Intro
Capture research-led searches in GSC so you can analyse evaluation queries that are still exploratory rather than decision-ready.
Use this regex to isolate research intent in GSC when searchers are gathering options and weighing routes before they move closer to conversion.
The Regex
How This Regex Works (Explained Simply)
()
Parentheses group terms together so GSC treats them as one unit. That is what lets one regex cover several query variants in a single filter.
|
The pipe means OR. GSC will match any term on either side of the pipe, which is useful for variants, modifiers, or alternative phrases.
?
The question mark usually makes the previous character or group optional. That is handy when a query modifier appears inconsistently.
\b
Backslash-b marks a word boundary. It helps stop short terms from matching inside longer words in GSC queries.
GSC regex is case-insensitive by default, so capital letters do not need separate variants. GSC also uses partial matching by default, so the regex can match part of a longer query unless you anchor it with ^ or $.
What This Regex Does
- Matches evaluation words that signal active research behaviour.
- Sits between broad awareness intent and stronger commercial or transactional intent.
- Helps you find topics that need comparison content or clearer option framing.
What it does not match
- buy seo dashboard - This is transactional rather than exploratory research.
- what is search console - This is awareness-led informational demand.
Edge Cases
- Vs can be noisy in some datasets if it appears in non-comparison contexts.
- Research is broader than comparison intent, so expect some overlap with commercial modifiers.
Example Matches Table
| Query | Match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| seo dashboard comparison | Match | Contains comparison, which is included in the grouped research terms. |
| gsc alternatives | Match | Alternatives is a clear research modifier. |
| buy seo dashboard | No | This is transactional rather than exploratory research. |
| what is search console | No | This is awareness-led informational demand. |
How to Use This in Google Search Console
- Open Performance and go to Search results.
- Click Add filter and choose Query.
- Select Custom (regex).
- Paste the regex and click Apply.
When to Use This
- Measure research demand before users become conversion-ready.
- Find comparison and alternative topics worth dedicated pages.
- Split research-stage traffic from broader commercial reporting.
Pro Tips
- Vs and comparison can deserve their own segment if you need finer detail.
- Alternative queries often signal competitor-adjacent demand, so cross-check with Cluster 1.
- Use page filters to see whether research traffic lands on blog posts or comparison pages.
- This segment is useful for prioritising content that moves users into consideration.
Variations
Add pros and cons phrasing
Captures another common research modifier used when people are weighing trade-offs.
Related Regex Recipes
Regex for Comparison Intent
Use this regex to focus on comparison intent in GSC when you want a tighter segment built around direct option-versus-option evaluation.
Regex for Commercial Intent
Use this regex to isolate commercial intent in GSC when searchers are evaluating options but are not yet fully transactional.
CTA
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