For years, digital marketers have faced a frustrating blind spot: we know our social and video content drives discovery, but we could never see exactly how it performed in Google Search. If a client ranked on TikTok for a localized query, it didn’t show up in Google Search Console (GSC) because GSC only tracked websites.
That just changed.

Google recently rolled out Platform Properties—a new feature in Search Console that allows creators and agencies to connect their Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube accounts directly.
What GSC Platform Properties Mean for SEOs
Instead of relying on a platform’s internal analytics (which only tell you what happened inside the app), Platform Properties show you exactly how your social content is performing on Google Search, Google Discover, and Google News.
You don’t even need a website to use it. You can verify an account and immediately start tracking:
- Clicks and Impressions: See exactly how often your YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels appear in search results and whether users click through.
- Query-Level Data: This is the game-changer. You can finally see the exact search terms people use on Google before clicking on your TikTok or X thread.
How to Set Up Platform Properties for Social Accounts in GSC
The rollout is gradual, so you may not see it in your account immediately. If it is available, the setup is simple:
- Open your Search Console property selector.
- Click Add property.
- Select the supported platform (Instagram, TikTok, X, or YouTube).
- Follow the on-screen verification steps to authorize the connection securely.
Note: This feature currently only supports the four platforms listed above; networks like LinkedIn and Pinterest are not included in this release.
Why Tracking Query-Level Social Media ROI Matters
This closes a major measurement gap. You can now prove the organic search value of social content beyond vanity metrics. If you publish a high-value educational Reel, you can track its long-term ROI in search long after it disappears from the social feed.
It is time to start verifying your client profiles. The sooner you connect them, the sooner you start collecting query data.


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