{"id":1759,"date":"2025-09-17T18:10:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T17:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/?p=1759"},"modified":"2026-05-18T01:39:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T00:39:40","slug":"how-to-use-gsc-regex-to-find-out-the-questions-your-users-are-asking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/how-to-use-gsc-regex-to-find-out-the-questions-your-users-are-asking\/","title":{"rendered":"How To:\u00a0 Use GSC &amp; RegEx To Find Out The Questions Your Users Are Asking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When carrying out a <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/services-and-consultancy\/website-seo-audits-consultant\/\">website SEO audit<\/a> with a view to carrying out keyword research then <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/skills\/content-audits-consultant\/\">auditing and optimising content<\/a>, the first place I go to is Google Search Console to find out what key pages on the site are ranking for, where opportunities lie, where the <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/support\/performance-insights\/\">low hanging fruit<\/a> is and what questions the site&#8217;s pages are appearing in search for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The focus of this article is to show you how to <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/skills\/website-performance-consultant\/\">find out the questions users are asking<\/a> about in relation to the content on your site or the products and services you offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/how-to-use-gsc-regex-to-find-out-the-questions-your-users-are-asking\/#Why_Focus_on_User_Questions\" >Why Focus on User Questions?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/how-to-use-gsc-regex-to-find-out-the-questions-your-users-are-asking\/#Driving_relevant_traffic\" >Driving relevant traffic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/how-to-use-gsc-regex-to-find-out-the-questions-your-users-are-asking\/#Building_authority_through_E-E-A-T\" >Building authority through E-E-A-T<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/how-to-use-gsc-regex-to-find-out-the-questions-your-users-are-asking\/#Use_REGEX_Google_Search_Console\" >Use REGEX &amp; Google Search Console<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Focus_on_User_Questions\"><\/span><strong>Why Focus on User Questions?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding the questions your audience is asking gives you insights into their <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/case-study-do-keywords-in-urls-impact-seo-rankings\/\">intent<\/a>. If people are phrasing searches as questions, they&#8217;re usually looking for clear, helpful answers &#8211; and if your site provides them, you stand a better chance of being the one they click through to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Optimising existing pages to address these questions, or creating new content where gaps exist, helps in two big ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Driving_relevant_traffic\"><\/span><strong>Driving relevant traffic<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By matching the exact language users are typing into Google, you position your site to <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/services-and-consultancy\/\">capture traffic<\/a> that&#8217;s highly aligned with your products, services, or expertise. That means more visitors who are genuinely interested in what you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Building_authority_through_E-E-A-T\"><\/span><strong>Building authority through E-E-A-T<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Answering questions directly and clearly is a simple way to demonstrate experience and expertise. When Google sees that your content is satisfying queries, it reinforces your <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/seo-stop-using-the-google-disavow-tool-for-toxic-links\/\">authority<\/a> and trustworthiness, making your site more competitive in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions show you what your audience actually cares about. Meeting that need doesn&#8217;t just win clicks &#8211; it builds credibility, trust, and long-term visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, how do we find out what these questions are?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_REGEX_Google_Search_Console\"><\/span>Use REGEX &amp; Google Search Console<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting with your own site data, assuming you have a Google Search Console account in place (and if not, why not?), then do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1 &#8211; Go to \u201cPerformance\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2 &#8211; Set your time period \u2013 there&#8217;s no reason not to go with the maximum of 16 months if you have that much data<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3 &#8211; Then click \u201cAdd Filter\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1006\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gsc_1-1.png\" alt=\"GSC Search Results Performance Data\" class=\"wp-image-1761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gsc_1-1.png 1006w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gsc_1-1-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gsc_1-1-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gsc_1-1-768x431.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1006px) 100vw, 1006px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4 &#8211; Select \u201cQuery\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"277\" height=\"257\" src=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/select_query.png\" alt=\"Select Query\" class=\"wp-image-1762\" srcset=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/select_query.png 277w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/select_query-150x139.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 277px) 100vw, 277px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">5 &#8211; Select \u201cCustom RegEx\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">6 &#8211; Select \u201cMatches RegEx\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"462\" height=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/custom_reg_ex.png\" alt=\"Custom (regex) - Matches (regex)\" class=\"wp-image-1763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/custom_reg_ex.png 462w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/custom_reg_ex-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/custom_reg_ex-150x91.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">7 &#8211; Where it says \u201cEnter regular expression (regex), enter the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>^(where|who|why|about|what|should|can|does|when|how|whose)\\b<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is basically a filter that will return all the keywords your site has appeared in search for where a question containing one of those words has been asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will then get all the relevant data back as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"713\" height=\"493\" src=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gsc_faqs.png\" alt=\"GSC FAQs\" class=\"wp-image-1764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gsc_faqs.png 713w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gsc_faqs-300x207.png 300w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gsc_faqs-150x104.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 713px) 100vw, 713px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can then manually review for any keywords that stand out, and you can also filter by specific pages on the site.&nbsp;&nbsp; For example, I have already optimised various blog posts in a Q&amp;A format, so if I filter out the blog from my search, I can see what questions are being asked around the services I offer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"714\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/more_gsc_faqs.png\" alt=\"More GSC FAQs\" class=\"wp-image-1765\" srcset=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/more_gsc_faqs.png 714w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/more_gsc_faqs-300x209.png 300w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/more_gsc_faqs-150x105.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 714px) 100vw, 714px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From here, I can see an opportunity to show my expertise around SEO audits by producing an article that addresses the following question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>why invest in professional <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/services-and-consultancy\/website-seo-audits-consultant\/\">technical seo audit<\/a> tools<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">this could be a guide that talks about the best free and paid tools you can use to audit a website and why you should invest in some to help you audit your site effectively<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>how to become an seo freelancer from home<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I could create an article to provide insights into how I made the switch from working at an agency to going at it alone as a freelancer \u2013 give tips on work life balance, and pros and cons, such as being able to work from home \u2013 which all helps show I have some authority and experience as an SEO Freelancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every question needs a full blog post to answer. Some work better as a short Q&amp;A section on an existing page, while others might fit neatly into a service page as a supporting paragraph. Think about the format that makes the most sense for the user. The more natural and helpful the answer feels, the more likely it is to earn clicks and keep readers engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another approach would be to export the data to Excel or Google Sheets, then filter the data in other ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1 &#8211; Export the data to your chosen spreadsheet format (I&#8217;m an excel type of a guy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/export-1024x203.png\" alt=\"Export GSC Data\" class=\"wp-image-1766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/export-1024x203.png 1024w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/export-300x59.png 300w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/export-150x30.png 150w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/export-768x152.png 768w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/export.png 1031w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2 &#8211; Insert the data into a table<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"677\" src=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/table.png\" alt=\"FAQs\" class=\"wp-image-1767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/table.png 701w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/table-300x290.png 300w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/table-150x145.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may want to tweak existing content on terms you rank well for but aren&#8217;t getting enough traction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s also worth remembering that Google often pulls direct answers into featured snippets or \u201cPeople Also Ask\u201d boxes. Structuring your content to answer questions clearly increases your chances of being showcased in these spots. Even if you&#8217;re not sitting in the #1 organic position, being visible in these features can drive a steady stream of extra clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you filter position to \u201cless than 20\u201d that will give you everything on and around page 1-2.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"663\" height=\"469\" src=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/questions.png\" alt=\"Low Hanging FAQs\" class=\"wp-image-1768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/questions.png 663w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/questions-300x212.png 300w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/questions-150x106.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 663px) 100vw, 663px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I can see that I&#8217;ve had over 1k impressions for the question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201dhow to implement local business schema through google tag manager\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This relates to <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/how-to-implement-localbusiness-schema-markup-and-why\/\">this article on the benefits of local business schema<\/a>, which does mention tag manager, but I can see that if I introduce a section on how to implement schema using <a href=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/skills\/google-tag-manager-consultant\/\">Google Tag Manager<\/a> with that specific question as the heading, then I may be able to drive more clicks, or at least move up a place or two in the SERP:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"722\" height=\"797\" src=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/serp.png\" alt=\"SERP\" class=\"wp-image-1769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/serp.png 722w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/serp-272x300.png 272w, https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/serp-136x150.png 136w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 722px) 100vw, 722px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This isn&#8217;t something you do once and tick off the list. Search behaviour changes, new content gets published, and new questions pop up all the time. Making a habit of running these regex filters every quarter, or after adding new content, helps you stay aligned with what your audience is asking right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, I know that in a few months, I will be looking at the questions that this page has started to generate impressions for, and tweak is accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finding out what questions your audience is asking isn&#8217;t complicated &#8211; but it can be a game changer for your content strategy. Google Search Console gives you the raw data, regex helps you filter it, and from there it&#8217;s about deciding whether to optimise what you&#8217;ve already got or create something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Answering those questions directly brings in the right kind of traffic, builds trust, and shows both users and Google that your site knows its stuff. It&#8217;s one of the simplest, most effective steps you can take to improve content performance and authority over time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to know what questions your audience is asking in Google? This guide shows you how to use regex filters in Search Console to uncover them, then optimise or create content that drives relevant traffic and strengthens your site&#8217;s authority through clear, helpful answers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1770,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","category-on-page-seo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1759"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2143,"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1759\/revisions\/2143"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daveashworth.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}