Yes, having Google Search Console (previously known as Google Webmaster Tools) is highly beneficial for website owners, web admins, and SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

practitioners. While it is not mandatory, it offers valuable insights and tools that can help improve the performance and visibility of your website in Google search results.

Here are some reasons why you should consider using Google Search Console…

• Performance Data – It provides essential data about how your website is performing in Google’s search results. You can see the number of clicks, impressions, click-through rates (CTR), and average position of your pages for specific search queries. This information helps you understand which keywords and pages drive traffic to your site.
• Indexing Status – Google Search Console shows you which pages of your website have been indexed by Google and which ones might have issues preventing them from properly indexing. This ensures that your content is discoverable by users through Google searches.
• Sitemap Submission – You can submit your website’s sitemap to Google Search Console, which helps Google crawl and index your pages more efficiently.
• URL Inspection Tool – This tool allows you to check how Google sees a specific URL on your website, identifying any issues with indexing, structured data, and more.
• Mobile Usability – Google Search Console alerts you to any mobile usability issues on your site, allowing you to optimize for mobile users, which is crucial in today’s mobile-first indexing environment.
• Security Issues – It can notify you if your website has been hacked or compromised, allowing you to take swift action to secure it and prevent it from being flagged as harmful to users.
• Manual Actions – If Google imposes any manual actions on your site due to violations of its webmaster guidelines, Search Console will inform you about these issues, enabling you to address them and request a reconsideration if necessary.
• Rich Results Insights – It provides data on how your site appears in rich search results (e.g., featured snippets, AMP pages, etc.), helping you optimize for enhanced search listings.

Google Search Console is a powerful tool that empowers website owners and web admins to optimize their sites for better search engine visibility and user experience. It’s free to use and offers valuable information that can significantly impact your website’s performance in Google search results.  Anyone managing a website should take advantage of this tool.