Search engines are a critical part of using the world wide web. Using them can be frustrating at time but rewarding at others. Using a few simple tips can help you find what you’re looking for rather than sifting through pages and pages of unrelated and unhelpful pages.
1) Use quotes for words that go together. If you’re trying to find information on someone named John Mason, trying putting the name in quotes like “John Mason.” If you just search on John Mason, you’ll get pages that have plenty of Johns and plenty of Masons but probably not the John Mason you seek.
2) Be specific with your search terms. You wouldn’t go to a car salesman and tell them you’re looking for a red car. You likely have more preferences than just the color. Likewise, when you enter search terms, be specific. Instead of searching on “molasses,” try searching on “molasses ingredients” and you’ll likely bypass all those sites selling molasses.
3) Search using something unique. Perhaps you’re looking for a replacement part for your washer. You could try to search using “replacement knob for washer.” However, your search probably wouldn’t yield the part you need. Try using the model number in your search like “GE-1304W knob.”
4) No need for common words. If you’re using words like “the” or “of” in your search, you’re wasting time and effort. Cut your search terms down to just the words you need that uniquely identify what you seek. Therefore, “a 6′ runner rug for the kitchen” would be better served as “6 foot runner rug kitchen.”
5) Don’t expect to find fresh news by searching the web. If you’re looking for information on something that just happened, you probably won’t find it by searching the web. Try searching the “News” or visiting news sites to find information on current events.
Every internet search is a quest. You can take the long road or the short road. Using smart search terms will make your quests more fruitful and less futile.
