How do I connect Google Search Console?

Connecting Google Search Console hands me your real Google performance data — the actual searches people type to find you, how often you show up, where you rank, and how many clicks you get — so I can guide what to write next and show you exactly what's landing. You set it up through Google's own login, it's read-only, and I'll walk you through every step.

Here's the bigger picture: this is about winning on Google and in AI answer engines at the same time. AI discovery is additive — it grows alongside your Google results, never in place of them — and your Search Console numbers are the ground truth that helps me steer both.

What Google Search Console is

Search Console is Google's free tool that reports how your store shows up in Google Search. It knows the real queries you appear for, your impressions and clicks, your click-through rate, and your average ranking position — the numbers no keyword guess can give you. Connecting it lets me read those numbers on your behalf.

Why connecting it matters

Once I can see your real Search Console data, I stop guessing and start steering with facts:

• I write toward what's already working — the searches you're getting impressions for but not yet the clicks.
• I spot pages sitting right on the edge of page 1 and can give them a nudge.
• I track results over time, so you can watch a piece of content climb, and I'll flag it the moment one of your articles reaches page 1.

Without it, I'm working blind. With it, every recommendation is anchored to how you really perform on Google.

It's a safe, read-only connection

This is the part people ask about first, so let me be clear. I only ever ask Google for read-only access to your Search Console data — I can look at your performance numbers, and that's all. I can't change anything in your Google account, and you sign in on Google's own screen, which is exactly why I never see your Google password. You can disconnect any time.

How to connect it

1. Open the Reach area of your dashboard and find the Search Console panel.
2. Click Connect Search Console. This hands you to Google's own sign-in and permission screen.
3. Sign in with the Google account that owns your Search Console, and approve the read-only access it asks for.
4. Google sends you back to RunOctopus. If your Google account has more than one site, I'll show you a quick picker so you can choose the right one for this store.

Your first data lands within a few hours, and I'll surface anything worth your attention.

Where to find it

The Search Console connection and all your Google performance data live under Reach in your dashboard. Haven't linked your store yet? Start with Connect your Shopify store first, then come back here.