Level: Advanced
Some keyword filtering needs go beyond a simple "contains" check — isolating a specific structural pattern, like a phrase containing a number followed by a unit of measurement, requires more powerful pattern matching.
The Excel Technique
Newer Excel versions include native REGEXEXTRACT and REGEXMATCH functions for true regular expression support: =REGEXMATCH(A2,"[0-9]+ ?(inch|cm|kg)"). In older versions without native regex, Power Query's M language or a combination of wildcard SEARCH formulas can approximate simpler patterns, though with real limitations.
Example Scenario
You need to isolate every keyword in a 2,500-row list that includes a specific product dimension pattern, like "55 inch" or "32gb," scattered inconsistently throughout otherwise unrelated phrases. A regex pattern catches every variation in one pass that a series of manual "contains" filters would have missed pieces of.
Where This Fits in Your Keyword Research Process
For teams without access to native regex functions, or working with genuinely complex patterns, a dedicated regex filtering tool applied before the data reaches Excel sidesteps version compatibility concerns entirely.
Next step: Use Keep Lines Matching Regex from SeoWolf's Notepad to isolate the exact dimension-pattern keywords from your 2,500-row list using a regex pattern before the data reaches Excel, avoiding any concern about which Excel version or REGEXMATCH availability your team has access to.