Getting Good at Google

Struggling to find where your competitors get their backlinks? Tired of sifting through personalised search results that don't show you the real picture? Most business owners only know basic Google searches - missing out on intelligence goldmines.

Why Watch This Video?

If you're tired of manually hunting through competitor websites, wondering where they get their links from, or frustrated by Google's personalised results hiding the real data you need, this video reveals search techniques that transform Google into your personal business intelligence tool.

What You'll Learn

Uncover Hidden Competitive Intelligence:

Find exactly which websites link to your competitors
Discover easy backlink opportunities you can target immediately
Reveal editorial mentions and high-value link sources

Master Advanced Search Operators:

Use quote searches to find exact domain mentions
Exclude results with the minus operator for laser focus
Combine operators for powerful competitive research

Get Unbiased Search Results:

Bypass Google's personalisation with neutral search methods
See true geographic search results from any location
Access raw search data without location bias

Essential Search Operators

Finding External Links to Websites

Basic Technique:

Quote search: "example.co.uk" - finds exact mentions of a domain
Exclude site: "example.co.uk" -site:example.co.uk - shows only external links
Add location: "business name" "Manchester" - narrow by geography

Example Research Process: Searching for "thisandthatcafe.co.uk" -site:thisandthatcafe.co.uk reveals:

Facebook pages and social media profiles
Review websites (Yelp, TripAdvisor)
Local business directories
Food blogs and genuine editorial mentions
Location-based listing sites

Analysing Competitor Backlinks

What You'll Discover:

Easy opportunities: Yelp, business directories you can sign up for immediately
Editorial mentions: Food bloggers, industry publications (harder to get but very valuable)
Local listings: Area-specific directories and community websites
Review platforms: Where customers leave feedback

Strategic Approach:

Document easy wins: Note directories you can join immediately
Identify outreach targets: Bloggers and publications in your industry
Understand patterns: See which types of sites link to successful competitors

Site-Specific Searches

Audit Any Website:

site:example.co.uk - shows all indexed pages from a domain
site:example.co.uk "vegan" - finds specific content on a site
site:example.co.uk inurl:products - searches within URL structures

Practical Applications:

Content gaps: See what topics competitors cover that you don't
Index checking: Verify your important pages are in Google
Research: Find specific information on any website quickly

Geographic and Personalised Results

Problem: Google personalises results based on your location Solution: Use Startpage.com for anonymous searches

When to Use:

Researching competitors in other locations
Getting unbiased search results
Avoiding location-based filtering

Advanced Applications

Backlink Research Strategy

Start with successful competitors in your industry
Use exclusion searches to find only external mentions
Categorise opportunities by difficulty (easy directories vs editorial links)
Plan systematic outreach to realistic targets
Monitor regularly for new linking opportunities

Content Research

Find topic gaps by searching competitor sites for key terms
Discover trending topics in your industry
Identify expert sources frequently mentioned in your field

Technical SEO Audits

Index verification: Ensure all important pages appear in site: searches
Content analysis: See what Google considers your most important pages
Competitor analysis: Understand successful site structures

Pro Tips

Search Efficiency:

Batch your research: Do all competitor analysis in one session
Document findings: Keep spreadsheets of opportunities found
Set up alerts: Monitor new mentions of competitor domains

Quality over Quantity:

Focus on relevant links: Geographic and industry relevance matters most
Prioritise editorial mentions: Genuine blog posts and articles are gold
Avoid paid links: Focus on earned mentions and directory listings

Long-term Strategy:

Regular audits: Monthly competitor backlink analysis
Relationship building: Connect with bloggers and industry publications
Content creation: Develop link-worthy content based on research

Who This Helps

Small Business Owners frustrated by not knowing where competitors get their backlinks

SEO Professionals needing efficient competitive research methods

Marketing Teams looking for link building opportunities without expensive tools

Anyone tired of Google's personalised results hiding valuable business intelligence

These search techniques reveal the linking landscape in any industry, helping you understand both immediate opportunities and long-term relationship-building targets for sustainable SEO growth.

If you'd like help conducting competitive research and implementing advanced SEO strategies for your business, contact me.