Manual SEO tools... old-school/ non-commercial

[MsMisfit]

Hi! I have recently inherited all SEM/SEO/Social/WEB/PPC etc. for an SMB. Back in the day, I did A LOT of content/KW strategy and backlinks (remember reciprocal link exchanges :/ ?).

I'm a bit rusty on some of the old manual shortcuts you could use in Google. EG: "link: site:

yoursitenamehere.com" - to render a list of manual links, etc.

Does anyone have a handy shortlist of these search-related shortcuts? If so, can you just copy/paste into a reply?

In particular, I'm looking for a way to see both primary and long tail KW phrases we are ranking for. What is the shortcut code for this (if there is one)?

I redesigned the corporate site in August and did an initial round of SEO and now want to go in and really put some time in.

I used to read this forum as my go-to resource. I just started reading again and agree with the general consensus that these KW tools today are not 100% transparent and are not providing all info as part of their formula to get you to sign up and pay for their services. It was refreshing to read this multiple times here as I've been suspecting this lately... so glad to be back on the board with legit SEOs.

[martinibuster]

I'm looking for a way to see both primary and long tail KW phrases we are ranking for.

Use the Google Search Console for link and keyword ranking related information. Keyword data is no longer provided per visitor so it won't show up in your search analytics on a per visitor basis.

So you have to use GSC to see the data in aggregate.

;)

Roger Montti

[phranque]

welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], MsMisfit!

In particular, I'm looking for a way to see both primary and long tail KW phrases we are ranking for. What is the shortcut code for this (if there is one)?

while there are search operators to look for word/phrase matches in urls/title/documents, i'm not aware of anything like what you describe that is available as a google search operator.

[Robert Charlton]

Hi MsMisfit, and welcome back to the forum. In your description of what you used to do when doing SEO, and your goal of finding keyword and linking tools now, it sounds like you want to use more or less the same strategies again...

Back in the day, I did A LOT of content/KW strategy and backlinks (remember reciprocal link exchanges :/ ?)

If you're thinking of trying link exchanges with current algorithms, let me suggest that Google's onto them. ;)

I'm looking for a way to see both primary and long tail KW phrases we are ranking for.

As phranque posted, that doesn't exist as a Google search operator.

Back in Aug 2018, I responded to some similar questions, also about Google search operators, and I think my answer will probably apply here as well. See my long post in this thread...

Any cheat sheet list of google operators for prospecting clients?
Aug, 2018
https://www.webmasterworld.com/webmaster/4913803.htm [webmasterworld.com]

You should read my answer in detail, but to summarize here regarding current search operators...
- the "link" operator no longer exists, for obvious reasons...
- the available keyword tools aren't very granular, and they are particularly useless in longtail keywords
- most tools are now bundled as parts of suites, and the metrics most suites use are not the same as Google metrics. They're often not even measuring something similar to what Google's looking for.

Searching in Google and looking carefully at what and why something ranks for a query is more useful than any tool.

There was a time when keyword to keyword links were enough to suggest relevancy. Now, if you search for apples and oranges, depending on the context, Google may assume you're searching for "fruit". Google may also give searchers a chance to check results in a SERP to advise whether or not they require, say, a specific word in a compound search. Google is currently putting a lot into rewriting queries, and if your traffic changes, a change in query interpretation, perhaps on other sites, may be what's changing.

Anyway, much of SEO is different since the good old days. I recommend some reading in the forums to fill in some of those missing years.

[MsMisfit]

Thank you all ( @martinibuster @robertcharlton @phranque ) for taking the time to answer my questions --- yes it is indeed a different world in SEO! Although a lot of conventional changes (social shares,etc.) have occurred, it appears many of the foundational tactics have remained the same, so at least we have that! I am so happy to have webmasterworld as a resource as I find it a goldmine of information -- not just a bunch of people chasing whatever new shiny objects with 0 staying power are trending.

I did begin pouring through that original discussion and found it incredibly helpful. Thank you for being so welcoming and receptive. Best to you!
Carrie