Google - I Thought I Knew You?

Google - I Thought I Knew You?
You don't REALLY know someone until you get back to their
apartment, pop the cork on a bottle of wine, dim the
lights, stare into their eyes and listen to them gush about
every detail of their lives...and then you still don't them.

It's only after a few years of soul-stretching challenges
do you really become intimately acquainted — married
or not.

Well, as silly as the metaphor seems, that's how I felt
about Google Search recently. I thought I knew her as that
clean but clever, elegant but athletic, beautiful eyed
search muse behind a set of fancy bifocals. Turns out, I
was only partially correct.

The vision of Google Search I had was a bit weird, I'll
admit... as I've come to find out, it was also a bit too
dainty.

Google Search is much more powerful and complicated that I
ever imagined! A social media marketer with the right
"touch" can find much, much more than I ever knew.

The thing about Google Search is, she does a great job of
hiding her search weapons and sleuthisms. Now, this is not
a bad thing, not at all... there is something that is
devastatingly attractive about a beautiful thing that is
deep with intrigue and prowess.

So, now, I would like to introduce you to the REAL Google
Search, but be careful... she is quick and sometimes a bit
messy..I hope that's OK. These tips will help you bend the
web to your will using things only a few soothsayers can
find using the "new" Google Search...

Easily Find Your Competitions Back-Links
TYPE: link:www.the-name-of-the-competitors-website.com
--This returns a list of pages that link to your
competition.

Don't Know Your Competition?
TYPE: related:your-website.com
--This returns a list of sites Google thinks are related to
you.

Practical Keyword Research
TYPE: allinanchor:your-keyword
--This returns a list of all pages with "your-keyword" as
anchor text

Don't Know What "anchor text" Means
TYPE: define:anchor text
--This gives you some definitions Google has plucked from
the web.

More Practical Keyword Research
TYPE: allintitle or allinurl or allintext:your-keyword
--Like the allinanchor example above, this returns a list
of pages with your keyword on the title, url or text,
respectively.

Do a Quick Market Survey
TYPE: insubject: your-keywords
--This will return a list of Google Groups with your
keyword in the subject line. Listen in to the conversation.

Get Some .edu Back-Links (this is a powerful SUPER-TIP)
TYPE: site:.edu inurl:blog "post a comment" -"you must be
logged in" -"comment posting closed" -"comment closed"
"your-keyword"
--This returns a list of relevant .edu sites where you can
post comments and garner a powerful back-link.

There you have it..I hope you are as enamored with the
"new", sexier Google as I am. Enjoy!

PS: Thanks to the crew at the Authority Site Center for
introducing me to the "new" Google Search!

----------------------------------------------------
Peter Lenkefi publishes social media marketing and blog
promotion tips at http://Web2Center.com . He is also the
co-founder of the Authority Site Center, a membership site
dedicated to serious business bloggers.