You dont 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 dont them.

Its 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, thats 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, Ill admit... as Ive come to find out, it was also a bit too dainty.

Google Search is much more powerful and complicated that 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 thats 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.

Dont 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

Dont Know What anchor text Means
TYPE: define:anchor text
--This gives you some definitions Google has plucked from the web.

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!