What is Google Search Console and Why Should Yoga & Pilates Care?
As a yoga or Pilates teacher running your own small business, managing your website can feel overwhelming. And here I come along with another tool you absolutely must look at! But bear with me… this one is quite easy to set up and really helpful!
We’ve talked before on the blog about Google having three core functions:
Send little robots out to read all content on the website
Takes this information then indexes and arranges it
Decides what to show someone when they google based on how it understands the content. Better information shown first.
Now in a first instance you can tell Google Search Console (GSC) to index your website. This is handy when you have new pages.
Longer term, Google Search Console helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your site’s presence in Google Search results. In short, it shows you how Google sees your website. This can be incredibly valuable for yoga and Pilates teachers who want to ensure their website is easily found by potential students in their local area or beyond.
What Does Google Search Console Do?
Google Search Console gives you insights into how your website is performing on Google Search.
Here are some key features:
1. Performance Reports
The Performance tab in GSC shows you the number of clicks, impressions, click-through rate (CTR), and average position your website has in Google Search. You can see which search terms people are using to find your website and which pages are attracting the most traffic.
For example, if you teach Vinyasa yoga classes in London, you can check if your website is appearing when people search for “Vinyasa yoga London.” This insight is crucial for making sure you’re targeting the right keywords. Read this blog for more on Keywords.
2. Index Coverage
Google Search Console helps you understand how Google is indexing your website. If some of your pages aren’t showing up in search results, the Index Coverage report will tell you why. You can fix issues like pages being blocked, errors with redirects, or other technical problems that might be preventing Google from crawling and indexing your site.
3. Mobile Usability
Many of your students will be searching for classes on their phones. Google Search Console can show you how mobile-friendly your website is. If there are issues (like text being too small or buttons being hard to tap), GSC will highlight them, so you can make improvements. THIS IS SO SO IMPORTANT. For context, my yoga studio is around 80% mobile traffic.
4. Core Web Vitals
Google measures how user-friendly your website is, especially focusing on factors like page loading speed, visual stability, and interactivity. These are known as Core Web Vitals. Search Console provides a report on how your site performs on these metrics, which can affect your search rankings.
Why Should You Use Google Search Console?
Hopefully this doesn’t sound too scary…..For a yoga or Pilates teacher managing their own website, Google Search Console is essential because it helps you:
• Improve your search ranking: By understanding what search terms people are using to find your site and which pages rank well, you can optimise your content to get more traffic.
• Fix technical issues: GSC helps you spot issues that might be preventing your site from showing up in search results, so you can fix them quickly and improve your visibility.
• Track your SEO progress: Whether you’re working on improving your website’s SEO or just want to see how well it’s performing, Google Search Console gives you clear, actionable data.
What Should You Do Next?
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to getting started with Google Search Console:
1. Sign up for Google Search Console: If you haven’t already, visit Google Search Console and sign up. You’ll need to verify ownership of your website, which can be done by adding a simple piece of code to your website or through your domain name provider. If you have a Wix or Squarespace site you can often choose to “connect” via your website dashboard.
2. Submit your sitemap: A sitemap is a file that helps Google understand how your site is structured. If you use a website builder like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace, generating and submitting a sitemap is easy. Search for “how to submit a sitemap” based on your platform.
3. Check for errors: Once your site is verified, Google will start showing you data. Check the Coverage tab for any errors that might be preventing Google from crawling (indexing) certain pages on your site.
4. Track performance: Regularly check the Performance tab to see which search queries are driving traffic to your site. Adjust your SEO strategy accordingly by focusing on keywords that are relevant to your classes and location.
5. Fix usability issues: Under the Mobile Usability tab, check if your site is mobile-friendly. Since most people search on mobile devices, this is crucial for capturing new students.
Google Search Console is a powerful, free tool that can help yoga and Pilates teachers improve their website’s performance and make sure potential students can find them online. By using GSC to monitor your site, fix issues, and optimise your SEO, you’ll be able to attract more students and grow your business with confidence.
If you need help setting up Google Search Console or want to improve your website’s visibility, get in touch with us and I’ll be happy to help you!
