1. How it works: Quotation marks, or “query” will
Search Google for only the exact match of your
query, also known as exact match search.
Example: “Make money online”
Uses: Searching for an exact piece of information.
Great for searching serial numbers, model numbers,
obscure names, etc. Very basic, but very important in
advanced search, especially when combining search
modifiers to achieve specific results.
2. How it works: the subtract modifier will remove
any query you don’t want in the search results.
Example: “make online money” -“affiliation”
Uses: Trimming the fat from your search results. When
searching for something specific, and you’re finding the inclusion
of terms or phrases you specifically wish to avoid, simply
introduce the exclusion modifier to remove them from the results.
3. How it works: using “AND” within search will make
sure both your queries appear within each result.
Example: “Make online money” AND “affiliation”
Uses: Narrow your subject within search by combining
terms. Searching without the ‘AND’ operator would return
results individually featuring either “Easy money online” or
“affiliation” as opposed to results featuring both “easy
money online” and “affiliation”
4. How it works: Allows you to search for multiple
terms.
Example: “Facebook” CEO OR Founder OR
Owner OR Partner
Uses: Search for multiple/similar phrases and
words within one result. Typically the ‘OR’ operator
is used for multiple words that express the same
idea — i.e., CEO/founder/owner/partner.
5. How it works: Site:example.com will refine a
Google’s search to a single website.
Example: Site:dewdropdeveloper.com “query”
Uses: Finding information within a specific
website, especially when using additional search
modifiers. This can also be used to narrow down to
TLDs (.gov, .com, .edu).
6. How it works: Will only return Web pages that have
your query in the actual URL.
Example: inurl:make money online
Uses: This search modifier has a variety of uses. Great for
finding various online profiles of someone with a unique
name, or finding certain types of pages (guest posts, link
lists, infographics, forums, etc. etc.), and can be used
effectively with site search as well.
7. How it works: The intitle:query modifier will refine
search to only pages that have your query within
their title.
Example: intitle:affiliation
Uses: Very similar to inurl:query, this works well
for finding online profiles, different types of pages,
and general information regarding your search
(since they’ll have the phrase or word in the title).
8. How it works: Returns results related to your
query. Note: the query can be a website, much as
in site search, to return other related websites.
However, the website needs to be fairly well
known, otherwise related search is unlikely to find
anything.
Example: Related:pinterest.com
Uses: Exploring the Web, finding pages related to
your query, and even finding less well known sites
similar to popular sites.