This document provides tips and techniques for searching the internet more effectively using Google search tools. It discusses how to choose effective keywords, use advanced search operators like quotes and OR, filter results by media type and location, take advantage of timesaving features like autocomplete and instant previews, and utilize Google's calculator, translation, and other embedded search features. The overall message is that carefully crafting search queries and understanding Google's capabilities allows users to precisely target the information they need from the vast internet.
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Google Can Do That? How to Search the Internet Effectively
1. Google can do That?
How to Search the
Internet Effectively
Research Edge
Cindy Fromherz, Principal
October, 2012
2. The Key Tools
Browser
Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome
Search engine
Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask, AOL
Many others useful for special purposes
4. Chrome is Google’s Browser
Fast, stable, uncluttered
Excellent bookmark handling
Incognito mode for more secure browsing
Built-in Google Sync to keep bookmarks
synchronized across your computers
Voice activated searching
Application to hide ads
7. How Search Works
Search engines, such as Google, create their listings
automatically. They "crawl" or "spider" the web,
then record the information found in an index.
When you enter words into a search box, search
engine software sifts through the millions of pages
in the index to find matches and rank them in the
most relevant order.
The algorithms influencing order are based on
number of times the word appears on a site, the
quality of the site, page rank and numerous other
variables.
8. The Art of Keyword Choices
Think about the words that might be in your
desired results page.
Determine the most important words in your
search as well as potential synonyms.
Put yourself in the mindset of the author of the
words.
May have to do several queries in a row to key in
on the topic.
13. Finding Text on a Web Page
Windows computers: press the control and F keys at the
same time.
Apple computers: press the command and F keys at the
same time.
Android tablets: in a browser window, touch the menu
button in the top right of the screen, then select "find
on page".
Safari on iPad tablets: click the cursor in the search box in
the upper right corner of the screen. Directly above the
keyboard, a "find on page" box will open.
15. The Search Engine Results Page
There are three main parts of a search engine result:
the page title (in blue), the web address (in
green), and snippet/abstract (in black) that
contains the text from the page around the terms
you search for.
Links within the search engine results go directly to
sub-pages of the site.
Ads relevant to your search may appear – they are
labeled as ads, and shaded in pink.
Related searches are suggested.
17. Timesaver 1 – Google Instant
As you start to type, results for a popular
search that begins with those letters
automatically appears.
You can enable Google Instant by accessing
your search settings under the gear icon on
any search results page.
18. Timesaver 2 - Autocomplete
As you type within the Google search box
on Google, the autocomplete algorithm
offers searches that might be similar to
the one you're typing.
19. Timesaver 3 - Instant Previews
See what a webpage is like before clicking a
search result.
First, hover your cursor over a result.
Then hover over the arrows that appear next
to the result to see a visual preview of that
result.
(Does not work for all pages.)
21. Timesaver 4 - Knowledge Graph
Descriptions and facts that are publicly available on the
Web
Images from the Web that are selected as the highest
ranking images about the subject
Related searches to help you explore similar subjects,
such as other Paris monuments when you search for
the Eiffel Tower
Other information that's related to the subject, such as a
map of a location, upcoming events for an artist or
venue, and the latest Google+ posts for some people
23. TakeAway Tip
Take Advantage of Timesavers
(Google Instant, Autocomplete, Instant
Preview, Knowledge Graph)
24. Different Kinds of Content
In the left panel of the search results page, you can filter
results by different categories.
These categories include images, blogs, discussions, recipes,
patents, books, 3D models, scholarly sources, and others.
Also check out the More tab. Use google search if you can’t
remember how to get to a category.
Can search both ways – by topic first than content type or vice
versa.
The left panel does not appear on tablets (iPad, Android).
27. More Search Filters
Expand Show search tools in left panel.
• Location filter
• Date range filter
• Similar sites
• Reading level
• Exactly as you enter the search terms
• And more
30. Search-by-Image
Google will try to match an image you supply with
images on the internet
Images.Google.com
-- Drag and drop images into search box
-- Upload image from your computer
-- Enter an image’s URL
-- Install extension and right click
Different than Image Search
Not supported by tablets or all browsers
32. TakeAway Tip
Use Different Media to Filter Results
(images, news, blogs, video, books,
scholarly sources, etc. )
33. Advanced Search - Operators
Specific words, when used before a colon, that
act as commands to filter results.
The site: and the filetype: operators are very
useful
Must pay attention to syntax
35. The Minus Sign
Use the minus sign (-) to eliminate irrelevant results.
There must be a space before the minus sign.
There must not be a space between the minus sign
and the word you want to eliminate.
A plus sign (+) does not mean “and,” nor does it
force inclusion of a word. A plus sign before a
search term, used as an operator, looks for a
Google+ Page by that name.
37. Advanced Search- Quotes
Use quotes to search for a phrase.
Quotes glue words together; there can be
additional words before or after the phrase,
but the phrase will always stay together in the
results.
38. Advanced Search - OR
Use OR to include more than one way of
expressing an idea.
If an idea on one side of the OR is more than one
word, it needs quotes around it (e.g.:
[handkerchief OR "facial tissue"]
39. Advanced Search
Query box that incorporates functions we have just
reviewed, and others. Use it if you feel more
comfortable using a form than function language.
Access at the bottom of the search results page:
Or at the following URL:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search
42. Search Features
Search features are shortcuts
Searching for “Google search features” gets you
to the master list
Weather, stock quotes, time in other cities,
sports scores, sunrise/sunset, statistics, and a
lot more
44. Conversions and Calculator
Enter any math equation into the search
box, and Google will calculate your
answer.
Conversion units to units [number units in
units]
These search features are available on any
computer including cell phone or tablet
45. Date Range Limiting
Limit results to sources published during a
specific time period by clicking on Search Tools
in the left panel, then selecting the
appropriate time range.
Time filters are available in Web Search, Books,
Images, News, Videos, Blogs, Discussions, and
Patents.
This feature is not available on tablet browsers.
46. Translation and Search
Translate words, sentences, and pages by using
translate.google.com.
Search in foreign languages using English by
clicking "More search tools" on the left panel
of your results page, then select "Translated
foreign pages". This feature chooses the best
language in which to search and delivers
results translated back into English.
49. Other Examples
Weather – weather New Orleans
Time – time Paris
Stock quotes - AAPL (ticker symbol)
Sports scores – New Orleans Saints
Sunrise and sunset – sunset Key West
Calculator – (5*9)/2.23 (enter equation)
Statistics – unemployment rate LA
Local search – pizza 70130
Movie showtimes – movies 78502
50. TakeAway Tip
Use Search Feature Shortcuts
(define, calculator, conversions, date range,
translations, and more)
51. Research Edge is a New Orleans based consulting
firm specializing in business research. We help
clients understand their customers, their
competition, and the environment in which their
business operates so they can make smart
decisions.
Cynthia B. Fromherz, Principal
Contact us at: Info@ResearchEdgeConsulting.com