Search Console Helper

Benefit from useful data and analyze more easily

One of the most essential and indispensable tools of most webmasters and SEOs is certainly the Google Search Console. Especially since it provides data directly from Google, such as search queries, crawling and possible security problems. However, the Search Console also has some vulnerabilities that are often a problem for experienced SEOs and webmasters.

Google Search Console vs. Search Console Helper

We get a lot of data in the Google Search Console, such as clicks, impressions, CTR and average positions, but on closer inspection we notice that the number of searches in the dataset listed below does not match the total number of clicks listed above. If this were only a marginal difference, it could be ignored, but our test showed a difference of more than 33% in clicks. You should always use the Google Search Console API’s detailed record instead of blindly trusting the total number of clicks listed in the Search Console. This more accurate record is also used by Search Console Helper.

The Search Console Helper provides a remedy. The program is installed directly on the computer and data is imported directly via the API of the Google Search Console, thus all data of the properties of the connected Google account are available. You can also easily switch between websites or combine data from different websites. This function is especially useful for agencies or companies with many landing pages.

Extensive data analysis and longer data history make long-term analyses possible

The Search Console Helper provides an overview of the most important key figures: Clicks, impressions, click rate, as well as the associated rankings for the individual keywords. For example, you can filter and sort by search type, country, device, impressions or position. It is very easy to search for specific keywords and define start and end dates.

User-defined periods or intervals such as 30, 60, 90 days can be selected or all available data of the Search Console Helper can be displayed via “All”. This of course depends on the time of installation. The data can go well beyond the 90 days provided by Google so far or 16 months in the beta version, because the data is stored and updated locally. Since the data is cumulative and it is not possible to view or even identify the behaviour of individual users, we do not believe that there will be any problems with data protection. This makes it possible to compare this year’s data with last year’s season, which is a great advantage especially for industries that are subject to strong seasonal fluctuations. In addition, CTR or ranking sales can be observed through long-term observation, e.g. through changes in title, description or content.

More data on keywords and better linking of pages and keywords

The Search Console only displays a maximum of 1000 lines, which can be bypassed with some filter options by reducing the size of the record, but there is a much easier way:

The Search Console Helper can handle up to 5000 rows of data and, depending on the size of the domain, you get a more solid data set.

Another big problem of the Search Console is that only search queries and pages can be viewed separately. Via the Search Console API you have the possibility to combine these two and get a matching page for all search queries. So you can/can:

• Be quick to respond to keyword cannibalism
• New ranking opportunities can be easily found

Google Search Console

Search Console Helper

Avoid “Not Provided” by Google Analytics:

Gain insight into all keywords

A further advantage of the SCH is also the correct and complete list of all keywords and is therefore a supplement to Google Analytics, where many keywords remain hidden with the “Not provided” label.

Other useful functions of the Search Console Helper:

Comprehensive filter options

The search function

Backlink analysis

Since there is currently no API for the backlinks, a list with the links must be exported from the Search Console and uploaded as a .csv file in the Search Console Helper.

When you click the Start button, the Search Console Helper crawler starts calling all URLs on your list, captures the entire HTML code of each page, and stores it in your computer’s memory.

The table now begins to fill with data. This may take some time, but the result is worth the effort. Status code, content type and the context of the search term from the source code containing the backlink are listed. Thus, the tool contains the ability to recognize follow or nofollow attributes, for example. In addition, 404 links can be sorted and anchor link texts can be analyzed.
Of course, you can also select the entire record or any number of rows and export it as an Excel or TXT file if you want to send a backlink Disavow file to Google.

It should also be noted that the Search Console Helper has very fast support. Our questions regarding the missing API for backlinks were answered and helped within a few minutes.

Expenses

The Search Console Helper is a paid tool, but the trial version can be tested for 30 days free of charge. After that you can choose between a contract period of 1,3,6,12 and 24 months. For one year the license of the Search Console Helpers costs 149 Euro.

Conclusion

For information such as “retrieved by Google” or “indexing status” and many other data that the Helper does not provide, we of course continue to use the Search Console. Thus we do not see the Google Search Console Helper as a substitute, but rather as a useful addition to the Search Console.