If you are looking for how to share access to Google Search Console, then this guide is for you. This is usually the first step when I, as an SEO consultant, start working with a new client. To make sure it is all working correctly. You may want to share access to your colleagues or to an SEO agency. So here is my step-by-step guide with pictures on how to add users to Google Search Console.
The first step is actually logging into Google Search Console so head over to the Google Search Console website. Press that big start now button.
Now its either going to do 1 of 2 things. Either present a login page or log you straight in. If you need to log in to share access to Google Search Console for your website, make sure you use the same email you registered initially.
If you hit this page press the start now to login.
If you get logged in, to check you have the right account, you are about to share, look at the top, and it should say "inspect any URL in your domain". Or on the left-hand side, there should be a drop-down with your domain.
If you can't see any website domain and you are looking to add users to Google Search Console, try a few of your other emails you most commonly use. As an SEO specialist, there is one last cause and that it is you have never set up Google Search Console, so you need to set this up. This is what it looks like if you have never set it up.
It is very important that you try to remember if you have ever set one up before, because if you create another account, then we lose any data you may have previously had. To try a different account, press your name in the top right. In my case, you can see that J in purple, then add account, and it will direct you back to the login page.
If you need a hand with setting up Google Search Console for the first time. Get in contact with me.
If you see a screen like this, you are ready to add a user to Google Search Console.
Ok, so now it's all going to be easy from here. Move your mouse over to the left where it says overview, insights, performance, videos, sitemaps etc. Now scroll down until you see the settings tab (just above submit feedback). Click settings.
In the middle of the page, go to users and permissions and press the arrow on the right-hand side. This will take you to the next screen.
Now, in the centre of the screen, below the title "Users and permissions" you will see the blue icon saying add user. Click it.
The next page will be where you can add users to users to google search console. I want you to stop here and read the next part fully.
There are 3 types of Google Search Console user permissions, and you want to make sure you give the correct access. I'll give you some descriptions and use cases to help you choose.
This will give the user full owner access to your Google Search Console.
For instance they can:
I tend to ask my clients to give me this access as I need full owner access specifically because of linking Google Analytics accounts.
This gives the user pretty much full access, however they cannot:
To be honest, if I am working on the account, full access will do instead of owner, but if I need access to link Google Analytics I need that extra owner access. Most of the time if you want to add users to google search console that are working on your SEO, full access will be enough.
This is a more of a basic user mainly for colleagues that might need view access only and you are not working on SEO on the website. You can view items such as
With this user access, I tend to give it to my other colleagues who might not be working on the accounts. They might be doing case studies of my clients and just need view access only. This could be an internal person that you are still training.
Google Search Console can change details from time to time, so if you want to see the latest permissions, check it out here.
To add users to Google Search Console from here, just enter their Gmail account email. Then select the owner/ full or restricted user level. The add button will appear; press it. The the other user will recieve a special link to accept and will have the appropriate access.
How to add users to Google Search Console is now complete. I hope this guide helped, if you have any questions please do get in touch.
There are 3 distinct GSC access levels. The owner is the ultimate admin. Full access level that gives you access to most items except for adding/ removing users. Lastly, there are restricted users that are more of a view-only user, great for looking at reports.
To log in to Google Search Console go to https://search.google.com/search-console/about, and either press start now or it takes you to the login page. From there enter your gmail that is linked to your search console.
My blog talks all about how to add users to Google Search Console. If you need to remove access, follow my steps above and finish step 3. Now, instead of adding a user, go to the user in question, hit the 3 dots, and there will be a remove access button.
If you visited your own website and were greeted by a warning, it's easy to assume something has gone wrong. Maybe your web developer mentioned installing an SSL certificate, or you've noticed your website still starts with HTTP instead of HTTPS like many business owners, you may be doubting whether it's something you need to […]
Many business owners question whether digital marketing is worth spending their budget on. A deeper look at how much time people spend online makes that question much easier to answer. The typical person now spends around 6 hours and 38 minutes on the internet every day. In Australia, that number is even higher. According to […]
Six weeks of football is generating one of the more useful case studies in search behaviour we’ve seen in years. Keyword demand spiking in real time. Brands fighting for visibility that money alone can’t buy. A live look at how Google Business Profile handles a global event as it unfolds. According to Forbes, Sistrix data […]
