Google Advanced Search Commands enable a user to make a search query more precise. As we’ll show below, they can also be useful for SEO work. The list of available options has evolved over time, with Google occasionally dropping a search operator and introducing others. Most recently, Google replaced the sort by date feature in favor of new before: and after: commands. These new search operators may be used alone or together (and with either dashes or slashes). For example:
digital marketing news before:2019
digital marketing news after:2019/06/01
digital marketing news after:2019-05-01 before:2019-05-31
Here’s a reference list of some of our favorite advanced search operators:
Exact Match – to force an exact match result, use quotations. For example: “digital marketing”
Alternates – to search for multiple options, use OR or the pipe symbol. For example: digital OR marketing digital | marketing
Combinations – to include multiple terms (but not necessary as an exact match) use AND. For example: digital AND marketing
Exclude – to search for a particular topic but exclude a certain term, use the minus symbol. For example: digital -marketing
Include – to search for a particular topic but include a certain term, use the plus symbol. For example: digital marketing +agency
Group – to control more complex searches, use parentheses to group terms. For example: (digital OR content) marketing will return results related to digital marketing or content marketing.
Search a Website – use site: to search for a term within a particular website. For example: site:www.periscopeup.com “digital marketing”. This search operator can be especially helpful when you need to search an entire website for a phrase or mention that needs to be amended.
Check Indexation – use the site: without a query to see the number of pages Google has indexed. See the example below, showing 415 results (or indexed pages).
Search Social Media – use the @ in front of the platform you’d like to search for results. For example: @facebook
Search Hashtags – use the # in front of the term you’d like to search. For example: #digitalmarketing
By Location – use LOC to search for a topic within a certain geographic area. For example: LOC:”chevy chase, md” digital marketing
Does your business show up for relevant queries? We can help you improve visibility and increase traffic and leads. Call 443.475.0787 or contact us today!
