Intro
Track new-modified searches in GSC so you can separate freshness and novelty intent from evergreen informational demand.
Use this regex to capture queries containing the standalone word new when users explicitly want something recent or newly released.
The Regex
How This Regex Works (Explained Simply)
\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 the standalone word new.
- Surfaces novelty and freshness-led demand.
- Helps separate recent-interest searches from evergreen behaviour.
What it does not match
- latest seo tools - Latest only matches if you use the variation.
- best seo tools - No new modifier appears.
Edge Cases
- The word new can refer to product launches or recency, so review the landing pages before classifying intent too narrowly.
- Word boundaries keep newer and newest out of the core match.
Example Matches Table
| Query | Match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| new seo tools | Match | Contains new as a standalone modifier. |
| new casino bonus offers | Match | New appears directly in the query. |
| latest seo tools | No | Latest only matches if you use the variation. |
| best seo tools | No | No new modifier appears. |
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 novelty-led demand in one segment.
- Audit whether recently updated or launch pages capture these searches.
- Compare new modifiers with explicit year-based searches.
Pro Tips
- New often overlaps with year queries, so compare both segments together.
- Use page filters to find whether fresh content or stale evergreen pages receive these clicks.
- If your market uses latest more often than new, move to the broader variation.
- Review date ranges carefully because novelty demand can spike and fade quickly.
Variations
Include latest wording
Adds another common freshness modifier.
Related Regex Recipes
Regex for Year Queries (2024, 2025, etc.)
Use this regex to capture current-year queries in Search Console when users explicitly search for fresh lists, guides, or comparisons.
Regex for Emerging Trends
Use this regex to isolate trend-sensitive queries in GSC when you want a fast view of emerging demand patterns and freshness-led search behaviour.
CTA
Regex is powerful in GSC, but manual filtering still leaves you exporting, comparing, and rebuilding the same views. Spicy Metrics turns those segments into reporting your team can reuse.
Turn regex into repeatable reporting