Want to uncover hidden search trends and supercharge your SEO? Google Search Console (GSC) lets you filter search queries with powerful regular expressions (Regex)—a game-changing way to analyze user behavior, find untapped keywords, and refine your strategy.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through:
- How to use regex filters in GSC
- Step-by-step instructions
- 15+ practical examples for better query analysis
- Tools to test regex patterns
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Access the Regex Filter in Google Search Console
- Step 2: Regex Basics for GSC
- Common Regex Symbols
- Step 3: 15+ Regex Examples for GSC
- 1. Find Queries Containing "SEO" or "Digital Marketing"
- 2. Find Queries Starting with "How to"
- 3. Find Queries Ending with "Guide"
- 4. Find Queries Related to "SEO Tips" or "SEO Guide"
- 5. Find Queries with a Year (e.g., 2022, 2023, 2024)
- 6. Find Queries That Include "Best"
- 7. Find Queries About Prices (Containing Numbers and "$")
- 8. Find Queries Containing "vs" (Comparison Searches)
- 9. Find Queries Containing a Question (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How)
- 10. Find Queries That Contain "Free" or "Cheap"
- 11. Find Queries with a Brand Name Variation (e.g., "Nike", "Adidas")
- 12. Find Queries About Local SEO (Containing "near me" or "local")
- 13. Find Queries Containing an Exact Phrase (e.g., "SEO strategy")
- 14. Find Queries with Spelling Variations (e.g., "e-commerce", "ecommerce")
- 15. Find Queries Containing "Best" and a Number (e.g., "Best 10 tools")
- 16. Find Queries Containing a Month Name
- 17. Find Long-Tail Keywords (More Than 3 Words)
- 18. Find Misspelled Keywords (e.g., "Recieve" Instead of "Receive")
- Step 4: How to Use Regex101 for Testing Regex
- Conclusion
Step 1: Access the Regex Filter in Google Search Console
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Select your website property.
- Click on Performance → Choose either “Search results” or “Discover” tab.
- Click on + New → Select Query filter.
- Choose Custom (regex) from the dropdown.
- Enter your regex pattern and click Apply.
Step 2: Regex Basics for GSC
Common Regex Symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
| . | Matches any character | seo. → Matches “seos”, “seoa”, etc. |
| ^ | Starts with | ^seo → Matches “seo tools”, “seo strategy” |
| $ | Ends with | seo$ → Matches “best seo”, “local seo” |
| | | OR operator | seo|digital → Matches “seo course” or “digital marketing” |
| .* | Any character, zero or more times | seo.*guide → Matches “seo beginner guide” or “seo expert guide” |
| \d | Matches digits | 202\d → Matches “2021”, “2022” |
| \b | Word boundary | \bseo\b → Matches exact word “seo” |
| (?i) | Case insensitive | (?i)seo → Matches “SEO”, “Seo”, “seo” |
Step 3: 15+ Regex Examples for GSC
1. Find Queries Containing “SEO” or “Digital Marketing”
seo|digital marketing
Why this matters: Helps analyze keyword variations for SEO content.
2. Find Queries Starting with “How to”
^how to
SEO Impact: Identifies informational queries for blog content.
3. Find Queries Ending with “Guide”
guide$
Use Case: Find educational content opportunities.
4. Find Queries Related to “SEO Tips” or “SEO Guide”
seo (tips|guide)
Insight: Useful for categorizing SEO-related queries.
5. Find Queries with a Year (e.g., 2022, 2023, 2024)
202\d
Why this matters: Helps track seasonal trends and updates.
6. Find Queries That Include “Best”
\b(best)\b
SEO Tip: Identify comparison and listicle queries.
7. Find Queries About Prices (Containing Numbers and “$”)
\d+([.,]\d+)?\$
Benefit: Useful for e-commerce sites tracking product-related searches.
8. Find Queries Containing “vs” (Comparison Searches)
\bvs\b
Why this matters: Find competitive analysis search queries.
9. Find Queries Containing a Question (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How)
\b(who|what|when|where|why|how)\b
SEO Use: Identify content gaps in FAQ or blog sections.
10. Find Queries That Contain “Free” or “Cheap”
\b(free|cheap)\b
Insight: Target cost-sensitive audiences.
11. Find Queries with a Brand Name Variation (e.g., “Nike”, “Adidas”)
(?i)\b(nike|adidas)\b
Benefit: Tracks brand mentions in search.
12. Find Queries About Local SEO (Containing “near me” or “local”)
\b(near me|local)\b
Why this matters: Helps optimize for local search.
13. Find Queries Containing an Exact Phrase (e.g., “SEO strategy”)
\bseo strategy\b
SEO Use: Helps refine keyword targeting.
14. Find Queries with Spelling Variations (e.g., “e-commerce”, “ecommerce”)
\b(e-?commerce)\b
Benefit: Identifies different spelling variations in search.
15. Find Queries Containing “Best” and a Number (e.g., “Best 10 tools”)
best \d+
SEO Tip: Helps identify listicle-friendly keywords.
16. Find Queries Containing a Month Name
\b(january|february|march|april|may|june|july|august|september|october|november|december)\b
Insight: Useful for seasonal content planning.
17. Find Long-Tail Keywords (More Than 3 Words)
(\b\w+\b\s+){3,}
SEO Benefit: Helps uncover specific user intent.
18. Find Misspelled Keywords (e.g., “Recieve” Instead of “Receive”)
\brecieve\b
Why this matters: Useful for redirecting or optimizing content.
Step 4: How to Use Regex101 for Testing Regex
- Visit Regex101.
- Choose the ECMAScript (JavaScript) flavor (same as GSC uses).
- Enter your regex pattern in the “Regular Expression” field.
- Paste your sample queries in the “Test String” field.
- View matches highlighted in real-time.
- Read the explanation section to understand your regex.
- Adjust your pattern if necessary and test again.
Conclusion
Using regex in Google Search Console helps uncover hidden insights, refine keyword strategies, and optimize content effectively. With these 20+ regex examples, you can filter queries smartly and boost your SEO efforts.
🚀 Try these regex filters today and discover new SEO opportunities!
Anup Ain
Hey, my name is Anup Ain. I am a blogger and a digital marketing intern. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences with others.