As we progress more into the digital age of technology, we become more reliant on using the Internet. It’s easy enough for us to say, “Why don’t you just Google it?” Surely, we can find almost anything on the Internet nowadays, such as song lyrics, upcoming events, or even food recipes. But there’s more to “Googling” than the average computer user is aware of.
It isn’t always exactly easy to find what we need. Often times, we dig through pages upon pages of search results only to ultimately give up. Little did you know, there are tricks that you can use to master the art of Googling.
Here are 8 useful tips when using Google to search for information:
1. This Time Frame To That Time Frame
A very neat trick that a lot of researchers use is the “time frame.” This tool allows you to target the exact time period and narrow down your search results. Even if you aren’t a researcher, you could even use it for personal use, such as finding out which horror films were released in the 1990’s. Simply include the time frame at the end of your keywords separated by three dots.
2. Finding Specific Titles or URLs
If you are looking for all things related to a specific keyword, it might help to add “intitle:” in front of your keyword. This will allow your search results to filter out only those that may contain your keyword in the title or website url, such as coconuts and its wonderful taste.
3. Search For It Within A Website
Perhaps you’re looking for a specific article that you read last week. You remember which website you read it on and what it was about, but you can’t seem to remember the exact title. Or maybe you just want to check if a website has more pages related to your interest. In that case, you can easily find the website by adding a specific keyword or phrase after typing in the website address on your search bar!
4. Let’s Look For Related Websites
Maybe you’re doing some online shopping in preparation for Christmas gifts. Or maybe you’re just shopping for yourself, expanding your wardrobe a little bit. Let’s say you’re looking for other websites with clothing brands similar to the ones offered on another page. You could simply search for similar websites by typing “related:” followed by a website address (you don’t need a space).
5. Putting Bits and Pieces Together
Now, say you remember bits of the phrase, but you’re missing the middle segment. By replacing that forgotten text with “(around)” in your search bar, you could find search results that will try to fill in the missing piece for you. This is easily any reader’s favorite tool if you read a lot of books with long titles!
6. Fill In The Missing Piece With An Asterisk
Here’s a similar trick. Sometimes you have a thought and then come to a blank. You wonder to yourself, “How did that phrase end?” Well have no worries because you can simply let Google do the work for you!
7. I Want Everything – Minus This
No matter what you’re doing on the Internet, you never fail to see search results of advertisements urging you to buy products when all you wanted to do was find out more information about the new vacuum offered at Best Buy. An easy way to avoid these unwanted search results is to subtract them from the equation. All you have to do is add a minus “-“ sign in you search bar along with your keyword or phrase.
8. That’s “Exactly” What I Was Looking For
If you already know the exact website you’re looking for, quotes make it easy. You can filter your search results by typing your keywords or phrase in the exact order it’s displayed. Simply add quotation marks around your “keywords”. This would work even if you’re typing in segments of song lyrics or poems!
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