Google just rolled out a significant update for Search Console users, and it’s the upgrade many of us have been anticipating
What Are Custom Annotations?
Think of it as adding sticky notes to your Search Console performance charts. Now you can mark important dates with your own notes, making it super easy to connect the dots between your actions and traffic changes.
Why Custom Annotations Matters
Ever looked at your traffic graph and wondered:
- Why did traffic spike on March 15th?
- When exactly did we launch that new blog category?
- Did that site redesign help or hurt our rankings?
Now you can add notes directly on your charts to remember these crucial moments.
Actionable Ideas You Can Start Using in Google Search Console
Here are some practical ways to use annotations:
Example 1: Content Updates
Date: October 5, 2025
Annotation: “Updated top 10 blog posts with 2025 data”
Result: Track if refreshed content improved rankings
Example 2: Technical Changes
Date: September 12, 2025
Annotation: “Migrated to new hosting provider”
Result: Monitor if site speed improvements affected traffic
Example 3: SEO Strategy
Date: August 20, 2025
Annotation: “Started targeting long-tail keywords”
Result: See if your strategy shift paid off
Example 4: External Events
Date: November 24, 2025
Annotation: “Black Friday sale started”
Result: Compare seasonal traffic patterns year-over-year
Example 5: Algorithm Updates
Date: July 10, 2025
Annotation: “Google core update rolled out”
Result: Identify if algorithm changes impacted your site
How to Add an Annotation on your Google search Console
It’s incredibly simple:
- Open your Search Console Performance Report
- Right-click anywhere on your performance chart
- Select “Add annotation”
- Write your note (up to 120 characters)
- Pick the date
That’s it! Your annotation will appear as a marker on your chart.
Best Practices
DO:
- Be specific and concise (you only get 120 characters)
- Mark major SEO changes immediately
- Note both wins and losses
- Include dates for site migrations, redesigns, and major updates
- Track external events affecting your niche
DON’T:
- Include sensitive personal information (annotations are visible to all property users)
- Use vague descriptions like “made changes”
- Forget to add dates for team activities
- Clutter charts with minor daily tweaks
Who Can See Your Annotations?
Important: Everyone with access to your Search Console property can see these annotations. Keep them professional and avoid including:
- Personal contact information
- Confidential business data
- Internal company details that shouldn’t be shared
Perfect for Teams
If you work with multiple people on SEO:
- Agencies can show clients exactly when work was completed
- In-house teams can coordinate across departments
- Freelancers can document their efforts for reporting
- Managers can track which strategies work
Why You'll Love This Feature
Before annotations, you’d have to:
- Keep separate spreadsheets
- Check email histories
- Try to remember dates from memory
- Cross-reference multiple tools
Now everything lives right where you need it in your performance charts.
Getting Started
This feature is available now in Google Search Console. No setup required, no settings to configure. Just open your performance reports and start annotating!
Our Recommendation
Start using annotations today for:
- This week’s activities: Document what you’re working on right now
- Upcoming changes: Add future dates for planned updates
- Past milestones: Go back and mark major events from the last 6 months
Three months from now, you’ll thank yourself when you can instantly see why traffic changed.
Final Thoughts
Custom annotations might seem like a small feature, but for anyone serious about SEO, it’s a massive quality-of-life improvement. No more guessing, no more digging through old notes you have just clear, visual connections between your actions and results.
Have you tried custom annotations yet? What are you planning to track? Share your thoughts in the comments below!