Item: Google Search Console
Rating: 7
Author: Roel Timmermans

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use it to support our SEO efforts. Initially it was a main tool to work with sitemaps and update newly added pages. The latter is still a good option to manually submit new pages.

Mainly it's a useful addition to Google Analytics, which itself offers more value than Search Console.

Pros and Cons

Submit pages
Measure inbound links

Measuring indexed pages
Should be included in Analytics

Return on Investment

It's free
Time invested versus return could be better

Alternatives Considered

Google Analytics

It does not stack up. It offers too little functionality, nor is it always very clear. Moz is the better tool in pointing out issues with your site that can be improved. Measuring inbound links and indexed pages is also done better with Moz. For all other analytics item, Google Analytics is far superior to Search Console.

Other Software Used

Evernote, Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Photoshop

Likelihood to Recommend

It's a must have if you want to do well in SEO. Manually submitted pages and linked pages is a plus, submitting sitemaps as well. Overall though it offers too little to be a standalone product. Google should embed this into Analytics.

It often seems to show different information compared to Analytics and Google itself.

Must have, but not too great of a tool

Overall Satisfaction with Google Search Console