Google Search Console is a free web service provided by Google that allows website owners, administrators, and SEO specialists to monitor and manage their website’s presence in Google’s organic search results. To support data analysis, Google Search Console provides a native integration with Google Analytics 4, however, there are several limitations. As of mid-2023, users can leverage a built-in bulk export to take data from Google Search Console to BigQuery for deeper analysis and storage.
Here are the top 9 reasons your business should leverage Google Search Console bulk exports to BigQuery:
1. Enhanced Data Analysis:
Google Search Console provides valuable data about how your website performs in Google’s search results. By exporting this data to BigQuery, you can perform more in-depth and customised data analysis. BigQuery allows you to run complex queries, join data with other sources, and perform advanced data analytics.
2. Prolonged Historical Data:
Google Search Console provides limited historical data, making it challenging to analyse long-term trends. By exporting data to BigQuery, you can store historical data for as long as you need, enabling you to track changes in your website’s performance over time.
3. Customised Reports:
BigQuery allows you to customise your data processing and analysis. You can create custom reports and dashboards tailored to your specific needs, which can be more insightful than the standard reports provided by Google Search Console. These reports are relatively simple and extremely uncustomisable.
4. Combining Data Sources:
BigQuery can integrate data from various sources, such as website analytics, ad campaign data, and CRM data. This holistic approach enables you to gain a comprehensive understanding of how different factors affect your website’s performance and user behaviour.
5. Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics:
You can use BigQuery to develop machine learning models and predictive analytics to forecast future trends, make data-driven decisions, and optimise your website’s content and SEO strategies.
6. Scalability:
Google Search Console has data limits, and if you have a large website or multiple websites, you may quickly reach these limits. Exporting data to BigQuery allows you to handle large volumes of data without restrictions, making it suitable for enterprise-level websites.
7. Data Retention:
Google Search Console’s data retention policies can lead to data loss over time, specifically after 16 months. By exporting your data to BigQuery, you can retain it indefinitely and access historical records whenever needed.
8. Data Security and Compliance:
BigQuery offers advanced security features and compliance options, ensuring that your data is stored and analysed securely, meeting various regulatory requirements if applicable.
9. Custom Alerts and Notifications:
BigQuery allows you to set up custom alerts and notifications based on specific criteria, enabling you to proactively address issues and opportunities for optimisation.
Exporting Google Search Console data to BigQuery can enhance your ability to analyse, visualise, and derive insights from your website’s performance data. This data can be invaluable for improving your website’s SEO, user experience, and overall digital strategy. For assistance on how to set up the export from Google Search Console to BigQuery, you can contact our Cloud team here.