How to Analyze Your Website's Performance (Without Being an Expert)
Your site is live. Now what? Launching a site without tracking its results is like driving with your eyes closed. Luckily, Google gives you a free and powerful dashboard: Google Search Console. Here's how to use it to make the right decisions.
1. Google Search Console: Your Direct Line to Google
Forget complicated tools. Google Search Console (GSC) is the only tool you need to get started. It's free and the most reliable source of information because it comes directly from Google.
It helps you answer crucial questions:
- Which keywords does my site appear for?
- How many people click on my site from Google?
- Is Google encountering technical issues on my pages?
The first step is to verify your property in GSC. It's a simple procedure that proves to Google that you own the site. A host like IONOS often makes this process easier.
2. The 4 Metrics to Track So You Don't Get Lost
In the "Performance" report of Google Search Console, you'll find dozens of data points. Focus on these four to start.
Impressions
Every time your site appears in a Google search result, that's an impression. It's your potential visibility. A high number of impressions is a good basic sign.
Clicks
The number of times a user clicked on your link from the search results. This is your actual traffic from Google, your main goal.
CTR (Click-Through Rate)
This is the ratio `(Clicks / Impressions) x 100`. A high CTR means your title and description are attractive. Example: 1000 impressions and 50 clicks = 5% CTR. A good CTR is often between 3% and 10% depending on the industry.
Average Position
The average ranking of your site for a given keyword. A position between 1 and 10 means you're on the first page. The goal is to get as close to 1 as possible.
3. How to Turn This Data into Concrete Actions?
Analyzing numbers is useless if it doesn't lead to action. Here are concrete examples of decisions you can make based on your website analysis.
- Lots of impressions, but few clicks (low CTR)?
→ Your page titles and your descriptions aren't compelling enough. Rewrite them to entice clicks. This is a key point of copywriting. - Good position (e.g., top 5), but low CTR?
→ You're visible, but not attractive. The problem is likely your title, which doesn't match the search intent well enough. Be more specific! - Average position beyond 20?
→ You're too far down to be seen. You need to improve the page's content to make it more relevant to the target keyword and strengthen your local SEO. - Few impressions overall?
→ Either the keywords you're targeting aren't searched for, or your site isn't yet considered relevant by Google. You need to enrich your content pages.
Measure to Progress
By looking at these 4 metrics once a month, you'll have a clear view of your site's health and your visibility on Google. It's a virtuous cycle: you analyze, you improve, you measure the results, and you start over. A fast and well-structured site is the basis of any successful performance analysis.
This is how you build, step by step, a solid and profitable online presence.
Understanding these indicators is essential. But the foundation is still having a technically flawless site. At creasite.xyz, we build sites optimized for Core Web Vitals, SEO, and conversion. Contact us to build a solid foundation for your project.