Google Search Console SEO Pitfall Guide

Three GSC checks to confirm a March 2026 core hit

Google ran three algorithm events in Q1 2026 leaving indie dev sites uncertain. This issue gives you a 10-minute GSC diagnostic — penalty gate, date alignment, impressions-vs-clicks pattern — to confirm whether you were hit, then covers the one practitioner-proven recovery action: content pruning targeting a 20–30% reduction in indexed pages.