When you have a question, where’s the first place you turn? For most, it’s Google. Since its inception in 1998, Google has risen from a mere search engine to an indispensable tool, used by billions worldwide. But, even though we use it daily, many of us are still not utilizing Google Search to its fullest potential. By diving a bit deeper into its capabilities, we can refine our searches to find precisely what we’re after, and with fewer clicks.
Below are ten stellar Google search secrets to ensure you unearth the information you desire, every time.
1. Mastering The Basics: The Search Bar
It sounds obvious, right? But many people rush into typing their query without giving it much thought. Before diving into advanced tricks, ensure you understand the basics. When you first open your browser, you may wonder whether to search Google or type a URL.
Generally, a search is easier, provided that you are specific with your keywords, avoid overly common words, and ensure they’re relevant to the topic you’re investigating. This alone can dramatically improve the relevance of your search results.
2. Use Quotation Marks For Exact Phrases
Have you ever wanted to find a specific phrase or quotation but struggled to locate it amidst the vast sea of results?
Place your search term within quotation marks (“ ”). This tells Google to search for that exact phrase in that exact order, excluding other results that might only contain part of the phrase.
3. Exclude Words With A Dash
Say you want to search for books about birds but aren’t interested in eagles. You can exclude eagles from your search by typing birds -eagles. The dash before “eagles” tells Google to exclude any results related to them.
4. Use An Asterisk As A Wildcard
If you can’t remember a particular word in a phrase or if you’re open to variations of a phrase, you can use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard. For example, searching for “A * saved is a * earned” will retrieve the famous saying “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
5. Search Within A Specific Site
This is especially useful if you’re looking for content within a particular website. Rather than navigating through the website’s internal search or its sitemap, you can directly use Google.
Simply type site:website.com followed by your search query. For instance, site:nytimes.com space exploration will bring up articles from The New York Times related to space exploration.
6. Define A Word
Gone are the days of thumbing through a physical dictionary. If you need to define a word, simply type define: followed by the word. For example, define: philanthropy will give you the definition of philanthropy.
7. Utilize Google’s Built-In Calculators And Converters
Need a quick math solution or unit conversion? Instead of looking for a separate online calculator or converter, just type your math problem or conversion directly into Google. For example, typing 100 USD to EUR will give you the current conversion rate from US dollars to euros.
8. Use The Time Range Tool
If you’re researching a topic and only want the most recent information, Google has a tool for that. After typing in your search, click on ‘Tools’ beneath the search bar. You can then select a specific time range, ensuring you’re getting the most up-to-date information.
9. Find Similar Sites
If you’ve found a website you love and want to find others similar to it, Google can help. Type related:website.com without a space after the colon. For example, related:amazon.com will yield results of websites similar to Amazon.
10. Explore Advanced Search
When all else fails or if you want to get ultra-specific, delve into Google’s advanced search. You’ll find it in the settings menu on the Google search page. Advanced search lets you search by language, region, site, or even by where the search term appears on the page.
Conclusion
While Google may seem straightforward at first glance, beneath its unassuming surface lies a plethora of tools and tricks waiting to be utilized. By implementing these Google search secrets, not only will your online research skills dramatically improve, but you’ll save time and ensure you’re always finding the most relevant information.
Remember, with the vast amount of information available online, refining our search techniques is crucial. So, the next time you’re about to type a query, recall these tips and watch as Google transforms from a simple search engine to a powerful information ally.
