Know the Top 25 Google Search Operators for Better SEO

Google is a vast search engine that is predominantly used to search for information, queries, location, whereabouts, features, URLs, and a lot more. 

Right away from typing the query, putting relatable search terms, using the voice assistant, and feeding the direct page link, the modes to search on Google are infinite. Google search operator is one such command that is extensively being used to search for information on Google.

So, let’s explore more about Google Search Operators and note down every granular detail about it.

What Are Google Search Operators?

As we discussed, Google Search Operators are special commands that you use to search specific information with filtered results in Google. To make the results more accurate, Google Search Operators are invariably applied by users. 

Let’s understand Google Search Operators with the help of an example.

site:Amazon.com

This is a Google Search Operator that makes your search result more accurate and would directly take you to the respective website. Thus, it is one of Google’s Search Operators. 

Likewise, in this blog, we will learn about many Google Search Operators that can be used in innumerable SEO activities, such as:

1. Better link building with Google Search Operators.
2. Identifying guest posting websites with Google Search Operators.
3. Finding and resolving site indexing issues with Google operators. 

So, let’s proceed forward!

List of Major 25 Google Search Operators

Here’s the list of the 25 best search operators supported by Google: 

• intitle:

This is one of the Google Search Operators that helps you search for pages that have specific words in the title tag. This is particularly beneficial for the users who are looking for a specific kind of product and service across a specified area. 

For example: 

intitle:burger

Let’s say you are looking for a burger junction in your area. You just have to feed the above-mentioned search operators in Google’s search bar. 

Automatically, you will get the search results for all the burger points in your location.

• allintitle: 

This Google search operator helps you identify pages where the title tag has all the specifically mentioned words. 

Try this example:

allintitle:burger recipe

Now, if a user is looking for a burger recipe, this search operator will give them all the ranking content that has information on burger recipes. 

• related:

This is another command from the list of best Google Search Operators that enables you to identify the sites that are related to a particular domain. 

Try this example

related:toi.com

After feeding this search operator, you will get all sites related to TOI. For example, related:toi.com is showing the results with britannica.com, economictimes.com, hindustantimes.com, timesnownews.com, ptinews.com, timesofisrael.com, etc. 

• OR

Among all Google Search Operators, this helps you find the results that build proximity with one between two search terms. You can also use | instead of OR. 

Try this example

pizza | pasta

The search result will give you content that is either related to pizza or pasta, along with location details of restaurants that sell the same.

• AND

This Google Search Operator helps you find the results related to both search terms. 

Try this example

pizza AND burger

This Google search operator will help you get the results with the pages that have both pizza and burger. 

• – (Minus)

The minus Google Search Operator is used to separate two search terms from each other and stop them from being consolidated.

Try this example

Content writing-jobs

Here, the minus search terms help Google understand that “Content writing jobs” is a single consolidated term. They are not separated from each other. 

• Parentheses

This Google Search Operator is placed to specify and pick the exact search terms from its group.

Try this example

Audi (Q3 and A4)

Here, you get the search results on Audi, but only the pages that give information about the Q3 and A4 models. 

• * (asterisk)

This Google operator is to fill in the missing words or phrases.

Try this example

Best * in India

Further, Google will automatically fill up the asterisk with words like “Places,” “Food,” “museums,” “hotels,” “restaurants,” “vacation venues,” etc. 

• define:

This enables you to search for the definition of a word and is beneficial for users who are looking for fundamental information on a specific topic

Try this example

define:pythagoras theorem

This will give you the definition of the word “Pythagoras theorem.”. 

• filetype:

This helps you find the results within a particular file format (e.g., PDF, XLS, PPT, DOCX, etc.)

Try this example

filetype:pdf Fifa 2022

You’ll get all the PDF files related to Fifa 2022. As a substitute, you can also use the “ext:” operator instead of “filetype:” 

• cache:

It enables you to see the current cached version of a webpage.

Try this example

cache:Amazon.com

Google will help you with the recent cached version of its homepage.

• site:

As we discussed before, this is to find the result from a specific website.

Try this example

site:thehindu.com

Now, you only get to see the results from thehindu.com. Basically, it is a direct approach to reach the website without navigating much across the search engine. 

• inurl:

This is to find the web pages that encapsulate specific words in the URL.

Try this example

inurl:jeans

This will result in pages with the word “jeans” in the URL. 

• allinurl:

Likewise, the “inurl” tag will return with pages if the URL includes all of the mentioned terms.

Try this example

allinurl:best pepe jeans

Here, like inurl, this search operator will help you find the URLs that have “best pepe jeans” embedded in them. 

• weather:

This Google Search Operator gives you the weather conditions of a particular location.

Try this example

weather:Rome

Here, Google will give you the current temperature, forecast, and other information related to Rome’s weather.

• map:

This Google search operator will help you find the map of any location.

Try this example

map:India

Here, you will get detailed maps of India.

• movie:

This Google Search Operator shows you the information in regard to a specific movie.

Try this example

movie:Twilight

Google will show you information on Twilight, which would include its ratings, cast, year of release, sequels, etc.

• stocks:

This Google Search Operator gives you the stock pictures and financial data about a particular company.

Try this example

stocks:TATA

Google will show the stock chart and financial details of TATA. 

• intext:

This Google Search Operator will give you the web pages that have this specific word in the content.

Try this example

intext:Microsoft Cloud

Now, you will get the pages that have the word “Microsoft Cloud” somewhere across the content.

• allintext:

Just like “intext” this Google Search Operator will only show pages where the content holds all of the specific words.

Try this example

allintext:content writing tips

Now you will find the pages that have information related to “content writing tips” 

• source:

This Google search operator helps to find news articles from a particular source in Google News.

Try this example

TATA source:toi.com

Here, you get to see news articles about TATA from the Times of India.

• in

This Google operator helps convert one unit to another in regard to weights, currency, distance, time, temperature, etc.

Try this example

999 eur in INR

Here, 999 euros will automatically be converted to INR. So, there’s no need to do manual conversion now. 

• “search term”

This Google operator helps you find the exact word or phrase.

Try this example

“best cafe new york city”

Here, Google will show you the result for the consolidated phrase “best cafe New York City”.

• AROUND(X)

This Google operator relates to search pages containing two words (or phrases) within X words of each other.

Try this example

Audi AROUND(5) Model Q3

Here, Google will show pages with the words “Audi” and “Model Q3” in content where they appear within five words. 

• location:

Using this Google operator, you can search results in regard to a specific location. 

Try it out

location:Goa Bar and Restaurant

You’ll see Bar and Restaurant-related results specific to Goa. This search operator has proven to be extremely useful in the travel and tourism industry.. 

Benefits of Using Google Search Operators

Google search operators are significant for multiple SEO tasks. Some of these search commands are excessively used by top digital marketers and technical consultants across the globe.

Why? Because of the various beneficial aspects they bring to the table.

The top 5 benefits of using Google operators are: 

Great Internal Linking

Google search operator helps you build internal linking that eventually enables search engine bots to crawl and index your website more efficiently. 

For instance, if we want to add internal links to a page, we can search Google with a command like:

site:RankWatch.com/blogs/. 

Well, the rank tracking section of RankWatch can also help you foster good internal linking for your website.

The insights on top landing pages would allow you to get a comprehensive understanding of which pages you should interlink your content with. This will eventually drive and distribute the value across your website and make it more relevant on the internet. 

Thus, to find valuable pages for your website, RankWatch rank tracking would be of great help. 

Identify Indexing Issues 

To confirm whether the search engine has indexed a page or not, you can put the command:

“site:RankWatch.com/blog/technical-SEO/”

The above search command will help you see if the respective page of the technical SEO section of the RankWatch website has been indexed or not. 

This is particularly productive for SEO consultants and marketing strategists to identify which pages have been indexed and which are yet to be indexed. 

Find Sites for Guest Posting

Let’s say you want to find guest posting opportunities for health and beauty websites. You can put the command like this:

health and beauty: “write for us”

Now, you will get to know which health and beauty websites are open for guest posting opportunities. This search command is useful for marketing strategists, digital marketers, and content creators who want to improve their website traffic and visibility through guest posting.

Identify Non-Secure Pages

Pages that don’t use HTTP are not secured for visitors. Google Search Operators help you identify the non-secure pages to a great extent.

However, if you don’t trust the method, RankWatch’s Site Auditor can also help you with the same functionality. 

Here, you get detailed insights on HTTP status code distribution, which further states the current state of your web pages. 

Simply state, you will get to know which of your pages are broken pages, have 301 redirects, 200-page errors, Canonicalized Pages, Noindex Pages, and much more.

After resolving the issues mentioned in the pages, your website performance will improve.

Identify Content Issues

Like non-secure pages, Google operators can also identify content issues. Here, too, RankWatch’s Site Auditor helps you identify multiple content issues. Resolving them can improve your content performance.

Here, you get to see content issues like missing H1, thin pages, linked images with no alt tags, missing descriptions, short descriptions, canonical conflicts, and a lot more. 

Just go through these issues and resolve them to give your website a better SEO landscape. 

Wrapping Up! 

So, this is all about the 25 prominent Google operators, their benefits in SEO ground, and the significance of an internet marketing platform to harness the full potential of Google Search Operators. 

Hope this blog was insightful and has offered you all the necessary information you were looking for. 

Cheers!