What this tool does
search_performance.py connects to the Google Search Console API and pulls real impression, click, and position data for your site. This tells you exactly which queries Google already associates with your domain.
Why this matters — Your Search Console data is the single most reliable signal for SEO. It shows what Google actually thinks your pages are about — not what you intended them to be about.
Prerequisites
You need a Google Cloud project with the Search Console API enabled, and a service account or OAuth credentials. This is the most setup-heavy tool in the toolkit.
Create credentials
Go to Google Cloud Console → APIs & Services → enable Google Search Console API → create OAuth 2.0 credentials (Desktop app type).
Download credentials JSON
Save the client_secret.json file. Place it in the same directory as the script, or pass the path with --creds.
Verify your site in Search Console
Your site must be verified in Google Search Console. Use the property URL (e.g. sc-domain:example.com or https://example.com/).
Basic usage
python3 -m zens_ink search_performance --site "sc-domain:example.com" --creds client_secret.jsonThe first run opens a browser for OAuth consent. Subsequent runs use cached credentials.
| Query | Impressions | Clicks | Avg Position | CTR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ai tarot reading | 2,400 | 45 | 8.3 | 1.9% |
| tarot card meanings | 1,800 | 12 | 22.1 | 0.7% |
| free tarot yes or no | 950 | 38 | 4.2 | 4.0% |
| dream interpretation | 620 | 3 | 31.5 | 0.5% |
Finding opportunities in your own data
The position 5–15 sweet spot — Keywords where you rank between position 5 and 15 are your biggest opportunity. You’re close to page 1 — a small content improvement can push you into the top results. Focus your optimization effort here first.
Date ranges
Pull data for specific periods:
python3 -m zens_ink search_performance --site "sc-domain:example.com" --start 2025-01-01 --end 2025-06-30Export for analysis
python3 -m zens_ink search_performance --site "sc-domain:example.com" --format csv > gsc_data.csvWhat’s next?
You now know what Google thinks your site is about, and where you’re close to breaking through. The final piece: what are your competitors ranking for that you’re not?