Efficiently information search via Google

Nowadays Google holds more than 70% of world wide searching requests. This means that seven out of ten people use Google to find information on the Internet.

Google has a lot of advanced search tools which gives users the ability to find narrow results for complex searches. For example, you can find sites in Russian that were updated in the last week or transparent clip art. png images. The described below useful features will help you improve your search performance.

I. General search tips

When you’re deciding what words to put in the search box, try to choose words that are likely to appear on the site you’re looking for. For example, instead of searching news in the city where I live, better input news saint petersburg.

When you’re deciding what words to put in the search box, try to choose words that are likely to appear on the site you’re looking for. For example, instead of searching cool electronic music from Russia, better input cool music welofi.

IMPORTANT: Don’t worry about spelling and capitalization while searching. Google’s spell checker automatically uses the most common spelling of a given word. And search for Welofi is the same as a search for welofi.

Also you can choose content type you want to see for search results (News, Images, Videos, Maps etc).

<i>Content type</i>
Content type

II. Search prompts

First of all you should know about search prompts. When you start a search on Google, you can quickly find information with search prompts. This feature gives the ability to search terms related to what you’re looking for and what other people have already searched for.

Google makes search prompts based on factors, like popularity or similarity. When you choose a prompt, you do a search using the term you selected.

Efficiently information search via Google

III. Search query language

The Google interface has its own query language, which allows you to limit the search area (by specific domains, languages, titles, file types, dates, locations, etc.). Such query language makes the search process more flexible and accurate for users.

Such queries are called search operators - special characters and commands (sometimes called “advanced operators”) that extend the capabilities of regular text searches. Search operators can be useful for everything from content research to technical SEO audits. Examples of some query language operators you can see in text below.

Combine searches. Operator «or» (OR / |)

One of the main operators «OR» helps users during combine search. Sometimes we are not sure if the request is correct.

In such situation just enter some suitable options via the "I" or command "OR" and then select the appropriate result.

Example: spotify OR soundcloud guide
Example: spotify OR soundcloud guide

Forced search. Operator «plus» (+)

Operator «plus» gives ability for forced search. What does this mean? There are situations when it is necessary to forcibly include in the request a word that may have spelling variations. Use the "+" operator before the mandatory word for forced search.

For example, if we have a request Present Perfect, you will get redundant information about the Present Perfect festival for all years. In the same time, if you have request present perfect +2021, you will get search results for the upcoming festival Present Perfect in 2021.

Efficiently information search via Google

Excluding unnecessary terms from search. Operator «minus» (-)

Use the minus sign “-” in front of the word to exclude an unnecessary term from the search. For example, if you want to find sites about books or something else, without any information about prices, try to exclude the unnecessary term.

Example: russian opposition -navalny
Example: russian opposition -navalny

Search for an exact match. Operator «quotes» (" ")

As practice shows, searching for the exact phrase is required either to search for the text of a specific work, or to search for specific products or companies, in which the searched word or part of the description is a stably repeating phrase. For such specific requests search query language proposes to use quotes (" ") for requests word.

Efficiently information search via Google

Additional condition word. Operator «*»

Sometimes you need to find information about a word combination of words in which one or more words are unknown. Best way in such situation is operator "*" - acts as a wildcard and will match any word or phrase.

Efficiently information search via Google

Search by certain files. Operator «filetype»

Restrict results to those of a certain filetype to quickly find original research, statistics and case studies on a certain topic. It is useful when looking for research, which is often in PDF or other document file formats, rather than HTML (pdf, doc, rtf etc). Use operator filetype:+format for exact request word.

Efficiently information search via Google

Search for a specific site. Operator «site»

Limit results to those from a specific website by operator «site». Such a thing means that for a request shop site:boilerroom.tv, users will get results related to prices on site «boilerroom.tv», excluding the rest of the internet.

Efficiently information search via Google

IV. Using voice input

Google offers their users the ability to search functions by using voice input. To search with voice, user should open Google and say "Ok Google" or select the Microphone button in the main search bar.

Efficiently information search via Google

This is mostly a bonus option for quick entry only.

V. Using quick answers

For many searches, Google can do the work for you and show an answer to your question in the search results. Some features, like information about sports teams, depend on the region. Here are some examples:

  • Input weather to see the weather in your location.
  • Put define in front of any word to see its definition.
  • Enter a math equation like 4*983, or solve complex graphing equations.
  • Enter any conversion, like 6 dollars in euros, to get fast unit conversions.
  • Search for the name of a celebrity, location, movie, or song to find related information.

VI. Using Advanced Search

Using advanced search is one of the most effective ways to find information. Advanced search is available in the tools menu section or https://www.google.com/advanced_search

Efficiently information search via Google

IMPORTANT: Advanced search filters/parameters depend on the type of content you look for (webpages & files, images, videos, books). In the main form of advanced search you can flexibly specify parameters for search and narrow final results.

As a search filters for search user can choose:

  • all these words - results use all the words you enter.
  • this exact word or phrase - results include one exact word or phrase you enter.
  • any of these words - results include at least one of the words you enter.
  • none of these words - results don’t have any of the words you enter.
  • numbers ranging from … to - results include a number between the 2 numbers you enter

For narrowing results users can select language, region, update time and many other parameters.

Efficiently information search via Google
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