Blog

A Simple Guide To Better Google Search Techniques

In our era of advanced technology and high-speed Internet connections, you can find information on virtually anything. Google, the most popular and powerful search engine, provides you with the best search results. In most cases you’re satisfied but sometimes, you’re not.

This is where learning the proper techniques to type in your search query comes in handy and this is what we’ll explore in this article to help you find the precious material you’re looking for in just a couple of clicks.

 

1. Either this or that

Sometimes we’re not sure that we’ve correctly remembered the information or the name we need to start our search. But this doesn’t have to be a problem! Simply put in a few potential variations of what you’re looking for, and separate them by typing the “|“ symbol. Instead of this symbol you can also use ”or.” Then it’s easy enough to choose the result that makes the most sense.

7415760 ScreenShot2016 11 03at110715 1478160463 650 32e9147584 1478172290

2. Searching using synonyms

Our language is rich in synonyms. Sometimes this can be very convenient when doing research online. If you need to find websites on a given subject rather than those that include a specific phrase, add the “~” symbol to your search.

For example, if you search for the term “healthy ~food” you’ll get results about the principles of healthy eating, cooking recipes, as well as healthy dining options.

7415810 ScreenShot2016 11 03at111127 1478160708 650 32e9147584 1478172290

3. Searching within websites

Sometimes you read an interesting article on a website and find yourself subsequently wanting to share it with your friends or simply reread it. The easiest way to find the desired piece of information again is to search within the website. To do this, type the address of the site, then a key word or entire phrase from the article, and it should come up immediately.

Capture

4. The power of the asterisk

When our cunning memory decides to prevent us from recalling that one key word, phrase, or number we need in order to find what we’re looking for, you can turn to the powerful “*” symbol. Just use this in the place of the word/phrase you can’t remember, and you should be able to find the results you’re looking for.

7415910 ScreenShot2016 11 03at111737 1478161076 650 32e9147584 1478172290

5. When lots of words are missing

If it’s the lengthier half of the phrase you can’t remember rather than a single key word, try writing out the first and last words and putting “AROUND + (the approximate number of missing words)“ between them. For example, ”I wandered AROUND(4) cloud.”

7415960 ScreenShot2016 11 03at112307 1478161411 650 32e9147584 1478172290

 

6. Using a time frame

Sometimes we urgently need to acquaint ourselves with events that occurred during a certain period of time. To do so, you can add a time frame to your search query with the help of three dots between the dates. For example, if we want to find out about scientific discoveries during the 20th century, we can write:

7416010 ScreenShot2016 11 03at112446 1478161499 650 32e9147584 1478172290

7. Searching for a title or URL

To help find the key words and name of an article, type “intitle:“ before the search term, without any spaces between them. In order to find the words from a URL, use ”inurl:”.

7416060 ScreenShot2016 11 03at112604 1478161588 650 32e9147584 1478172290

8. Finding similar websites

If you’ve found something you really like online and want to find similar websites, type in “related:” and then the address of the site, again without a space between them.

7416110 ScreenShot2016 11 03at112711 1478161644 650 32e9147584 1478172290

9. Whole phrases

Framing the search term within quotation marks is the simplest and most effective way to find something specific and in the exact order you typed it in.

For example, if you type in the words I’m picking up good vibrations without quotation marks, the search engine will show the results where these words appear in any order on a website, as opposed to the specific order in which you typed them.

If, on the other hand, you type “I’m picking up good vibrations” within quotation marks, you’ll get only those results where these words appear only in the order you typed them in. This is a great way to find the lyrics to a song when you only know one line from it.

7416160 ScreenShot2016 11 03at113146 1478162019 650 32e9147584 1478172290

10. Unimportant search words

To remove unimportant search words from your query, simply write a minus symbol before each one. For example, if you want to find a site about interesting books, but you aren’t looking to buy them, you can write the following:

7416210 ScreenShot2016 11 03at113424 1478162079 650 32e9147584 1478172290

Stay tuned for more Google Tips & News!

provided-by-exeo

Don’t forget to Subscribe (On the Sidebar)

WhatsApp
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Get in touch

We respond within 1 hour on weekdays
EXEO Logo white

Paris. Beirut. Dubai.

Reach out