In the ever-evolving world of SEO, link building remains one of the most important tactics to increase a website’s authority and improve search engine rankings. However, finding high-quality opportunities for link building can be time-consuming—unless you know how to leverage Google Search Operators effectively.
This blog offers a complete guide for using Google Search Operators specifically for link building in 2024, including over 500+ operators categorized by use case. We’ve also included answers to common questions and best practices to help you stay ahead of the competition.
What is a Google Search Operator?
Google Search Operators are special characters or commands that you can use to fine-tune your search results. Whether you’re looking for guest post opportunities, .edu backlinks, or resource pages, search operators make the process much more efficient.
For example, if you want to find websites that accept guest posts in your niche, you can use the operator intitle:”write for us” along with your relevant keyword to get targeted results.
Complete List of 500+ Google Search Operators for Link Building
Below, we’ve broken down Google Search Operators by their link-building application. These will help you find opportunities for outreach, guest posts, .edu and .gov backlinks, and much more.
A. Contact Pages
When to Use: To find the contact pages of websites in your niche for outreach.
- Keyword + Intitle:contact me
- Keyword + Intitle:work with me
- Keyword + Intitle:get in contact
- Keyword + Intitle:get in touch
B. Guest Post Opportunities
When to Use: To find websites that accept guest posts, a vital part of link-building.
- Keyword + allintitle:guest post guidelines
- Keyword + intitle:”’write for us”
- Keyword + allintitle:guest blog guidelines
- Keyword + “Be a contributor”
- Keyword + “Become a contributor”
- Keyword + “Guest column”
- Keyword + “Guest columnist”
- Keyword + “guest blogger”
- Keyword + “Submit [Niche] News”
- Keyword + “Community News”
- Keyword + “Submit Blog Post”
- Keyword + “submit content”
- Keyword + “submit post”
- Keyword + “Suggest a Guest Post”
- Keyword + “Contribute to our Site”
- Keyword + “Become a Guest Writer”
- Keyword + “My Guest Posts”
- Keyword + “Submission Guidelines”
- Keyword + “This guest post was written”
- Keyword + “This guest post is from”
- Keyword + “Now Accepting Guest Posts”
- Keyword + “The following guest post”
- Keyword + inurl:guest-post-guidelines
- Keyword + inurl:guest-posts
- Keyword + inurl:write-for-us
- Keyword + inurl:profiles/blog/new
- Keyword + “Submit a guest post” / “Submit post” / “Submit blog post”
- Keyword + “Add blog post”
- Keyword + “Guest Post Guidelines”
- Keyword + “Want to Write for”
- Keyword + “Blogs that Accept Guest Blogging”
- Keyword + “Blogs Accepting Guest Posts”
- Keyword + “Contribute”
- Keyword + “Submit News”
- Keyword + “Submit Tutorial”
- Keyword + “Suggest a Post”
- Keyword + “Become an Author”
- Keyword + “become guest writer”
- Keyword + “Become a Contributor”
- Keyword + “Places | Guest Posted”
- Keyword + “Publish Your News”
- Keyword + “Guest post by”
- Keyword + “Guest Contributor”
- Keyword + “This is a guest article”
- Keyword + “Add Articles”
- Keyword + “contributor guidelines”
- Keyword + “Add Guest Post”
- Keyword + “Guest Bloggers Wanted”
- Keyword + “Guest Posts Roundup”
- Keyword + “Write for Us”
- Keyword + “Submit Guest Post”
- Keyword + “Submit a Guest Article”
- Keyword + “Guest Bloggers Wanted”
- Keyword + “Group Writing Project”
- Keyword + “Blogs that Accept Guest Posts”
- Keyword + “Blogs that Accept Guest Bloggers”
- Keyword + “Become a Contributor”
- Keyword + “Submit an article”
- Keyword + “Suggest a guest post”
- Keyword + “Send a guest post”
- Keyword + “Send your post”
- Keyword + “Bloggers Wanted”
- Keyword + “Guest Blogging Spot
- Keyword + “Guest Blogging Spot”
- Keyword + “Guest Post”
- Keyword + “Guest Blogging Spot”
- Keyword + “Submit a Guest Post”
- Keyword + “Become a Guest Blogger”
- Keyword + “guest post opportunities”
- Keyword + “this is a guest post by”
- Keyword + “This post was written by”
- Keyword + “guest post courtesy of ”
- Keyword + “submit article”
- Keyword + “guest author”
- Keyword + “send a tip”
- Keyword + inurl:guest-blogger
C. .EDU and .GOV Link Building Opportunities
When to Use: To target backlinks from high-authority domains like .edu and .gov.
- site:.edu inurl:blog “post a comment”
- —“comments closed” -”you must be logged in” “keyword”
- 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”
- inurl:(edu|gov) “no comments” +blogroll
- -”posting closed” -”you must be logged in”
- -’comments are closed”
- site:.edu inurl:blog “comment” -”you must
- “keyword” blog site:.edu
- keyword +tinurl:blog site:.edu
- inurl:.govtinurl:blog
- site:.edu inurl:wp-login.php t+blog
- site:.gov inurl:wp-login.php +blog
- site:.edu inurl:”wp-admin” tlogin
- site:.edu inurl:blog “post a comment”
- site:.gov “hosted for free by zetaboards”
- site:.gov “powered by yaf”
- site:.gov “yaf_rules.aspx”
- site:.gov “yaf_topics”
- site:.gov “postmessage.aspx”
- site:.gov “register.aspx”
- site:.gov “post/?type”
- site:.gov “action=display&thread”
- site:.gov “index.php”
- site:.gov “index.php?fid”
- site:.gov “forums register”
- site:.gov “register iam over 13 years of age forum”
- site:.gov “discussion board register”
- site:.gov “bulletin board register”
- site:.gov “message board register”
- site:.gov “phpbb register forum”
- site:.gov “punbb register forum”
- site:.gov “forum signup”
- site:.gov “vbulletin forum signup”
- site:.gov “SMF register forum”
- site:.gov “forum
- site:.gov “forum register | have read, and agree to abide by the”
- site:.gov “forum site:.gov “forum | am at least 13 years old.”
- site:.gov “Forum Posted: Tue Sept 016, 2024 8:24 am Memberlist Profile”
- site:.gov “View previous topic :: View next topic forums”
- site:.gov “You cannot post new topics in this forum”
- site:.gov “proudly powered by bbPress”
- site:.gov “bb-login.php”
- site:.gov “bbpress topic.php”
- site:.gov “forums post thread”
- site:.gov “forums new topic”
- site:.gov “forums view thread”
- site:.gov “forums new replies”
- site:.gov “forum post thread”
- site:.gov “forum new topic”
- site:.gov “forum view thread”
- site:.gov “forum new replies”
- site:.gov “add topic”
- site:.gov “new topic”
- site:.gov “phpbb”
- site:.gov “view topic forum”
- site:.gov “add message”
- site:.gov “send message”
- site:.gov “post new topic”
- site:.gov “new thread forum”
- site:.gov “send thread forum”
- site:.gov “VBulletin forum”
- site:.gov “Quick Reply Quote message in reply?”
- site:.gov “Currently Active Users: members and guests”
- site:.gov “Forums Posting Statistics Newest
- site:.gov “Add this forum to your Favorites List! Threads in Forum :”
- site:.gov “Threads in Forum Hot thread with no new posts”
- site:.gov “powered by vbulletin”
- site:.gov “powered by yabb”
- site:.gov “powered by ip.board”
- site:.gov “boardbook.de”
- site:.gov “bulletin”
- site:.gov “cgi-bin/ezboard.cgi”
- site:.gov “invision”
- site:.gov “kostenlose-foren.org”
- site:.gov “kostenloses-forum.com”
- site:.gov “list.php”
- site:.gov “powered by phpbb”
- site:.gov “powered by phpbb3?
- site:.gov “powered by invision power board”
- site:.gov “powered by e-blah forum software”
- site:.gov “powered by xmb”
- site:.gov “powered by: fudforum”
- site:.gov “powered by fluxbb”
- site:.gov “powered by forum software minibb”
- site:.gov “this forum is powered by phorum”
- site:.gov “powered by quicksilver forums”
- site:.gov “powered by seo-board”
- site:.gov “powered by smf”
- site:.gov “powered by ubb.threads”
- site:.gov “powered by the unclassified newsboard”
- site:.gov “powered by usebb forum software”
- site:.gov “powered by xennobb”
- site:.gov “powered by yaf”
- site:.gov “Powered By MyBB”
- site:.gov “Powered by IP.Board”
- site:.gov “powered by phpbb”
- site:.gov “forums post thread”
- site:.gov “forums new topic”
- site:.gov “forums view thread”
- site:.gov “forums new replies”
- site:.gov “forum post thread”
- site:.gov “forum new topic”
- site:.gov “forum view thread”
- site:.gov “forum new replies”
- site:.gov “forum”
- site:.gov “phorum”
- site:.gov “add topic”
- site:.gov “new topic”
- site:.gov “phpbb”
- site:.gov “yabb”
- site:.gov “ipb”
- site:.gov “posting”
- site:.gov “add message”
- site:.gov “send message”
- site:.gov “post new topic”
- site:.gov “new thread”
- site:.gov “send thread”
- site:.gov “vbulletin”
- site:.gov “bbs”
- site:.gov “intext:powered by vbulletin”
- site:.gov “intext:powered by yabb”
- site:.gov “intext:powered by ip.board”
- site:.gov “intext:powered by phpbb”
- site:.gov “newbbs/ezboard.cgi”
- site:.gov “onlyfree.de/cgi-bin/forum/”
- site:.gov “phpbbx.de”
- site:.gov “plusboard.de”
- site:.gov “post.php”
- site:.gov “profile.php”
- .gov “powered by xmb”
- .gov “/forumdisplay.php?”
- .gov “/misc.php?action=”
- .gov “member.php?action=”
- .gov “powered by: fudforum”
- .gov “index.php?t=usrinfo”
- gov “/index.php?t=thread”
- gov “/index.php?t=”
- gov “index.php?t=post&frm_id=”
- .gov “powered by fluxbb”
- .gov “/profile.php?id=”
- .gov “viewforum.php?id”
- .gov “login.php”
- site:.gov “register.php”
- site:.gov “profile.forum?”
- site:.gov “posting.forum&mode=newtopic”
- site:.gov “post.forum?mode=reply”
- site:.gov “powered by icebb”
- site:.gov “index.php?s=”
- site:.gov “act=login&func=register”
- site:.gov “act=post&forum=19?
- site:.gov “forums/show/”
- site:.gov “module=posts&action=insert&forum_id”
- site:.gov “posts/list”
- site:.gov “/user/profile/”
- site:.gov “/posts/reply/”
- site:.gov “new_topic.jbb?”
- site:.gov “powered by javabb 0.99?
- site:.gov “login.jbb”
- site:.gov “new_member.jbb”
- site:.gov “reply.jbb”
- site:.gov “/cgi-bin/forum/”
- site:.gov “cgi-bin/forum.cgi”
- site:.gov “/registermember”
- site:.gov “listforums?”
- site:.gov “forum mesdiscussions.net”
- site:.gov “version”
- site:.gov “index.php?action=vtopic”
- site:.gov “powered by forum software minibb”
- site:.gov “index.php?action=registernew”
- site:.gov “member.php?action=register”
- site:.gov “forumdisplay.php”
- site:.gov “newthread.php?”
- site:.gov “newreply.php?”
- site:.gov “/phorum/”
- site:.gov “phorum/list.php”
- site:.gov “this forum is powered by phorum”
- site:.gov “phorum/posting.php”
- site:.gov “phorum/register.php”
- site:.gov “phpbb/viewforum.php?”
- site:.gov “/phpbb/”
- site:.gov “phpbb/profile.php?mode=register”
- site:.gov “phpbb/posting.php?mode=newtopic”
- site:.gov “phpbb/posting.php?mode=reply”
- site:.gov “/phpbb3/”
- site:.gov “phpbb3/ucp.php?mode=register”
- site:.gov “phpbb3/posting.php?mode=post”
- site:.gov “phpbb3/posting.php?mode=reply”
- site:.gov “/punbb/”
- site:.gov “punbb/register.php”
- site:.gov “powered by phpbb”
- site:.gov “powered by punbb”
- site:.gov “/quicksilver/”
- site:.gov “powered by quicksilver forums”
- site:.gov “index.php?a=forum”
- site:.gov “index.php?a=register”
- site:.gov “index.php?a=post&s=topic”
- site:.gov “/seoboard/”
- site:.gov “powered by seo-board”
- site:.gov “seoboard/index.php?a=vforum”
- site:.gov “index.php?a=vtopic”
- site:.gov “/index.php?a=register”
- site:.gov “powered by smf 1.1.5?
- site:.gov “index.php?action=register”
- site:.gov “/index.php?board”
- site:.gov “powered by ubb.threads”
- site:.gov “ubb=postlist”
- site:.gov “ubb=newpost&board=1?
- site:.gov “ultrabb”
- site:.gov “view_forum.php?id”
- site:.gov “new_topic.php?”
- site:.gov “login.php?register=1?
- site:.gov “powered by vbulletin”
- site:.gov “vbulletin/register.php”
- site:.gov “/forumdisplay.php?f=”
- site:.gov “newreply.php?do=newreply”
- site:.gov “newthread.php?do=newthread”
- « site:.gov “powered by bbpress”
- site:.gov “bbpress/topic.php?id”
- site:.gov “bbpress/register.php”
- « site:.gov “powered by the unclassified newsboard”
- ¢ site:.gov “forum.php?req”
- « site:.gov “forum.php?req=register”
- « site:.gov “/unb/”
- « site:.gov “powered by usebb forum software”
- « site:.gov “/usebb/”
- site:.gov “topic.php?id”
- « site:.gov “panel.php?act=register”
- site:.gov “a product of lussumo”
- site:.gov “comments.php?discussionid=”
- site:.gov “/viscacha/”
- site:.gov “forum.php?s=”
- site:.gov “powered by viscacha”
- site:.gov “/viscacha/register.php”
- site:.gov “/post?id=”
- site:.gov “post/printadd?forum”
- site:.gov “community/index.php”
- site:.gov “community/forum.php?”
- site:.gov “community/register.php”
- site:.gov “powered by xennobb”
D. Resource Pages
When to Use: To find websites that link to other helpful resources in your niche, offering backlink potential.
- intitle:resources
- inurl:resources
- Inurl:links
- keyword “resources”
- keyword “suggested sites”
- keyword “links”
- keyword intitle:links
- keyword intitle:resources
- keyword intitle:recommeded sites
- site:.gov keyword “resources”
- site:.edu keyword “resources”
- site:.gov keyword “links”
- site:.com keyword “suggested sites”
- site:.com keyword “recommended sites”
- list of running blogs
- list of “running blogs” inurl:links
- list of “running blogs” inurl:resources
- Keyword + intitle:links
- Keyword + intitle:resources
- Keyword + intitle:sites
- Keyword + intitle:websites
- Keyword + inurl:links
- “KW” +inurl:resources
- Keyword + inurl:sites inurl:websites
- Keyword + “useful links”
- Keyword + “useful resources”
- Keyword + “useful sites”
- Keyword + “useful websites”
- Keyword + “recommended links”
- Keyword + “recommended resources”
- Keyword + “recommended sites”
- Keyword + “recommended websites”
- Keyword + “suggested links”
- Keyword + “suggested resources”
- Keyword + “suggested sites”
- Keyword + “related sites”
- Keyword + “favorite resources”
- Keyword + “intitle:list”
E. Roundup Posts Link Building
When to Use: Use these to find roundup posts, which frequently link out to external resources.
- “keyword” + “weekly link roundup”
- “keyword” + monthly link roundup”
- broad niche + “link roundup”
- “keyword” + “Friday link roundup”
- broad niche + “blog roundup”
- “keyword” + “link roundup”
- “keyword” + “best articles of the week”
- keyword + “top posts this week”
- keyword + “Monday link round up”
- keyword + “top posts this month”
- keyword + “Friday link round up”
F. Local SEO Link Building
When to Use: Use these operators to find local link-building opportunities based on niche awards and rankings.
- City+Annual+Awards
- Industry/Niche+Awards
- Best+Industry/Niche+Year
- Top+Industry/Niche+Year
How to Use Google Search Operators for Link Building (Practical Examples)
Here’s how you can apply the operators in real-world scenarios:
Example 1: Finding Guest Post Opportunities
If you’re looking to guest post on tech blogs, you can use:
- Search: tech intitle:”write for us”
- Result: A list of tech blogs that are accepting guest posts.
Example 2: Finding .Edu Backlinks
To get backlinks from educational sites, use:
- Search: site:.edu inurl:blog “submit a comment”
- Result: A list of .edu blogs where you can leave comments and potentially get a backlink.
Example 3: Resource Pages
To find websites that offer useful resources on digital marketing:
- Search: digital marketing intitle:resources
- Result: A list of resource pages that link out to useful digital marketing content.
Add Image Here: Search results using one of these practical examples.
Answering Common Questions about Google Search Operators
What is a Google Search Operator?
A Google Search Operator is a character or command that refines search results for more accurate and targeted queries.
How Many Operators Does Google Have?
There are hundreds of search operators, including general ones like site:, intitle:, and more advanced ones like AROUND().
What is the Google Search Operator for File Type?
Use filetype: to find specific file types. For example:
- Search: SEO filetype:pdf
- Result: PDF files related to SEO.
What Are the Best Google Search Operators for SEO?
The most powerful operators for SEO include:
- site: – Search within a specific domain.
- intitle: – Search for keywords in the title.
- allintext: – Find keywords within the body of content.
Best Practices for Using Google Search Operators
Combine Operators for Precision
You can combine multiple operators to get more refined results. For example:
- Search: Keyword + site:.edu + intitle:resources
- Result: A list of resource pages on .edu domains.
Avoid Common Mistakes
Make sure you format your queries correctly. For instance, always use quotes for exact matches (“Keyword”) and avoid spaces between operators like site:.
Use Cases of Google Search Operators for SEO
- Competitor Analysis: Analyze competitor content using site:competitor.com intitle:Keyword.
- Keyword Research: Use allintext:Keyword to find content that ranks for your target keywords.
- Finding Dofollow Links: Check out our blog on the Ultimate List of High-Quality Dofollow Backlink Sites.
Future of Google Search Operators
As Google continues to update its algorithms and integrate AI into search, it’s likely that search operators will evolve. Here are some trends to watch for:
- AI Integration: Google’s increasing reliance on AI may change how search operators function in the future.
- Voice Search: The rise of voice search could lead to more conversational search operator queries.
Final Thoughts
Mastering Google Search Operators will not only make your link-building efforts more efficient but will also help you discover hidden opportunities. Bookmark this guide and refer back to it when you need a quick reference for building high-quality backlinks.
For more information on writing optimized content, explore our blog on SEO Optimized Content Writing.