Google Search Techniques
Google is one of the most popular and powerful search engines, and it is remarkably easy to use. Yet, with so many millions of webpage’s available, it can be difficult to find the best results. By learning to use the optimum search syntax, together with the best search terms, you can greatly improve the quality of the results returned. You can even target your search at particular areas of the Web, or search specific types of resource.
Narrowing a Search (if you have too many results) and
Expanding a Search (if you don’t get enough)
Tip 1: Case Doesn’t Matter
Google doesn’t care whether search terms are entered in upper case or lower case.
Tip 2: Searching for Words and Phrases
Suppose, for example, you are looking for pages related to search engine optimization (SEO). Entering search engine optimization as three separate keywords will return something like 35 million results—which would take you a while to check through! Some experimentation can make this a little more manageable, as shown below:
- search engine optimization: 34,700,000 results
- “search engine optimization”: 23,000,000 results
- “search engine optimization” tips: 1,760,000 results
- “search engine optimization tips”: 196,000 results
Tip 3: Including and Excluding Keywords
word1 +word2 will force Google to include word2 in the search
word1 –word2 will force Google to exclude word2 in the search
Example: virus –computer would return only Web pages about biological viruses not computer viruses.
Tip 4: Logically Combining Searches
Use or to search for multiple terms
word1 OR word2 finds pages that include either word
Use ~ to search for synonyms of a term
~word1 finds pages that include word1 or its synonyms
Use * as a “wildcard” with your search terms
“word1 * word2″ finds pages that includes this phrase where * can be any one word
Tip 5: Searching Titles, Body Text and URLs
intitle:keyword: search for a single keyword (or quoted expression) in the title
allintitle:keyword1 keyword2 …: search for a list of keywords (and/or quoted expressions) in the title
inurl:keyword: search for a single keyword (or quoted expression) in the URL
allinurl:keyword1 keyword2 …: search for a list of keywords (and/or quoted expressions) in the URL
Tip 6: Searching a Website or an Area of the Web
Add site: to search only specific sites or types of sites:
word1 site:psut.edu.jo will search only on the psut site.
word1 site:.edu will search only education sites
word1 site:.gov will search only government sites
word1 site:.org will search only non-profit sites (mostly), museums, libraries, etc.
word1 site:.edu.jo will search only educational sites in Jordan
Add filetype: to search for documents other than Web pages
Filetype:pdf will return only files in the PDF format (good for finding handouts and worksheets). You can also use this to search for PowerPoint (.ppt) MS Word (.doc) Flash ( .swf) and many other kinds of files.
Tip 7: Searching for other kinds of information
Definitions (define)
This search will return definitions listed in online dictionaries. In addition to standard definitions, this also returns jargon definitions from specific disciplines such as sports, science, geek, etc. (e.g. try “pickle”).
Contact information
When you enter a person or business name with a location (city, state) any contact information listed in an online white page will appear in the results.
Phone number
(phonebook: rphonebook: bphonebook:) when you enter a phone number, any name or address listed in an online white page will appear in the results
Address
Entering a full address will return a link to a map to that location.
Calculations
Entering mathematical expressions will return the result simple math (+ – * /) exponentials (^) percentage (% of) even advanced math (see the Google site for details)
Shortcuts to Google tools:
www.google.com search for Web pages
www.google.com/help learn more about using Google
news.google.com search news sources on the Web
images.google.com search for pictures on the Web
directory.google.com browse categories of Web pages
answers.google.com experienced researchers find answers for a fee
groups.google.com search the content of online discussions
froogle.google.com search for items on sale on the Web
labs.google.com check out the latest inventions from Google
Google-related tools:
Google Zeitgeist http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html (or search for google zeitgeist)
Google Zeitgeist History http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist/archive.html
Googleism http://www.googlism.com – searches for declarative statements: “___ is ___”
GooglePeople http://www.avaquest.com – enter questions starting with “who”
Google Smackdown http://www.onfocus.com/googlesmack/down.asp – find out which of two terms is mentioned more on the Web.
“GoogleWhacking” – a term for finding a two word search with only one result
In: Google, IT · Tagged with: Google, Search
on January 21, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Permalink
[...] post: Sami AlSayyed » Google Search Techniques Share and [...]
on January 21, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Permalink
[...] Sami AlSayyed » Google Search Techniques [...]
on January 23, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Permalink
[...] Google Search Techniques [...]