The Regex Guide to Unlocking GSC Potential

Many users open Google Search Console, skim a few metrics like rankings and clicks, then move on. That’s leaving value on the table.

There’s serious growth potential hidden in that data if you know how to dig it out.

This guide shows you how.

Inside: 47 powerful regex filters we personally apply during site takeovers, SEO audits, and growth campaigns. No filler. No guesswork. Just practical tools that deliver results.

Apply a handful and you’ll uncover untapped keyword opportunities, diagnose underperforming content, and catch insights others overlook.

Ideal for SEO pros in client services, SaaS, ecommerce, or affiliate marketing.

Let’s dive in.

Getting Started

1. Open Google Search Console → Performance tab
2. Add a filter for Queries or Pages
3. Choose “Queries containing” → then “Custom (regex)”
4. Paste in one of the filters below
5. Sort by impressions or clicks to prioritize opportunities
6. Use the results to shape new content, sharpen your targeting, or scale up what’s working

Filters for Capturing High-Intent Users

These expressions are designed to surface searchers who are deep in the decision process—ready to purchase, compare, or engage. Perfect for spotting high-converting traffic.

Commercial Purchase Intent

Filter: 

.*(buy|cheap|price|purchase|order).*

What it reveals: Searches with clear buying intent such as “buy gaming chair” or “cheap DSLR deals”
How to use: Highlight the URLs already pulling in buyers. Make these landing pages more conversion-friendly—add persuasive CTAs, visible pricing, and quick purchase paths to increase conversions.

Product Comparison Queries

Filter 

.*(best|top|vs|review*).*

What it surfaces: Queries involving product comparisons like “best email platforms” or “Notion vs Evernote”
How to use: Identify pages where users are researching options. Strengthen these with head-to-head comparisons, charts, or side-by-side feature breakdowns to increase trust and engagement.

Transactional Action Signals

Filter: 

\b(get|download|buy|sign up|subscribe)\b

What it detects: Visitors looking to take action—“download whitepaper”, “sign up for trial”, etc.
How to use: Make sure these pages are primed to convert—tighten up CTAs, remove friction, and ensure forms or downloads are easy to access.

Post-Purchase Support Queries

Filter: 

^(clean|broken|wash off|shattered|polish|problem|treat|doesn't work|replace|doesn't start|scratch|repair|manual|fix|protect|renew|coverage|warranty)[" "]

What it catches: Search terms indicating product issues or support needs—think “robot vacuum doesn’t start” or “iPad warranty coverage”
How to use: Pinpoint which URLs attract support-related queries. Improve them with how-to content, manuals, troubleshooting steps, and warranty info to better assist existing customers.

Smart Filters for SaaS, B2B, and Ecommerce Growth

These expressions help you understand how users refer to your product category—often without mentioning your brand—letting you capture wider interest and intent.

Discovering Product Category Mentions

Filter: 

\b(?:tool|software|app|system|platform|application|program|solution|portal|suite|service)s?\b

What it uncovers: Phrases people use when referencing the type of service you offer, such as:
– “small business CRM platform”
– “project planning software comparison”
– “best tool for email automation”
What to do with it: Identify your pages that already attract this kind of interest. Refine these pages to rank higher and analyze queries with strong impressions but weak clicks—those gaps signal prime optimization or content expansion opportunities.

B2B High-Intent Signals

Filter: 

.*(platform|portal|system|solution|suite|application).*

Purpose: Detects high-value B2B searches where users are looking for a specific solution.
Action: Prioritize improving pages that surface here—these visitors often represent high-LTV prospects or enterprise buyers seeking specific capabilities.

Flexible Keyword Stem Matching

Filter template: 

\bbase(word)?s?\b

⚠️ Replace base with your main keyword root.
Examples:
– “marketing” → \bmarket(ing)?s?\b
– “analytics” → \banalytic(s)?s?\b
– “automation” → \bautomat(ion|e)?s?\b
What it does: Finds searches involving the root form of your target keyword, including plurals and common suffixes.
How to use: Use this to track variations you rank for. Pages with strong impressions but weak click-through rates might need better headlines, meta descriptions, or alignment with user intent.

Question-Driven SEO Insights

People often turn to search engines by typing out questions. The following filters help surface those queries giving you visibility into the problems your site is already helping solve (or could be).

General Question Queries

Filter: 

^(who|what|where|when|why|will|was|can|does|if|is|do|how|should|could|did)

What it surfaces: Any search phrased as a question that’s currently triggering your pages in results.
How to apply it:
– Identify which URLs are already targeting informational intent
– Find high-impression questions where your answer may be underperforming
– Strengthen or expand content to more directly and thoroughly address user queries

Brand-Specific Question Triggers

Filter: 

(?i)^\b(who|what|where|when|why|how|was|did|do|is|are|does|if|can|could|should|would|will|won't|were|weren't|shouldn't|couldn't|cannot|can't|didn't|doesn't|wouldn't|aren't|wont|shouldnt|couldnt|cant|didnt|doesnt|wouldont|arent)\b.*(brand|name).*

⚠️ Replace brand and name with your specific company or product terms.
Example for Apple:

(?i)^\b(who|what|where|when|why|how|was|did|do|is|are|does|if|can|could|should|would|will|won't|were|weren't|shouldn't|couldn't|cannot|can't|didn't|doesn't|wouldn't|aren't|wont|shouldnt|couldnt|cant|didnt|doesnt|wouldont|arent)\b.*(apple|watch).*

What it reveals: Queries such as:
– “Is Apple actually worth the money?”
– “Can you return an Apple watch after wearing it?”
– “Does an Apple watch hurt your wrist?”
Why it matters: These questions are often linked to reputation, trust, and conversion. Make sure the linked pages respond clearly, accurately, and reassuringly—these are critical touchpoints for potential buyers doing deeper research.

Case-Insensitive Question Starters

Filter: 

(?i)^(who|what|where|when|why|how)[" "]

What it detects: All forms of common question starters, regardless of capitalization.
Best use: A simple way to ensure your search filters don’t miss question-based queries due to formatting or casing differences.

Long-Tail Keyword Filters

Hidden in ultra-specific queries are the overlooked opportunities most sites never touch. These filters help you uncover them and turn them into content that ranks and converts.

Searches with 8 or More Words

Filter: 

([^" "]*\s){7,}?

What it reveals: Very detailed, intent-rich search phrases with 8+ words.
Why it matters: Long-tail queries tend to convert significantly better than general terms and are often less competitive.
Use this to: Pinpoint content opportunities for detailed landing pages or blog posts that address narrowly defined user needs.

15+ Word Searches (Highly Specific)

Filter: 

([^" "]*\s){15,}?

What it picks up: Hyper-detailed searches most competitors overlook.
What to do: Use these to craft ultra-targeted content for niche segments that are often primed to convert.

Queries Over 70 Characters

Filter: 

^[\w\W\s\S]{70,}$

What it shows: Lengthy search phrases where users express clear, specific intent.
Strategy: Review these to understand exactly what people want—then build deep, content-rich answers tailored to their needs.

100+ Character Search Terms

Filter: 

^[\w\W\s\S]{100,}$

Purpose: Identifies your longest, most detailed queries—often showing advanced interest or complex needs.
Use it to: Spot and prioritize ultra-specific queries that can drive highly qualified traffic if answered well.

Filters for Short Queries & Branded Opportunities

These expressions help uncover the core search terms—short, punchy, and often tied to awareness or brand visibility.

1–4 Word Search Terms

Filter: 

^(?:\b\w+\b\s*){1,4}$

What it highlights: Short phrases with broad search volume—often early-stage or brand-driven.
Apply it to: Find out where you already rank well and where you could strengthen your visibility on high-level terms.

Two-Word Queries Only

Filter: 

^\w+\s\w+$

What it finds: Simple, two-word searches with potential high volume
What to do: Find fundamental keyword pairs worth optimizing for.

Very Short Searches (10 Characters or Fewer)

Filter: 

^[\w\W\s\S]{1,10}$

What it catches: Ultra-short keywords—brand terms, product names, or common abbreviations.
Action: Analyze these for core brand or product signals. These are often high-traffic and worth protecting.

Exact 5-Character Search Terms

Filter: 

^.{5}$

What it detects: Searches that are exactly five characters long—frequently acronyms or shorthand product names.
How to use: Look for brand-specific abbreviations or industry shorthand that your audience uses, and ensure those queries lead to relevant pages.

Trim the Clutter: Focus on Meaningful Data

Not all search traffic is useful. These filters help you exclude distractions, so you can zero in on what really drives growth.

Remove Low-Intent Queries

Filter: 

^(?!.*(free|scam|pirated|cheap)).*$

What it blocks: Searches that signal little to no commercial value, such as people looking for free or pirated content.
Why use it: Clean up your dataset by removing misleading impressions that don’t lead to conversions.

Exclude Specific Keywords

Filter: 

^(?!.*?(keyword1|keyword2))

⚠️ Swap out “keyword1” and “keyword2” with terms you want to ignore.
Example: 

^(?!.*?(competitor|free))

Purpose: Filter out unwanted queries like brand comparisons or unrelated themes, giving you a cleaner view of your actual audience.

Omit Utility Pages

Filter: 

^(?!.service).$

What it excludes: Any URLs with “service” in them
Use it for: Keeping your focus on content and marketing pages rather than backend or support-focused URLs.

Local Intent: Find Geo-Focused Traffic

Want to identify searches with geographic relevance? These filters reveal where local users are showing interest.

Searches with Local Cues

Filter: 

^(near|in \b\w+\b)

What it finds: Location-related queries like “gyms near me” or “plumber in Seattle”
What to do: Use these insights to optimize for local visibility. Create location-specific landing pages and add geo modifiers to existing content.

URL + Device Level Filters

These patterns help you segment your data based on URL structure or user device, so you can fine-tune your content and UX strategies.

Blog Page Traffic

Filter: 

.blog.

What it detects: Any URL that includes “blog”
Why it’s useful: Evaluate how well your blog content performs separately from product or landing pages.

Category Pages

Filter: 

^/category/.*

What it isolates: All URLs structured as category pages
How to use:  Evaluate category page SEO performance.

Date-Based Content (WordPress Style)

Filter: 

^/[0-9]{4}/[0-9]{2}/[0-9]{2}/.*

What it finds: WordPress date-based URL structure
Use case: Analyze older content performance or track engagement on time-sensitive posts.

Exact URL Filtering

Filter: 

^speed$

⚠️ Replace “speed” with your desired term.
What it targets: A precise match to a specific URL
When to use: Track metrics for a specific page.

Filter by Device Type

Filter: 

^(mobile|tablet)$

What it shows: Traffic originating from mobile or tablet devices
Use this to: Understand and optimize mobile performance separately from desktop metrics.

By File Format

Filter: 

^https?://www\.example\.com/.*\.(html?|php|pdf)$

⚠️ Swap in your actual domain
What it isolates: Content by file extension (.html, .php, .pdf)
Use it for: Segmenting performance by document type.

Typos, Misspellings & Brand Variant Filters

People often mistype names and search terms. These filters help you catch that overlooked traffic and adapt your strategy accordingly.

Example: LinkedIn Name Variants

Filter:

.*lnked*in.*|linke*idn.*|linkd*en.*|lined*in.*|linke*in.*|liked*in.*|link*in.*|linked*in.*|.*linkedn.*|.*linkd.*

What it catches: Popular misspellings of “LinkedIn” in search queries
How to use: Customize this structure to catch misspelled branded traffic.

Keyword Misspelling Patterns

Filter: 

\b(search|serch|surch)\b

What it finds: Typos of the word “search”
Pro tip: Swap in one of your core keywords to surface spelling-related traffic others may miss.

Generic Brand Misspelling Model

Filter: 

(^|\s)(s+|a|d|z)[a-z\s]{1,4}m?[a-z\s]{1,6}(m|u|n|g|t|h|b|v)(\s|$)

What it’s designed for: Misspellings of “Samsung” (example)
Tip: This is a flexible template. Tweak the pattern to align with your brand’s likely typo patterns. Helpful for capturing traffic from users who mistype your brand in long-tail searches.

Advanced Filtering Techniques for Pros

These are high-precision filters designed for SEOs working with large datasets or advanced diagnostics.

Match Two Keywords in One Query

Filter: 

(?i)(\bkeyword1\b.*\bkeyword2\b|\bkeyword2\b.*\bkeyword1\b)

⚠️ Swap “keyword1” and “keyword2” with your chosen terms
Example: 

(?i)(\bSEO\b.*\btools\b|\btools\b.*\bSEO\b)

What it shows: Queries containing both terms, regardless of order
When to use: Great for identifying multi-intent or highly specific searches with combined themes.

Foreign Script Character Detection

Filter: 

.*\p{Hiragana}.*|.*\p{Cyrillic}.*|.*\p{Hangul}.*|.*\p{Han}.*|.*\p{Thai}.*

What it finds: Search strings or URLs that include non-Latin scripts
Use case: Monitor for potential content injected in foreign languages—can indicate SEO spam or hacked content.

Compound/Hyphenated Term Queries

Filter: 

\b\w+-\w+\b

What it highlights: Queries that include hyphenated phrases like “real-time” or “cost-effective”
What to do: Ensure these compound terms are addressed in your content—they often appear in B2B or technical searches.

Match Queries Ending with a Term

Filter: 

football$

⚠️ Swap “football” for any keyword of interest
What it detects: Search terms or URLs that end with a specific word
Best use: Useful for pinpointing exact-match keyword content or navigational queries.

Detect Repeated Terms

Filter: 

^(.+)\s\1$

What it finds: Searches where a user types the same word twice in a row
Why it matters: Repetition may indicate urgency, confusion, or emphasis—these can be signs of user frustration or a need for clearer content.

Use These Filters to Impress Clients—or Your Own Team

This is what sets apart routine dashboard users from those driving real SEO growth.

By applying the filters above, you can uncover hidden opportunities, plug content gaps, and demonstrate exactly where organic visibility is underperforming.

Here’s how to turn these filters into actionable outcomes:

• Build strategic blog roadmaps
• Optimize high-potential but underperforming landing pages
• Strengthen your defense against brand-related queries
• Enhance local visibility for geo-targeted terms
• Discover new keyword angles that drive conversions

Key Setup Reminders

1. Custom Terms: Replace placeholders like “brand,” “name,” or “keyword1” with your own data
2. Domain Adjustments: For any regex using example.com, insert your real domain
3. Case Sensitivity: Add (?i) at the beginning of any filter to make it ignore capitalization
4. Always Test First: Test filters on a small date range first to ensure they work properly

Expert Tips

• Combine Filters: Stack multiple filters for more refined segments
• Data Range: Analyze up to 16 months of data for comprehensive data
• Sort Strategy: Sort by impressions first to find volume, then by clicks for performance
• Export & Analyze: Move your filtered data into spreadsheets for deeper insights
• Review Regularly: Use this setup monthly to track progress and spot new gaps

These filters are just the tip of the iceberg. If this guide helped—great. But it’s only scratching the surface.

Bonus Tip: Want to personalize these filters further? Drop any of them into ChatGPT and tailor them to match your site, niche, or content strategy.