Google posted on Twitter a survey asking webmasters why they use the site: search operator. If Google didn't say a month ago that they are keeping the site command I'd be concerned that this was about Google potentially pulling this useful search operator.
The site command is useful in searching for content within a specific site. I use that probably more often than any other reason for the site command. Of course, SEOs use it to see what pages are indexed and for what keywords. But I love it for site search.
The questions In the survey include:
- Which of these best describes your use of site: search?
- Have you ever created and submitted a Sitemap file for your site?
- What URL patterns do you use site: search for?
- Are you looking for different information depending on what pattern you use?
- Do you do site: searches for sites which you don't own?
- What type of information are you looking for when you do a site: search?
- If you'd like to see extra information beyond number of indexed URLs, tell us what exactly (e.g. impressions, trend lines, other stats)
- How would you define your main role?
The big concern I see is this question "Do you do site: searches for sites which you don't own?" I hope they don't build it into to just Search Console and remove the ability to use this operator on the main index outside of only just sites I have verified access to.
Forum discussion at Twitter.
