Google Search Console is one of the most essential tools for SEO professionals. A long-awaited improvement has finally arrived: Custom Chart Annotations. This feature allows us to add contextual notes directly onto performance charts, transforming raw data into meaningful insights.
Why It Matters
Interpreting fluctuations in organic traffic can be difficult. Charts show what happened, but they rarely tell us why it happened. Content updates, technical changes, seasonal patterns, and Google algorithm updates all affect performance, yet they are not visible in the data.
With Custom Chart Annotations:
-
You can clearly document the reason behind traffic changes.
-
It becomes easier to distinguish Google-driven impacts from your own updates.
-
Teams gain a shared timeline of important events.
Key Details
-
There are two types of annotations: system annotations added by Google and custom annotations added by users.
-
Limitations apply: 120-character max, 200 annotations per property, and automatic deletion of notes older than 500 days.
-
Visibility: Anyone with access to the property can see all annotations.
-
View coverage: Annotations appear in all date-based charts but not in comparison mode or the 24-hour view.
-
No editing: Annotations can only be deleted, not modified.
Practical Usage Tips
-
Use structured labels to categorize updates for clearer analysis:[GLOBAL], [CATEGORY], [TEMPLATE], [TEST].
-
Add separate annotations when Google algorithm updates coincide with your own changes.
-
Mark major seasonal shifts, campaigns, schema updates, template changes, and filter redesigns.
-
Focus on logging only meaningful events rather than every small update to maintain clarity and stay within limits.
Recent Posts
