Turn on the Google Search Console integration in HubSpot

HubSpot's integration with Google Search Console brings data from Google searches into your SEO tool. Google Search Console is a free tool that can be used for any website in your Google account. The integration provides metrics such as the number of views and clicks your website receives for specific search terms. You can also view your website's average position on Google search results pages.

Before you get started

Set up Google Search Console in your own Google account

Before you get started, confirm that you have access to Google Search Console in your Google account. If you don't have access to Google Search Console, learn how to set up Google Search Console for your website.

Verify site ownership with Google

Google requires a verification step to confirm you own your website.

• All HubSpot-hosted websites are verified with Google Search Console automatically through the file verification method. Each HubSpot-hosted site contains a unique file that's only visible to Google's site verification bot. This means after you turn on the Google Search Console integration, you'll be ready to start viewing this data in HubSpot
• Site ownership can be verified using URL-prefix properties and domain properties.
  • If you're verifying site ownership using domain properties, your site will not be automatically verified with Google Search Console. Follow these instructions to verify site ownership. 

• • If your website is hosted on HubSpot, you're using the file verification method or URL-prefix properties, but your site isn't automatically verified with Google Search Console, contact HubSpot Support. 

• If your website isn't hosted on HubSpot, work with your web developer to verify your site ownership with Google Search Console.

Turn on the Google Search Console integration in HubSpot

You can integrate your Google Search Console with HubSpot's Content Management System (CMS) and Marketing Hub product. As part of this integration, the Subscription Service will be able to view, manage, and store the properties, which include the lists of sites and domains you control in HubSpot and the Search Console data for your connected properties.

To turn on the Google Search Console integration:

1. In your HubSpot account, click the Marketplace icon marketplace in the top navigation bar, then select HubSpot Marketplace.
2. Use the search bar to locate and select the Google Search Console integration.
3. Click Install.
4. In the pop-up box, click Install. 
5. Enter your Google credentials. Then click Allow to grant HubSpot permission to connect to your Google account.

Please note: the Google Apps integration requests permission for all Google tools available in HubSpot. It won't ask for access to contacts, calendar, or email unless you already use your Sales Hub tools to connect with Google Calendar or Gmail.

Once the integration is connected, domains with content attached to your topics in the SEO tool will appear in the Connected Sites section in the Google Search Console integration.

To add sites that are not tracked by Google:

1. In your HubSpot account, click the settings settings icon in the top navigation bar. In the left sidebar menu, navigate to Integrations > Connected Apps.
2. Click Google Search Console.
3. Navigate to the General Settings tab. 
4. In the Untracked Sites section, click Add next to the domain name.

Please note: only the user who connected the integration can add untracked sites.

5. In the pop-up box, select which GSC Property Type you want to verify the domain with, then click Add. 

If a domain is under the Connected Sites section but its status shows Unverified, click More > Verify.

If the Google Search Console integration is disconnected from HubSpot, stored data will be purged from your HubSpot account after 90 days. 

View Google Search Console metrics in HubSpot

Once the Google Search Console integration is turned on, your SEO tool and the Optimization tab of your page or blog post details will include the following metrics:

• Average position: your website domain gets a numeric position value based on its position on a Google search results page, where position 1 is the top position. This number gives you a high-level understanding of how your website is performing in search results related to your topic. Learn more about how this position is calculated. It is expected that the Average position number in your SEO tool won't exactly match the Google search reviews for your own topic phrase. Your location, search history, device type, and other dynamic factors affect these results every time you search for a search term. 
• Total impressions: an impression is counted each time your content appears in search results for your topic phrase.
• Average click through rate: the average number of times someone clicked on your content on a Google search results page. If an individual clicks the same link multiple times, it'll only be counted once.
• Top search queries: these are the search terms where your content appears in Google search results. You can view top search queries in the Optimization panel in the page or blog post editor, and in the Subtopic content details panel in your SEO tool.
• Clicks: the total number of clicks on a search engine page result for a specific query that sends a visitor to your page.

Please note: processing data from Google requires up to two days. When reviewing your data, only data from two days prior will be accurate. 

To add Google Search Console metrics to your SEO dashboard:

1. In your HubSpot account, navigate to Content > SEO.
2. Click the Topic Clusters tab to view your topics.
3. In the upper right, click Switch Columns.
4. In the dialog box, select the checkbox for the Google Search Console metrics you want to view on your dashboard, then click Save.

To view search queries and Google Search Console metrics for a specific page or blog post:

1. In your HubSpot account, navigate to your landing pages, website pages, or blog.
2. Hover over the name of the page or blog post you want to analyze and click Performance. 
3. Click the Optimization tab.
4. In the left sidebar menu, click Search Queries. Use the Date range dropdown menu to adjust the date range for your metrics.
5. You must set up URL-prefix properties for subdomains to view Google search query data for specific blog posts and pages. 

If you have Marketing or Content Hub Professional and Enterprise, you can also view SEO reports in your HubSpot account: 

1. In your HubSpot account, navigate to Content > SEO.
2. Click the SEO Analytics tab to view the SEO reports. The reports display data from Google Search Console as well.