Google’s web site: operator limits search outcomes to a single area. It is among the oldest and most useful instruments for SEO.
To make use of, sort web site: adopted by the specified URL (no area) in Google’s search field — e.g., web site:sampledomain.com/article.
Right here’s how you can use it for key search engine marketing duties.
Utilizing the web site: Operator
1. Discover inner pages to hyperlink to
The web site: operator is helpful for finding related inner pages rapidly.
The web site: operator locates related inner pages rapidly. This instance searches for “hreflang” articles.
Search optimizers as soon as used the operator to know which pages Google prioritized for any question. However that’s not dependable as a result of outcomes for web site: aren’t based mostly on intent, earlier searches, and even freshness — as is the case for different queries.
Nonetheless, the web site: operator sometimes surfaces a search-optimized web page for every question, so I proceed utilizing it for inner hyperlink choices.
2. Find URLs that shouldn’t be listed
Google’s Search Console is the easiest way to establish pages that ought to and shouldn’t be listed. But it surely’s not good. Generally Search Console lists unindexed URLs which are truly listed. So use Search Console and web site: to seek out listed pages that ought to be blocked, redirected, or canonicalized.
Even higher, run a number of web site: operators to verify correctly listed pages, making certain:
- Tag pages aren’t listed: web site:area.com inurl:tag
- Backend, admin pages aren’t listed: web site:area.com inurl:admin
- Solely https URLs are listed: web site:area.com inurl:http or web site:area.com -inurl:https
From there, use Search Console’s URL inspection device to seek out the explanations for improper indexation.
A seek for web site:seosmarty.com -inurl:https features a minus signal to exclude https pages from the outcomes.
3. Entry Google’s cache
Google’s cache reveals how the search engine sees all components of a web page. A web site: search can entry the cache model of a web page by clicking the three vertical dots subsequent to the title within the outcomes. The following “Extra choices” pop-up card may even state how lengthy Google has listed the web page.
Entry the cached model of a web page through a web site: search after which clicking the three vertical dots subsequent to the title within the outcomes.
4. Preview a website’s search snippets
The content material of natural search snippets is query-dependent. Relying on the search time period, Google might rewrite the web page title, extract on-page content material as an alternative of the meta description, and show web site names as an alternative of URLs.
Nonetheless, the web site: operator will present:
- The place a snippet is tranсated.
- The web page’s publish date, per Google.
Right here’s a web page preview utilizing the web site: operator:
The web site: operator can preview search snippets, though the non web site: outcomes may differ.
Right here’s what it appears to be like like in a typical search. Notice the date and the title look the identical, however the query-driven snippet beneath has a special description and web site title. It additionally contains a picture.
Regular snippets — with out utilizing the web site: operator — embody a picture, amongst different variations.
5. Discover pages to replace
Google presents a helpful date search possibility that hides behind the “Instruments” hyperlink in search outcomes. Select a date vary to seek out all pages Google listed throughout that interval. It’s a fast approach to discover articles to replace, particularly when publishing a associated matter.
Google’s date-search possibility is behind the “Instruments” hyperlink in search outcomes.
Browser Extensions
I’m conscious of two browser extensions to entry the web site: operator rapidly.
- Search Website WE (Firefox). Spotlight any phrases on a web page and right-click. The extension will seek for these phrases on the present area or subdomain.
- Search the present web site (Google Chrome). Click on the extension icon and sort any phrase to provoke Google’s web site: seek for the present area.
