Google Search Operators: What They Are and How to Use Them

The Google Search operators are words or symbols that are added to a specific search key (query) allow us to obtain more precise and targeted results so that the SERP ( Search Engine Results Page, page of search results ) which you reach by typing your research will perfectly conform to your needs and requirements.

A useful alternative to search operators is Google’s advanced search, but keep in mind that this returns results that are partially different from operators.

Do you know Google search operators and know how to use them?

Basic research operators

To use Google search operators, simply enter them before or after your query. Two precautions:

• Google search does not read punctuation marks that are not among search operators;
• Do not insert spaces between the search operator and the keyword you enter.

These are the basic Google search operators that you can use to refine your surveys and valuable especially for SEO analysis:

1. “” To search for an exact match

Double quotes are useful when you need to search for a certain expression, an exact match, with no changes in the search term.

2. OR to match searches

If in SERPs you want to find one or the other of two search terms you can use the OR operator. For example social OR social network.

3. – to exclude keywords from the search

If you want to exclude specific keywords from the SERP you can use the search operator – at the end of the keyword. An example? Ronaldo – football to exclude all results that contain the word football.

4. @ and # for Social Media and hashtags

If you want to search exclusively on Social Media you can insert the @ before a keyword and the symbol # if your intent is to search for a specific hashtag.

5. € and… For prices and ranges of numbers

If you want to search for the price of something or a product sold at that specific price, you can use the search operator € in front of a number.

To search for a range of numbers you will need to enter… Between two numbers or digits or prices.

6. * to complete the sentence

An effective trick to understanding how people search on Google is to use the * operator to complete a sentence.

For example, if you ask Google as a * company you will respond with different results: come to do social media marketing, how to become a social media manager, how to create a successful social media strategy.

Advanced search operators

If, on the other hand, you are an SEO Specialist, these are the advanced Google search operators that you can use during your website inspection and analysis:

1. Operator site: to search for a specific domain

Using the site search operator: you can find all the indexed pages of that domain, including subdomains. Try it with site:seo.com

Another useful use of the site operator: is to search for specific information within that website. For example, by typing “SEO analysis” site:seo.com you can find all the pages that contain information related to SEO analysis within our website.

2. inurl: and allinurl: operators to search for URLs with specific keywords

If you want to search for all URLs containing one or more specific keywords, you can use the operator’s inurl: and allinurl:

I’ll give you a concrete example:

• inurl: SEO ? provides you with all the pages that contain the word SEO in the URL ;
• allinurl: SEO Specialist ? provides you with all online resources whose URLs contain both the word SEO and the word Specialist .

3. Title: and allintitle: operators to search for title tags with specific keywords

The operators entitled: and allintitle: are very useful for finding the indexed pages on Google that contain specific keywords in the title tag. That’s why they are important allies in the SEO analysis phase of the competition.

Here’s how to use the title operators: and allintitle:

• Title: SEO ? returns all pages that have the word SEO in the title tag;
• allintitle: SEO Specialist ? provides you with all the pages that contain the keyword SEO Specialist in the title tag.

4. Operators inanchor: and allinanchor: to analyze domains with backlinks

Are you looking for particularly strong domains in the linking building activity with that specific anchor?

Then the operator’s inanchor will be precious for you: and allinanchor with which you can search for pages that have many and / or authoritative backlinks whose anchor text corresponds to the specific keyword of interest.

Here’s how to use the inanchor operators: and allinanchor:

• inanchor: SEO ? to search for all domains that receive many and / or authoritative backlinks with SEO anchor text ;
• allinanchor: SEO Specialist ? to search for all domains that receive many and / or authoritative backlinks from sites with still SEO Specialist text .

5. Intext operator: to search for keywords in the text

The intext operator: allows you to find all the web pages that contain one or more keywords in the body of the page. Keep in mind that this operator analyzes only the textual content of the page, not also Meta information.

6. Operator info: to find information on a specific domain

The search operator info: followed by a specific domain allows you to find on Google all the information relating to that website, that is, the cached copy, the similar pages, the pages that contain a link to that site, the web pages of that site, etc.

Google advanced search: operators and functions

Did you know all Google operators or were you missing someone? Do you use them sporadically or do you find them really useful and indispensable on many occasions?

Author Bio:

Stuart is a well-known blogger and a writer, he is passionate regarding writing over different topics especially in online blogging, technology, marketing, and indoor led screen manufacturers, etc. In the meantime, he listens to music and plays games.