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 know… it was also a bit too dainty. Google Search is much more powerful and complicated than 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

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!