The new Google Search Console is rolling out over the next few weeks to all webmasters and you will be able to access the new Google Search Console and the old one via links in the navigation. So you can play with both side by side, as Google keeps adding more and more features in the new version. I covered it yesterday afternoon at Search Engine Land when the news broke and it needs to be covered here as well.
We knew it would roll out early this year and it actually came a lot earlier than I expected - only 8 days into the new year! When we first saw the new beta we were blown away. And even better, it comes with over a years of data - heck, Google announced yesterday the Search Performance report, which is similar to the Search Analytics report, has up to 16 months worth of data!
Most of you have seen all the screen shots of these reports, as we've been covering them for several months now. But here they are again:
Search Performance Report:
More details over here.
Index Coverage Report:
More details over here.
AMP Status Report:
More details over here.
Job Status Report:
More details over here.
The features will come to the API over time, so be patient there. Not all sites yet have access to this yet, but it will be rolled out to all over the upcoming weeks, so be patient there. Not all features in the main Google Search Console are available in the new one, I have to assume they are all being ported over, so be patient there. Both interfaces will be available for the foreseeable future.
So far, it seems most of the SEO and webmaster community are really happy about this. Here are some tweets:
I'm pretty sure you had a lot to do with getting that data, so thank you for helping make that happen. I'm seeing data as far back as September 7, 2016 right now. Awesome. :) pic.twitter.com/Jv1H97Kn3T
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) January 8, 2018
Congrats! It has been a long wait but the new Console is a huge improvement.
— Igal Stolpner (@igalst) January 8, 2018
It looks superb..! 👌👌
— Pramod Sharma (@pramod012) January 8, 2018
It's here! Google officially announces the new Google Search Console: "We are now starting to release this beta version to all users of Search Console" with many updates including 16 months of data in Search Performance - Thanks @googlewmc 👏👩🏻💻 https://t.co/W0DNDFexxu pic.twitter.com/mCPV8EvaMz
— Aleyda Solis (@aleyda) January 8, 2018
The new one is severely lacking in data and functionality. How much of the old functionally are you moving over? And why, in the little data you have there, did you remove such basic things as segmenting and downloading?
— Kristine Schachinger (@schachin) January 9, 2018
I am just going to throw this out there - I have not done a screen by screen comparison, but my guess is that new Google Search Console looks a lot (or a lot more) like Firebase Console. Has anyone looked into it yet?
— Cindy Krum (@Suzzicks) January 8, 2018
So far not excited. The new info is great, but the 80% of missing data and functionally isn't and given past performance with GA I'm not hopeful we will be getting it all moved over.
— Kristine Schachinger (@schachin) January 9, 2018
Also the little data they gave us is filled with issues
Another highlight: "The Index Coverage report works best for sites that submit sitemap files. Once you've submitted a sitemap file, you can now use the sitemap filter over the Index Coverage data, so that you're able to focus on an exact list of URLs." https://t.co/6Erk0ROsnS
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) January 8, 2018
I'd love those in the API too! I suspect it'll be a bit longer before that's all in there though.
— John ☆.o(≧▽≦)o.☆ (@JohnMu) January 9, 2018
Elliot Ng, who is the lead on this, is giving all the credit to the Search Console team in Tel Aviv for this launch:
My team in Tel Aviv is leading this. I'm mostly their cheerleader!
— Elliott Ng (@elliottng) January 8, 2018
He is also watching carefully for feedback and wants to make sure to implement what they can based on that feedback, so make sure he sees your feedback.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld and Twitter.
