The Complete Guide to Google Search Operators for Web Search Results

Google search operators are powerful commands and characters that can enhance your web search results. By using these operators, you can make your searches more precise and focused, and find the information you need more efficiently. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the complete list of Google search operators and how you can master them for SEO.

Google Search Operators: The Complete List

Google search operators can be divided into three categories: working, unreliable, and not working. The working operators are those that still function as intended. The unreliable operators may not always yield accurate results, but they have not been officially deprecated by Google. The not working operators have been officially dropped by Google and no longer produce any results.

Working Operators

1. site: – Restricts search results to a particular site. For example, site:example.com will only show results from the website example.com.
2. “Keyword” – Searches for results that include an exact word or phrase. For example, searching for "web design" will only display results that include the phrase “web design”.
3. intitle: – Searches for results that have specific words in the title. For example, intitle:SEO tips will show results that have “SEO tips” in the title.
4. inurl: – Searches for results that have specific words in the URL. For example, inurl:blog will display results that have “blog” in the URL.

Unreliable Operators

1. ~ – Includes synonyms in the search. This operator was dropped in 2013.
2. + – Searches for results that mention an exact word or phrase. This operator was dropped in 2011.
3. inpostauthor: – Searches for posts by a specific author in the discontinued Google Blog Search.
4. allinpostauthor: – Similar to inpostauthor:, but does not require quotes.
5. inposttitle: – Searches for posts with certain words in the title in Google’s discontinued Blog Search.
6. link: – Searches for pages linking to a particular domain or URL. This operator was dropped in 2017.
7. info: – Searches for information about a specific page or website. This operator was dropped in 2017.
8. id: – Same as info:.
9. phonebook: – Searches for someone’s phone number. This operator was dropped in 2010.
10. # – Searches for hashtags on Google+. This operator was dropped in 2019 when Google+ shut down.

Not Working Operators

These operators have been officially deprecated by Google and no longer produce any results:

1. ~ (synonym search operator) – Dropped in 2013.
2. + (exact match operator) – Dropped in 2011.
3. inpostauthor: (author search operator) – Discontinued in Google Blog Search.
4. allinpostauthor: (author search operator) – Same as inpostauthor: but without quotes.
5. inposttitle: (title search operator) – Discontinued in Google Blog Search.
6. link: (backlink search operator) – Dropped in 2017.
7. info: (information search operator) – Dropped in 2017.
8. id: (information search operator) – Same as info:.
9. phonebook: (phone number search operator) – Dropped in 2010.
10. # (hashtag search operator) – Dropped in 2019.

11 Ways to Use Google Search Operators for Web Search Results

Now that we have explored the complete list of Google search operators, let’s look at how you can use them to enhance your web search results. Here are 11 practical ways to put these operators into action:

1. Find Possible Indexing Issues

By using the site: and filetype: operators, you can uncover potential indexing issues on your website. For example, a search for site:example.com filetype:pdf will show all the PDFs indexed from the website example.com. This can help you identify unintentionally indexed content and take the necessary steps to address it.

2. Find and Analyse Your Competitors

Use the related: operator to find websites related to yours, which are often your competitors. You can then use other search operators to investigate these sites further. For example, a search for related:example.com will display websites related to example.com. By analysing your competitors’ content and backlink profiles, you can gain valuable insights and identify opportunities for improvement in your own SEO strategy.

3. Find Guest Post Opportunities

Instead of searching for “write for us” pages in your niche, use the inurl:author/[firstname-lastname] operator to find guest post opportunities from serial guest bloggers in your niche. For example, a search for [topic] inurl:author/ryan-stewart will display websites where Ryan Stewart has written guest posts. This approach can help you discover unique guest posting opportunities and avoid pitching the same sites as everyone else.

4. Find Resource Page Opportunities

Resource pages are great link prospects for your website if you have relevant resources to offer. Use the intitle:resources inurl:resources operator to find resource pages in your niche. For example, a search for coffee intitle:resources inurl:resources will display resource pages related to coffee. This can help you identify potential link building opportunities and pitch your resources to the relevant website owners.

5. Find Files You Don’t Want in Google’s Index

If you have files on your website that you don’t want Google to index, use the filetype: operator to check if they are indexed. For example, a search for site:example.com filetype:pdf will show all the PDFs indexed from the website example.com. If you find any files that you want to prevent from being indexed, you can use the appropriate methods, such as setting the file to “noindex,” to protect them from appearing in Google search results.

6. Find Email Addresses

You can use search operators to find tweets that contain email addresses. This can be helpful when you want to find the email address of a specific person. For example, a search for site:twitter.com "email" "gmail.com" can help you find tweets that mention email addresses with the domain “gmail.com.” By using this method, you can easily find contact information and reach out to the desired person.

7. Find Opportunities to Add Internal Links

Use the site: and "keyword" operators to find internal link opportunities on your website. For example, a search for site:example.com "SEO tips" will display pages on the website example.com that mention the phrase “SEO tips.” By identifying unlinked mentions of relevant keywords, you can add internal links to your important content, improve its visibility, and potentially boost its organic search rankings.

8. Find “Best” Listicles That Don’t Mention Your Brand

If you want to find listicles that feature the “best” products or services in your industry but don’t mention your brand, use the -[your business name] operator. For example, a search for "best email marketing tools" -example.com will display listicles that mention the best email marketing tools but exclude any mention of example.com. By identifying these opportunities, you can reach out to the authors and request to be added to their lists.

9. Find Websites That Have Reviewed Competitors

If a website has posted a review of one of your competitors, there is a good chance they may also be willing to review your product or service. Use the allintitle:review ([competitor 1] OR [competitor 2]) operator to find websites that have reviewed your competitors. For example, a search for allintitle:review (mailchimp OR aweber) will display websites that have reviewed Mailchimp or AWeber. This can help you identify potential review opportunities and reach out to the website owners.

10. Find Relevant Quora Questions to Answer

Quora is a popular platform for asking and answering questions. You can use search operators to find relevant questions to answer and establish your expertise in your niche. For example, a search for site:quora.com inurl:(health OR fitness) will display questions related to health and fitness on Quora. By providing valuable answers to these questions, you can build brand awareness and attract targeted traffic to your website.

11. Find How Fast Your Competitors Are Publishing New Content

Use the site: and before: or after: operators to determine how frequently your competitors are publishing new content. For example, a search for site:competitor.com before:2022-01-01 after:2021-12-01 will show how many posts the competitor published between December 2021 and January 2022. By analysing your competitors’ publishing frequency, you can gain insights into their content strategy and adjust your own publishing schedule accordingly.

In conclusion, Google search operators are valuable tools that can significantly enhance your web search results. By using these operators effectively, you can refine your searches, uncover new opportunities, and improve your SEO strategy. Experiment with different combinations of operators and explore their potential to discover even more ways to leverage them for your benefit.