Google Search Console Adds Custom Annotations To Reports: What You Need to Know

Google Search Console (GSC) is one of the most valuable tools for anyone managing a website. It provides essential data about how your site is performing in Google Search including clicks, impressions, and the overall user experience. Recently, Google has made an exciting update that improves how you can track and understand your site’s performance: Custom Annotations.

Let’s dive into what this feature is, how it works, and why it’s so useful for anyone who wants to keep track of changes on their website over time.

What Are Custom Annotations?

Annotations are essentially notes you can add directly to the performance charts in Google Search Console. Think of them like sticky notes on your website’s traffic reports. They help you remember why certain things happened on specific days. For example, if you made a major update to your site or ran a special marketing campaign, you could add an annotation to mark the date. This way, you’ll always know why your website’s traffic changed.

Until recently, Google Search Console only showed system annotations which are automatic notes about technical issues with data processing or reporting. But now, Custom Annotations let you add your own notes to provide context about specific events that might have affected your website’s performance.

Key Features of Custom Annotations

• Up to 200 Annotations per Property: You can add up to 200 custom annotations for each website or property. So, you have plenty of room to mark important events, campaigns, or updates.

• Delete, but Not Edit: You can delete annotations anytime, but once they’re created, you can’t currently edit them. So, it’s a good idea to double-check your notes before saving them!

• Annotations Are Automatically Deleted After 500 Days: Google will automatically remove annotations after 500 days, which keeps your reports clean and easy to read. However, this time frame is more than enough for most people.

• Annotations Are Shared with Other Users: If other people have access to your Search Console property, they can also see the annotations you’ve added. So, be mindful of the information you include in your notes. Avoid adding any personal details like names, phone numbers, or sensitive business data.

Why Are Custom Annotations Important?

Custom annotations are important for a few reasons, and they can really help you make smarter decisions about your website.

1. Track Website Changes and Events

   When you make a change to your website whether it’s launching a new feature, fixing a bug, or running a marketing campaign, you may notice changes in your website's traffic or rankings. With annotations, you can add notes that explain what you did and when. This helps you understand whether those changes had a positive or negative impact.

   For example:

   • Site Redesign: “Launched new homepage design”

   • Marketing Campaign: “Started Diwali Sale Ad Campaign”

   • Technical Issue: “Fixed broken links causing 404 errors

     
     

2. Better Collaboration with Your Team

   If you're working with a team on SEO, content, or web development, custom annotations help everyone stay on the same page. Your team members can see when key actions were taken and understand why certain performance changes occurred.

   
   

3. Context for Past Data

   Looking back at your data, annotations provide clear explanations for why things changed. Whether it’s a traffic spike or a sudden drop in clicks, you’ll know exactly what caused it.

   
   

4. Improved Reporting

   Custom annotations are also useful when reporting to clients, managers, or other stakeholders. By adding notes to your reports, you can show them exactly why performance improved or decreased, which helps you explain your strategies and decisions more effectively.

How to Add Custom Annotations

It’s very easy to add annotations in Google Search Console. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

1. Log in to Google Search Console - Go to Google Search Console and log in with your account.

2. Select Your Website - From the list of properties (websites) in your Search Console account, select the one you want to work on.

3. Open the Performance Report - In the left-hand menu, click on “Performance.” This will show you a chart with data about your clicks, impressions, CTR (click-through rate), and average position in search results.

4. Right-click the Chart - In the performance chart, you’ll see a label at the top that says, "New! Right-click the chart to add a custom annotation to your data." Right-click on the graph to open a menu where you can add your note.

5. Add Your Note - You can now add your annotation to any specific date on the chart. Just type in what happened on that date (for example, “Launched new product page” or “Fixed website speed issue”).

6. Save Your Annotation - Once you’re happy with your note, click “Save.” The annotation will now appear on the performance graph for that specific date.

Types of Annotations in Google Search Console

There are two main types of annotations in Google Search Console:

1. System AnnotationsThese are automatically generated by Google Search Console. They highlight issues with data processing, such as when Google has trouble reporting data for certain days or when there’s a technical problem affecting the data.

2. Custom AnnotationsThese are the notes you add yourself. You can use custom annotations to mark specific events that you think may have affected your website’s search performance, like content updates or marketing campaigns.

Important Note: Annotations will only appear on the charts for the date they are added. They are not shown in the comparison mode or 24-hour views, so they will only provide context for specific dates and periods.

Example of Using Custom Annotations

Let’s look at a few examples to see how custom annotations can be used effectively:

• Example 1: Website Redesign

  • Date: April 15

  • Annotation: “Launched new website design”

  • Why: You redesigned the homepage to make it more user-friendly. The annotation will help you track how this change affects user engagement and traffic.

• Example 2: Seasonal Marketing Campaign

  • Date: October 1

  • Annotation: “Started Diwali sale promotion”

  • Why: Your online store launched a special Diwali sale. This note will show you if the promotion led to an increase in traffic during the festival season.

• Example 3: Technical Issue

  • Date: June 5

  • Annotation: “Fixed broken links causing 404 errors”

  • Why: Your website had some technical issues that were fixed on June 5th. The annotation will help you understand if fixing those links improved your performance over time.

Conclusion

The new Custom Annotations feature in Google Search Console is a game-changer for anyone who wants to keep track of their website’s performance and understand the reasons behind changes in traffic or rankings. Whether you're launching new features, running marketing campaigns, or troubleshooting issues, annotations give you a clear, organized way to remember and explain what happened on specific dates.

With up to 200 annotations per property and the ability to delete them as needed, this feature is a great way to stay organized and make smarter decisions based on your website’s data. Just remember, annotations are visible to anyone who has access to your Search Console property, so keep the notes professional and relevant!

Start using custom annotations today and make it easier to understand and explain your website’s journey over time. Happy annotating!