9 Ways to Track and Utilize Google Search Console Data for Niche Markets

In the realm of niche market strategies, we’ve gathered specific tips from Founders and Marketing Managers on how to leverage Google Search Console data effectively. From optimizing for local search queries to monitoring the “coverage” tab for indexing issues, explore the diverse tactics shared by nine industry experts to refine your SEO and content approach.

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Optimize for Local Search Queries

One effective tip for utilizing Google Search Console data for niche markets, like cleaning businesses, is to focus on optimizing for local search queries. Use the “Performance” section to identify which local keywords are driving traffic to your site. 

Then, tailor your content and on-page optimization to target those specific keywords. For example, if ‘professional office cleaning services [Your City]’ is a top-performing keyword, ensure that your website’s title tags, meta descriptions, and content include variations of that keyword to improve your local search visibility.

Zeeshan Siddiqui, Founder, SEO for Cleaning Services

Refine SEO for Second-Page Rankings

For mastering Google Search Console in niche markets, the key lies in depth over breadth. Concentrate on filtering for queries where your pages rank on the second or third page of search results. Then, refine the SEO elements of these pages—be it through improved meta descriptions, more focused content, or stronger keyword alignment. 

This precision ensures you move up in rankings for queries that are already within reach, effectively tapping into a ready audience that’s shown interest but hasn’t fully engaged yet.

Joe Davies, CEO, FATJOE

Exploit Underutilized Keyword Opportunities

One technique I’ve refined for niche markets using Google Search Console is focusing on the “Query” section to discover and exploit underutilized keyword opportunities. For instance, while working with a local Irish bakery specializing in gluten-free products, I noticed a significant amount of impressions for terms like “gluten-free pastries Dublin” but relatively low CTR and rankings. 

By creating dedicated content around these long-tail keywords and optimizing existing pages, we managed to improve visibility and attract a targeted audience, leading to a 22% increase in organic traffic in just three months.

I also recommend utilizing the “Coverage” tab diligently to uncover indexing issues. For example, when optimizing a niche e-commerce site for handcrafted Irish jewelry, we identified several high-value product pages that weren’t indexed. Resolving these indexing errors and resubmitting the sitemap facilitated proper indexing. This action alone led to a 15% uptick in site visibility and corresponding sales.

Lastly, I always stress the importance of monitoring CTR in the “Performance” tab. When managing an SEO campaign for a local pet grooming service, I observed poor CTR for highly relevant queries like “affordable pet grooming Wicklow.” Adjusting the meta titles and descriptions to highlight unique offers and promotions dramatically improved CTR by 30% within two months. This not only increased organic traffic but also led to higher conversion rates, aligning well with our client’s business goals.

Rhealyn Mugri, Founder, The Digital Projects

Update Pages Losing Traffic

A great way to use Google Search Console is to find pages on your site that have been losing traffic and update those pages to get quick gains in the search results. It’s very easy to identify the pages that have been losing search traffic. Simply click on “Search Results” in the left navigation, then at the top of the table, click the “Date” option. 

Then click the “Compare” tab and select “Compare last 28 days to previous period.” This will show you how each page compares to the same month last year. Then sort the table by “Clicks Difference,” and you will see which pages lost clicks. If you lost a lot of clicks on a page, that is the page you want to update.

Adam White, Founder, Serpple

Target Long-Tail Keywords for Niche Traffic

One specific tip for tracking and utilizing Google Search Console data for niche markets is to focus on ‘Queries’ data to identify long-tail keywords that are driving traffic but aren’t yet optimized on your site. 

For example, while working on a home-improvement client’s SEO, I noticed several less competitive, long-tail keywords related to bathroom remodeling trends through the Search Console’s “Performance” tab. 

These keywords weren’t being effectively targeted on their existing service pages. By creating blog content and updating existing pages to incorporate these specific terms, we saw a notable increase in organic traffic and lead conversions within a few months.

Tracking these niche-specific terms can reveal hidden opportunities. I suggest exporting the “Queries” data every month and filtering for emerging phrases that show impressions but lack high average positions. 

Crafting content around these can swiftly improve relevance and search engine ranking, especially in niche markets where competition on long-tail keywords is less fierce. This proactive approach helped one of our clients boost their organic traffic by 35% in about six months.

Robert P. Dickey, President and CEO, AQ Marketing

Identify Long-Tail Keywords with RegEx

Focus on Long-Tail Keywords – In niche markets, long-tail keywords are often crucial for attracting qualified traffic to your website. These keywords are usually less competitive, more specific, and often have a lower search volume, but they are extremely valuable for niche audiences. Google Search Console is a great tool for identifying these types of keywords.

To find this information, log into Google Search Console and go to the Performance tab. Queries should appear lower on the page by default, and I like to filter by impressions, clicks, and click-through rate (CTR). To easily find long-tail keyword opportunities, you can actually filter the queries by a RegEx code. The code to copy is: (\w*\W){#,} and you need to substitute the ‘#’ sign with the minimum number of words you are looking for in your query. So, for a query of four words or more, you’d replace the ‘#’ with ‘4’. This is a great way to quickly see the long-tail queries. As you look through the list, make note of any queries with a high CTR—as this indicates that the keyword is highly relevant to the searcher’s intent.

Additionally, if you see keywords with a medium to high number of impressions but a low CTR, it suggests that your metadata could be further optimized to be more appealing and relevant to the searcher. Use this information to guide your long-tail content strategy and continue to revisit the data for the best success.

Kelley Kaezyk, Marketing Manager North America, Steelforce Packaging

Create Content for Uncommon Question-Based Terms

We are in a niche manufacturing industry. One of my favorite ways to utilize Google Search Console data is to look through the queries report and identify highly specific, uncommon question-based search terms that bring in small numbers of users every month, then build out content that answers each question in as much detail as possible.

Often, there are only 5-10 searches per month for each search term, but the people searching will have a very specific need and are highly motivated to get in touch with us to discuss it. These search terms can be excellent targets because they’re so small that they don’t even appear in Ahrefs or the Google Ads Keyword Planner, making them less visible to competitors, but they are so precise they can often produce incredible leads.

Many niche businesses can go further using this technique than by focusing on larger, more competitive search terms that are broader in scope.

Nicholas Gibson, Director of Marketing, Hero Time

Leverage Long-Tail Keywords for Engagement

For niche markets, a powerful technique I use involves leveraging the “Performance” tab in Google Search Console to identify long-tail keywords driving impressions but lacking clicks. For instance, I worked with a boutique bakery specializing in gluten-free products. By focusing on query data, I noticed terms like “gluten-free croissants near me” had high impressions but low CTR. We created blog content and optimized product pages specifically around these terms. This strategic targeting improved visibility and engagement, leading to a 20% increase in organic traffic over three months.

Another key strategy is monitoring the “Coverage” tab to resolve indexing issues. During a project with a local handcrafted furniture store, we found that several high-quality product pages were excluded from indexing. By addressing these issues and resubmitting the sitemap, we ensured these pages were properly indexed. This correction resulted in a 25% boost in organic visibility and a corresponding increase in sales.

Finally, setting up custom alerts for significant changes in query performance can be invaluable. With a niche SaaS client, I tracked terms like “cloud-based project management software” and set alerts for fluctuations. This real-time tracking allowed us to quickly adapt our SEO strategy and content, ultimately maintaining high search rankings and increasing qualified leads by 35% within six months. This proactive approach ensures we stay responsive and competitive in our niche market.

Haiko de Poel, Owner, Mass Impact

Monitor “Coverage” Tab for Indexing Issues

One specific technique I’ve found invaluable for niche markets using Google Search Console is monitoring the “Coverage” tab to identify and resolve indexing issues. For example, when optimizing a niche site for a local veterinary clinic, I noticed that several high-quality blog posts about pet care weren’t being indexed correctly. By addressing the errors and resubmitting the sitemap through the Console, the pages were indexed properly, leading to a noticeable bump in site traffic by 18% over three months.

Another approach is to leverage the “Performance” tab for identifying underperforming pages with high impressions but low CTR. In a project for a local organic skincare brand, we observed that certain pages targeting specific long-tail keywords like “organic face cream for dry skin” had substantial impressions but dismal CTR. By refining the meta titles and descriptions to emphasize unique selling points such as “100% organic” and “handmade locally”, we managed to increase the CTR by 25% within two months, enhancing overall engagement and sales.

Lastly, setting up alerts for significant changes in queries can be a game-changer. With a local craft beer company, I set up alerts for terms like “craft beer festival near me”. This helped us swiftly tweak content and promotional strategies in response to search trends, which in turn boosted attendance at local events by 20%. Consistently monitoring these trends allowed us to stay ahead in a competitive niche.

Kevin Watts, President and Founder, Raincross

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