you’d prefer not to read that post in full, you’ll see your Search Console data in the Acquisition reports in Analytics (you may need to refresh your page if you’ve just connected GSC and GA).
That’s it…. Google Search Console and Google Analytics are connected and you now have a reporting area specifically for GSC in your Analytics account!
Summary
- Both systems provide excellent tools to check your SEO.
- You can connect GSC and GA through your Google Analytics Admin pages.
- If you connect your Search Console data in Google Analytics, you’ll be able to see useful information from both tools in one place.
- Once you’ve connected GSC data to GA you see indispensable information about Google organic keyword traffic.
That’s it for now.
Paul
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Anything more you need to know about Connect GSC to GA? Drop me a question below in the comments area!
I had it on my to-do list to check your instructions to do this… and now it’s finally done! So easy. Great instructions—thank you, Paul!
Hey Chrissy… nice to see you here! I’m glad you found it an easy thing to do and I hope you start to get some useful keyword information from GA now. Drop me a message if you need further guidance.
Good post, Paul! Any blogger needs to connect GSC with GA. Else we miss out on important traffic data. Thanks for making a guide with screenshots, I can link others to this. Cheers! James