Google Search Console: Practical Guide To Check Your Google Position With Google Analytics

Rankings with purpose: why checking your Google position matters for creatives

You didn’t become a creative entrepreneur to stare at charts all day—you’re here to teach, to make, to coach, to compose. But here’s the empowering truth: a few minutes each week inside Google Search Console and Google Analytics can unlock a steady stream of qualified traffic that sells your offers without shouting on social media. When your content ranks, strangers discover you while you sleep. That’s the kind of calm, sustainable growth I want for you.

I’m Tonya Lawson—freelance musician, SEO specialist, and coach for creative business owners. I’ve helped educators, coaches, and studio owners turn their expertise into evergreen revenue by getting found on Google. And I can tell you from experience: when you track “where you stand” in search—and connect those insights to what’s actually happening on your site—you make smarter moves with less effort. You stop guessing. You publish with confidence. You build a business that serves your life, not the other way around.

So, what does that look like in practice? It looks like using Google Search Console to see your actual search queries, impressions, clicks, and average position. Then, linking that to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) so you can see how that search traffic behaves on your site, which pages keep people engaged, and what ultimately leads to signups or sales. You’ll move beyond vanity rankings and toward meaningful action—like tightening up a headline, adding an internal link, or creating a new lesson page that answers a question your audience is already asking.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed by SEO dashboards or the alphabet soup of GA4, breathe. We’re going step by step. By the end, you’ll know exactly “how to check your Google position,” how to interpret the number you see, and how to use those insights to grow a creative business that doesn’t depend on hustle.

What “Average position” means in Google Search Console

“Average position” inside Google Search Console sounds simple, but it’s a nuanced metric. Think of it as the average rank where your site appeared on the results page across many impressions. If your piano lesson landing page shows up in position 4 for one searcher and position 9 for another, and it’s seen a thousand times this week across different devices and locations, Google Search Console blends that together into a single, average.

Some days you’ll be higher, some days you’ll be lower, and the number moves as your content competes with new pages, as searcher behavior shifts, and as Google tests different result layouts. That’s not a sign you’re doing anything wrong; it’s how search actually works.

How Google calculates average position across queries and pages

When your site appears in search results, Google counts the “topmost” placement from your property for each impression. If two of your articles appear for the same query—maybe “online violin lessons for adults”—and one is in position 6 while the other is in position 12, the position counted for that impression is 6. Over hundreds or thousands of impressions, those positions are averaged to produce the “average position” you see in Search Console.

That average can be scoped by query, page, country, or device when you apply filters. This is powerful. It means you can isolate how your “Beginner Jazz Improvisation” article performs on mobile in the US, notice that it averages position 13 on phones, and decide to tighten your intro, compress your images, and move your audio tutorial higher on the page to win a few spots.

Here’s the key mindset shift: don’t chase a mythical perfect rank. Use average position as a directional guide, especially alongside clicks and click‑through rate. Position without clicks doesn’t grow your business. Position with clicks that turn into email subscribers and course sales? That’s the magic.

Reporting delays, data scope, and why positions fluctuate

Search Console isn’t real‑time. Data usually trails by a couple of days, and fresh content can take time to stabilize. That’s normal. Your average position also fluctuates because:

The search results page changes based on location, device, and search intent.
Google tests rich results and different layouts that can push links up or down.
Competitors publish new content (and sometimes update aggressively).
Your page’s relevance and engagement signals evolve as people interact with it.

Because of this, aim to review trends week over week, not minute by minute. A steady climb from average position 22 to 14 over six weeks is a big win—it often precedes a jump in clicks as you cross that coveted top‑10 threshold.

Link Google Search Console with Google Analytics 4 the right way

If Search Console tells you how you’re showing up on Google, GA4 tells you what those visitors do once they land on your site. Linking them creates a clear line from “query → page → on‑site behavior,” which is pure gold for creatives who want to build effortless funnels.

The link lives in GA4’s Admin area under Product Links. It takes a couple of minutes to set up, but there are permission and property details that matter. Get those right, and the insights inside GA4 unlock without duct‑taping multiple tools together.

Step‑by‑step: create the GA4–Search Console link and allow up to 24–48 hours for data

Start inside GA4. Open Admin, then find Product Links and click Search Console Links. You’ll walk through a short flow to select your Search Console property—choose the property that matches your website (domain or URL‑prefix) and link it to the correct GA4 data stream for the same site. You’ll need editor (or higher) permissions in both tools to complete the connection.

After you confirm the link, give it time. Data can take 24–48 hours to populate in GA4. During that window, keep working on content, but set a reminder so you actually come back and use the new reports. A tool you don’t open can’t move your business forward.

A couple of small but important notes many people miss:

The link is one‑to‑one. Connect the matching website property to the specific GA4 property/data stream that tracks that same site. If you run multiple brands or subdomains, create clean, intentional links for each site rather than mixing data.
The Search Console data you’ll see in GA4 is curated for clarity. You’ll get Queries and Google organic search traffic reports—perfect for high‑level decisions. For deep keyword and page analysis, you’ll still hop into Search Console directly. The combo is the win.

Publish the Search Console collection in GA4’s Library to reveal Queries and Google organic search traffic reports

Even after linking, some people don’t see the new reports on the left navigation. That’s because GA4 stores them in the Library first. Head to Reports, scroll to the bottom, and click Library. You’ll see a Search Console collection. Publish it, and GA4 will add two reports to your sidebar:

Queries — shows search queries, clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position.
Google organic search traffic (Landing pages) — shows which pages earn search traffic, paired with engagement metrics so you can connect discovery to behavior.

Once these reports are visible, you’ll have a smooth weekly workflow: check queries for opportunities, check landing pages for behavior, then make one or two high‑impact edits to move the needle.

Where to check your Google position in GA4 versus directly in Search Console

Let’s get practical. If your goal is to “check your Google position,” where should you look? Think of GA4 as your “what happened next?” lens, and Google Search Console as the “how did we show up in search?” lens.

In GA4, open the Queries report under Search Console. You’ll see your top queries with clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position. This view is fantastic for prioritizing which topics to double down on and spotting quick wins. If a query sits around average position 11–15 with solid impressions, you’re close. A sharper title, a clearer intro, or an internal link from a related high‑authority page can bump you into the top 10 and meaningfully lift clicks.
In Search Console, switch to the Performance report. Here you’ll dig into queries and pages with more granularity—filter by country, device, or date range; compare periods; and validate whether that ranking lift you saw in GA4 is part of a real trend. You’ll also see “anonymous queries” rolled up when Google can’t show exact terms; that’s normal and doesn’t diminish the value of the report.

To help you choose the right tool for the moment, here’s a simple comparison you can skim and use:

Use both. You’ll feel the difference: fewer random edits, more targeted changes that stack up week after week.

Limits and pitfalls: one‑to‑one linking, missing data, and customization constraints

No tool is perfect. Knowing the edges helps you avoid frustration and focus your energy where it pays off.

First, linking is designed to be clean and specific. Treat the GA4–Search Console link as one website to one property/data stream. If you split your business across multiple domains or subdomains, set up separate links so each site’s data stays trustworthy. It’s a tiny bit of admin that prevents a lot of confusion.

Second, you’ll sometimes notice missing or rolled‑up queries, especially in low‑volume niches. Google protects user privacy, so very small queries can be grouped as “other.” That’s okay. Look for patterns in the queries you can see, then build supporting content that clusters around the core topics your audience cares about. As impressions grow, more terms become visible.

Third, the Search Console reports inside GA4 are intentionally constrained. You can’t mash them together with every GA4 dimension or build super‑custom explorations that stitch query data directly to every conversion event. That might sound limiting, but it’s actually helpful for speed. Use GA4’s Search Console reports to identify high‑impact pages and topics. Then, if you need to go deeper, bounce into Search Console for laser‑focused analysis, or switch to GA4’s Explorations for on‑site behavior details.

Fourth, remember that average position is an average. You might rank 3 for one device in one country and 12 for another. That’s why I encourage creatives to segment with intent. If your buyers are mostly in the US on mobile, add that filter in Search Console and track your average position for that segment. You’ll make choices that serve the audience who actually buys from you.

Finally, don’t treat position as the finish line. You’re building a sustainable creative business. Aim for position improvements that connect to a clear next step—a lead magnet, a product page, a lesson inquiry. This is how we escape hustle culture: your content does the heavy lifting, your systems catch the demand, and you get to spend more time teaching, composing, or creating.

A simple weekly workflow to track positions and turn insights into action

Consistency beats intensity. Here’s the lightweight rhythm I recommend to my clients and students—creatives who want calm, repeatable growth from Google Search Console and Google Analytics without spiraling into dashboard overload.

Start with a time‑boxed 20–30 minutes once a week. Open GA4 first. In the Queries report, sort by impressions and scan for terms with average position between 8 and 20. These are your “almost there” phrases. Ask yourself: does the landing page answer the promise of that query in the first two paragraphs? If not, tighten your opening. Can you add an internal link from a closely related, better‑ranking piece? Do it. Is the page thin, or does it lack a clear next step? Add a content block that shows your product pathway—starter template, mini‑course, coaching slot—whatever aligns with your offers.

Next, jump to GA4’s Google organic search traffic report to see how those pages perform once people click. Pages with strong engagement but middling positions are ripe for optimization: polish headings, improve mobile readability, add examples or screenshots. Pages with good positions but weak engagement might be misaligned with search intent—rework them to better match what the query is actually asking.

Then, switch to Google Search Console. In the Performance report, filter by the specific landing page you just touched. Now view the Queries tab to see the exact terms it’s earning. If you find a cluster of related queries that your article only partially covers, add a section or two to answer those questions more directly. If you see a query where you rank in positions 2–5 and the CTR is low, craft a more compelling SEO title and meta description to earn the click. Little tweaks here make a big difference, especially for creatives in niche topics where authority builds steadily.

As you iterate, keep notes. You don’t need a fancy system—just a simple doc with three columns: date, action, and result. When you revisit the same page in a month, you’ll know what changed. That self‑feedback loop is how you grow without guessing.

Here’s a tiny checklist you can keep beside your keyboard as you work. Use it once per week and move on with your day:

GA4 Queries → find 2–3 near‑page‑one opportunities; update intros, headings, or internal links.
GA4 Google organic search traffic → verify engagement; add examples, screenshots, or a clear call‑to‑action if needed.
Search Console → confirm ranking trend and CTR; refine title/meta; add a section to cover high‑impression queries you’re missing.
Document what you changed; set a reminder to check back in two weeks.

One more thing—because I coach creatives to build multiple income streams without living on social media. Use the data you’re gathering to shape offers. If “ear‑training exercises for adult beginners” keeps popping up in your queries with strong impressions, that’s a signal. Spin up a focused digital product or a mini‑course that meets that demand. Your content brings the right people, your product solves their exact problem, and your business grows without shouting.

And because I want you to move quickly, here are a few practical examples straight from client wins:

A piano teacher’s blog post hovered at average position 12 for “left hand independence exercises.” We updated the intro to name the phrase explicitly, embedded a short video demo, and added two internal links from strong related posts. Two weeks later the post moved to position 7, CTR climbed, and lesson inquiries ticked up.
A vocal coach ranked between positions 3 and 6 for “how to sing harmony by ear” but had a lackluster CTR. We rewrote the title to promise a clear outcome and added a “first 5 minutes” practice plan in the opening section. CTR improved by 2.5% without changing the position, and course sales followed.
A studio owner saw great engagement on a “practice tracking templates” page but languished around average position 18. We split the content into a clearer primary template page and a supporting “how to choose your practice system” guide. The main page rose to page one, and the guide captured long‑tail queries we hadn’t considered.

You can do this. None of those wins required a “perfect” dashboard or a 40‑hour SEO sprint. Just a weekly rhythm, Google Search Console for clarity on position, and GA4 for clarity on behavior.

If you’re ready to go deeper into the nuts and bolts of SEO for creatives—and you want templates, checklists, and a supportive community that actually gets the artist‑entrepreneur juggle—I’ve got you. Grab my free SEO cheatsheet for creatives and keep this momentum going. The next person who discovers your work through Google could be your favorite student, your next coaching client, or the start of a new product line you haven’t even imagined yet.

The bottom line: use Google Search Console to understand how you appear in search and what your average position really means. Link it to Google Analytics so you can see what happens after the click. Make one or two thoughtful changes each week. That’s how creatives like us break out of hustle mode and build a calm, compounding, search‑powered business.

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