For dealerships looking to increase website traffic and improve search rankings, search engine optimization (SEO) is critical. But how do you know if your SEO strategy is actually working? Google Search Console (GSC) is a free, powerful tool that shows exactly how car buyers are finding your site—and where you can improve.
Many dealerships either don’t track their keyword performance at all, rely on outdated SEO methods, or focus only on paid ads. But real success in search comes from understanding what’s already working, identifying opportunities, and optimizing your website for high-impact keywords.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up and use Google Search Console for keyword research, step by step, and how Hrizn helps dealers turn SEO insights into better content and stronger search rankings.
Step 1: Setting Up Google Search Console
Before you can use GSC, you need to set it up and verify ownership of your website. If you haven’t done this yet, follow these steps:
- Go to Google Search Console – Visit Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account.
- Add Your Website – Click “Start Now” and enter your website’s domain.
- Choose a Verification Method:
- Domain Property (Recommended): Tracks all URLs across www, non-www, and subdomains.
- URL Prefix Property: Tracks only a specific version of your site, such as “https://www.yourdealership.com”.
- Verify Ownership – This ensures you have access to website performance data. Verification methods include:
- DNS Record (Recommended): Requires adding a DNS entry through your domain provider (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Cloudflare).
- HTML Tag: Adding a verification code to your website’s homepage.
- Google Analytics: If your dealership uses Google Analytics, you can verify ownership this way.
🚨 Important: Verifying your domain can be tricky if you do not control your DNS records. This may require you to contact your website provider (Dealer.com, DealerOn, Dealer Inspire, etc.) or your marketing agency if they manage your site. They may already have GSC configured, and you’ll need access to it.
Once verification is complete, Google will start collecting data about your site’s search performance, but it may take a few days before you see meaningful insights.
Step 2: Navigating the Performance Report
Once inside Google Search Console, the Performance Report is where you’ll find the search queries people are using to find your dealership’s website and how well your pages rank for those terms.
- Go to the “Performance” Tab
- This section provides key data on how your site appears in search results.
- Enable Key Metrics: Select the following metrics at the top of the page:
- Total Clicks – The number of times users clicked on your site from Google.
- Total Impressions – How many times your site appeared in search results.
- Average Click-Through Rate (CTR) – The percentage of impressions that resulted in clicks.
- Average Position – Your site’s ranking in Google search for each keyword.
- Scroll Down to the “Queries” Section
- This shows all the actual search terms people used to find your site.
- Sort by Clicks or Impressions to see what’s performing well and where opportunities exist.
Step 3: Identifying Keyword Opportunities
Now that you know how to access your data, it’s time to find high-value keywords to focus on.
1. Find Keywords That Are Almost Ranking on Page 1
- Look for keywords ranking on page 2 (positions 11-20)—these are low-hanging fruit that, with minor optimization, could break into the top 10.
- Example: If your dealership ranks #12 for “best used trucks under $30K,” small updates to the page (like adding FAQs or internal links) could push it onto page 1.
2. Identify High-Impression, Low-Click Keywords
- If a keyword has high impressions but low clicks, it means your page is showing up in searches but isn’t getting clicks.
- This could mean your title tag and meta description need improvement, or the content isn’t matching user intent.
3. Look for New Keyword Trends
- GSC can reveal new or unexpected search terms that people are using to find your dealership.
- If people are searching for “EV tax credits 2024” and you don’t have a page on that, it’s a great opportunity to create new content that captures those searches.
Step 4: Optimizing Content for Search Visibility
Once you’ve identified keyword opportunities, the next step is optimizing your website content to improve rankings.
How Hrizn Helps Dealers Turn SEO Insights into Content That Ranks
- Creating New SEO-Optimized Pages Based on Search Trends
- If GSC reveals new search terms that could bring in leads, Hrizn makes it easy to generate high-quality, keyword-optimized content that targets those queries.
- Example: If you discover searches for “best lease deals on SUVs near me,” you can use Hrizn to create a well-structured landing page for those shoppers.
- Enhancing Vehicle Descriptions for Better Rankings
- Google prioritizes unique, detailed content. Most dealerships rely on manufacturer-provided vehicle descriptions, which are duplicated across multiple sites.
- Hrizn generates VIN-specific, SEO-optimized descriptions that improve search rankings for inventory pages.
- Optimizing Title Tags & Meta Descriptions
- If a page has high impressions but low clicks, Hrizn helps rewrite title tags and meta descriptions to make them more compelling.
- Example: Instead of “Used Ford F-150s for Sale”, an optimized title might be “Shop Low-Mileage Ford F-150s | Best Prices Near You”—more engaging, more click-worthy.
- Ensuring Your Content Is Consistently SEO-Optimized
- SEO isn’t set it and forget it—Hrizn helps dealerships create fresh, high-ranking content consistently, ensuring you stay competitive in search.
Final Thoughts: Use Google Search Console & Hrizn to Stay Ahead
Google Search Console is one of the best free tools available for understanding how potential buyers find your dealership online. But insights alone aren’t enough—you need a strategy to act on them.
That’s where Hrizn helps dealerships by turning SEO insights into high-performing content. Instead of manually writing pages and descriptions, Hrizn automates the process, ensuring your website is always optimized, always fresh, and always competitive.
🚀 Want to see how Hrizn can improve your SEO using real Google Search Console data?
👉 Book a Demo Today
