Jul 11
12
Google Secrets
This page contains some pretty powerful information that your SEO consultant would rather you didn’t have. These are search codes that you can enter into Google Search to return some laser targeted information. The method itself isn’t secret as Google tells you exactly how to do it with their search guide. However, it’s the detailed codes themselves, often referred to as Google Footprints or SEO Footprints, that are really powerful.
Let’s start with how to use them for keyword research.
If you use quotation marks in a normal Google search “your keyword” this returns the number of pages that have that exact keyword phrase .
If you then type inurl:”your keyword” this returns the number of pages that have that exact keyword phrase in the url.
If you then type intitle:”your keyword” this returns the number of pages that have that exact keyword phrase in the page title meta tag.
Finally, if you type intitle:”your keyword” inurl:”your keyword” this will return the number of pages that have the exact keyword phrase in the page url AND the page title. Remember Google places a higher weighting on pages that have both, so you can see that if you optimize your page correctly, how much competition you have.
The other tool you can use for keyword research is Google’s keyword tool. At the basic level you can enter your keyword and see two things – the approximate number of monthly searches for that keyword and also, the other keywords that Google regards as relevant to that keyword (LSI keywords). These can be used to help optimize your webpage but also, give you additional keyword suggestions. But you can also use the advanced options to good effect. The two key filters you can use are local/global monthly searches and the level of competition. For example, see if you can find a relevant keyword that has more than 5,000 monthly searches and low competition.
The other way to use Google footprints is to find backlinking targets. For example,
“powered by wordpress” your keyword -comments are closed – will show you wordpress blogs that are related to your keyword that DO NOT have comments closed – i.e. a blog where you can currently place a comment with a link back to your site.
The following will help you find directories related to your niche.
intitle:add+url “your keyword”
intitle:submit+site “your keyword”
intitle:submit+url “your keyword”
intitle:add+your+site “your keyword”
intitle:add+site “your keyword”
intitle:directory “your keyword”
intitle:sites “your keyword”
intitle:list “your keyword”
These will help you find forums in your niche.
“powered by SMF” your keyword
“powered by IPB” your keyword
“powered by MyBB” your keyword
“powered by PunBB” your keyword
“Powered by Phbb” your keyword
“powered by vBulletin” your keyword
These will help you find blogs to comment on (including specific searches for .edu and .gov sites that often have a high PageRank and some believe, a higher authority than commercial sites).
site:.edu inurl:wp-login.php +blog
site:.gov inurl:wp-login.php +blog
site:.edu “your keyword”
site:.gov “your keyword” -”you must be logged in” -”comments are closed”
site:.edu “no comments” +blogroll -”posting closed” -”you must be logged in” -”comments are closed”
site:.gov “no comments” +blogroll -”posting closed” -”you must be logged in” -”comments are closed”
site:.edu “Powered by BlogEngine.NET”site:.edu inurl:blog “post a comment” -”comments closed” -”you must be logged in” “YOUR KEYWORD”
site:.gov “Powered by BlogEngine.NET”site:.edu inurl:blog “post a comment” -”comments closed” -”you must be logged in” “YOUR KEYWORD”
And finally, here’s a little gem for you.
site:squidoo.com “YOUR KEYWORD” “add to this list” – this will help you to find Squidoo lenses where you are able to add/suggest your site as a link that is related to the lens. You must be logged into your Squidoo account before you attempt to add a link to these lenses.
By playing around and experimenting with these footprint codes you can find an unlimited amount of sites where you can post your backlinks. However, if you don’t have the time or inclination to do this, there is a ready made solution. Jason Temple (of Link Builders Bible) has produced a fantastic guide called Profile Link Power where he provides more of these footprint codes than you are ever likely to need. This means that for a single website or all of your websites, you can find an unlimited number of high quality backlink targets.
