Chaos to Clarity: Cleaning Up Google Analytics and Search Console Like a Pro

byRobbyofstone

557 followers

7 months ago

Chaos to Clarity: Cleaning Up Google Analytics and Search Console Like a Pro

I wanted to share this, it shows how AI can lead you off in the wrong direction but also how it truly can fix things. If you’ve been online for a while, especially on platforms like our Wealthy Affiliate, chances are you’ve ended up with a few tangled Google accounts. Maybe it started with a SiteRubix site, then you moved to your own domain, dabbled with Rank Math, and before long, your Search Console and Google Analytics dashboards looked more like a junk drawer than a strategy hub.

That was me. And I want to share how I finally cleaned it up—what went wrong, what I learned, and how Chat GPT helped me fix it all.

The Starting Mess: SiteRubix Leftovers & Too Many GA4s

When I first set up my early websites, I didn’t really understand the difference between Google Analytics, Search Console, or how Rank Math fits into it. I just followed plugin prompts and trusted that if something was "connected," it was working. And remember, I’m a known Rank Math fan.

But as I moved to custom domains, something weird happened:

• An old Wealthy Affiliate SiteRubix property was still being tracked.
• I was unsure which email was associated with what site/account.
• I had multiple GA4 properties per site (my doing, I think).
• Some sites were verified in Search Console, some weren’t.
• Rank Math was "connected to Google," but the data didn't match.

To make matters worse, some of this setup was done before the AI boom. Without ChatGPT, it was easy to make uninformed choices and harder to spot what needed fixing. And when I redirected my sites to broader niches, it added to the confusion as the original site domains remained the same, but now I needed to clearly identify my new brands.

And to be honest, this wasn’t my first attempt. I’d tried to fix the issue on at least two of my sites in the past—with Chat—but I now realize my own prompts were often vague or off-point. That led us down the wrong paths, even though we were trying hard to get it right. We even dropped Google Analytics entirely from one site at one point, thinking it was better to start fresh, which we did—and it worked.

What made the difference this time was working closely with ChatGPT—refining the prompts, sharing so many screenshots that we had to start new chats because of Chat’s data overloads, and getting real-time, context-aware advice that I could follow.

What is GA4, GSC, and Why Does It Matter?

• GA4 = Google Analytics 4, the latest version of Google’s website analytics tool. It tracks user behavior on your site, like visits, clicks, and time spent, and it is very informative.
• GSC = Google Search Console, which shows how your site performs in Google Search (impressions, clicks, indexing issues).
• Rank Math is an SEO plugin that connects to both but it can often add confusion because it looks like it handles analytics — but it's mostly for SEO scoring and keyword optimization, which I do want to use.

Important: Even if you're using Rank Math or another plugin to "see your analytics," the actual data still comes from Google Analytics and Search Console. Same goes for Bing integrations.

How We Cleaned It Up (With AI on My Side)

Here’s what we tackled one site at a time:

1. Identified active domains and the GA4 property tied to each.
2. Archived unused properties (especially old SiteRubix drafts).
3. Renamed GA4 properties clearly.
4. Verified ownership in Search Console.
5. Linked GSC to GA4 for accurate data flow.
6. Set correct time zones and currencies (UK in my case).
7. Made sure Site Kit and Rank Math were connected to the right property.

It took some patience, but the results were worth it. Now each site reports cleanly, in real-time, with only one stream of data, and I know exactly where to look.

A Note on Using ChatGPT: Familiar, Yet Deeply Powerful

As I worked through this, something else became clear: ChatGPT has grown more familiar — even friendly — in how it helps. But at the same time, it has become even more capable and resourceful. It's easy to forget just how deep its skillset runs.

That said, I’ve also learned an important truth: the quality of the answers still depends heavily on the quality of the questions. I’ve made my share of mistakes with vague or misdirected prompts. And while I’ve leaned heavily into the depth of what this AI can do, I know many users may never even scratch the surface of its true potential.

So here’s my takeaway: treat it like a professional collaborator. Be clear, intentional, and specific in your questions. It can help you navigate complex systems — but only if you show up with clarity and curiosity.

Final Thoughts

If you're feeling lost by situations like extra GA accounts, don’t ignore it. Analytics should work for you, not against you. And while Rank Math and Site Kit are powerful tools, they don't replace the need to understand what's really happening in Google Analytics and Search Console.

I'm not sure I could have fixed this without ChatGPT. Today’s AI tools make troubleshooting less painful and help fill in the gaps when you’re not quite sure which acronym does what.

If you’re in the same boat, I highly recommend doing a full audit. And if you’re still stuck, ask Chat. It’s like having a calm, never-annoyed tech friend who actually explains things.

Bonus Tip: Keep a spreadsheet of your domains, GA4 IDs, stream IDs, GSC verification status, and connection details. It saves so much time.

Let me know if you want a copy of my little template or step-by-step version of what I used!

I hope it helps someone.

Rob