I’d like to start by saying, if you haven’t already checked out our most recent article, it may be helpful to take a look! We introduce the new Google search console, and the basics of its functionality. So – check that out first, then come back this way, because you are going to want to switch over. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, time to discuss the comparison of its tools and reporting system!
How Do the Old and New Google Search Console Compare?
After checking out what Google has to say about the console, we’ve taken note of some key differences in performance. Keep in mind, Google warns on their Search Console Help site, “We strongly recommend using the newer version of each report, as it becomes available. Old reports with a new equivalent will soon be removed.” This tells us as Google continues to expand on, and update this tool, embracing the changes is essential!
According to Google, the biggest changes include:
- Individual Enhancement Reports
- Links
- Index Coverage Status
- Sitemaps
- AMP Status
- URL Inspection Tool
- Mobile Usability
- Links
- Crawl Errors Report,etc.
Sounds like a lot of new information, and ultimately, it is! However, it is all very easily understood. As long as you are staying up-to-date on any new changes, the transition from the old console to the new one, should be pretty pain-free!
Switching to the New Google Search Console
Once you’ve started the process of transferring your website to the new Google search console, you will almost immediately see similarities. The biggest changes come when you dig a little deeper and break down the features. Again, it may seem a bit intimidating, but it truly is one of the most convenient changes.
When switching to the updated console, you’ll have a much bigger time frame of information. Instead of three months of information, the new Google console provides sixteen – yes, sixteen – months of traffic data. This is incredibly useful for anyone trying to increase traffic and really utilize all data to further pursue digital success.
Additionally, you may find it helpful to know that submitting your site into the new search console is unnecessary. If you’ve submitted a reconsideration request while using the old console, there is no need to resubmit, as data is shared between both versions.
What’s Missing From the New Google Search Console?
Unfortunately, while several bonuses come along with using the updated console, there are still a few features not supported quite yet. If you are someone who uses one of the following, you should hang on to the old console for now, until the next update. This includes:
- Message management
- Preferred domain setting
- HTML improvements
- Android apps
- Crawl stats, etc.
For more information, visit the Google Console Help page!
You want your business to succeed, and at New York SEO Training Academy, we want the same for you! Ready for some SEO success? Sign up for one of our SEO Training Courses, now also available online! We bring the training to you, in the comfort of your own home with our remote online access!
Steve Scott is the CEO & Director of Training at the New York SEO Training Academy. He has taught SEO skills to people from around the world and currently offers his hands-on search engine optimization training workshops in New York to individuals and businesses of all sizes. Corporate SEO training classes and consulting are also available.