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Best Internet Search Tips: How to Get the Results You Want

March 30, 2012 by 55 Comments
Jane Warren

Jane Warren

Jane is an avid watersports fan, who enjoys boating, scuba diving, swimming, and water skiing. She loves to travel, especially to locations where she can participate in water sport activities. Jane also loves animals, and writes articles educating consumers on pet care, and the joys of owning a pet. Now that the kids are grown, she has time for doing the things she enjoys!
Jane Warren

@PamperThePets

Jane has always loved animals. She doesn't go looking for them; they seem to find her!
fat pets are becoming a problem http://t.co/yJJdKajrjf #fatpets #petobesity - 18 mins ago
Jane Warren
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Google Search
In the old days of the internet, you could search for a relevant term and quickly get a few relevant results. But now, the internet is filled with blogs, spam websites and completely irrelevant pages designed to draw in viewers or install viruses. (Thank goodness that Google is refining the search engine results through their periodic updates.)

If you’re looking for useful information on the internet, it’s vital to understand how search results work. Here are the best tips for searching the internet, to get the results you want.

Try Different Search Engines

Many web browsers come with a pre-loaded search engine such as Bing, but this search engine is not always the best choice. Experiment with several different search engines, including Yahoo and Google. Different search engines produce different results, and you may enjoy some providers better than others. Ease of use is an individual thing, so pick the search engine that is easiest for you to use and produces the best results for your needs.

Pick the Right Keywords

Google and other search engines do not pick up filler words such as “the” and “an”, and searches are not formatted in question form unless you place the question in quotes. Thus it’s important to pick out the most important terms in the item you’re searching for and use those terms. For example, if you are searching for information on how to teach your dog to sit, you don’t need to type, “How can I make my dog sit?” or “How to train your dog to sit.” Instead, use the most important words, which are dog, train and sit.

You’ll also find that even the right keywords can have two different meanings. For example, if you have a small dog that is not able to get on your bed, couch or chair (assuming they are allowed!), you can type in your search box “small dog steps,” thinking you will get results for doggy ramps or stairs. But you will also get results that deal with steps for a small dog that deal with training or puppy education. You can look at the text below the link to make sure you are getting the right information.

Filter Search Results

If you’re looking for a news article, the most recent scholarly research or something that happened twenty years ago, the date of the search results matters. Filter your search results by date. You can fill in a specific date range, or you can select search results in the past day, month or year.

Use Search Engine Tools

Google and other search engines allow you to tailor your search results for your specific needs. If, for example, you’re looking for scholarly articles, you can use Google scholar. If you want to see images or items for sale, use the images or shopping tools.

Use Keyword Phrasing

Search engines pick up on the use of conjunctions such as “and” and “or” and quotation marks. If you are searching for a very specific item, take advantage of this capability. For example, if you want information about flea treatments and fleas, try searching for frontline and fleas. Google will return results that have both keywords. If you’d rather get the specific term, google for “frontline and fleas” using quotation marks.

Scanning out Advertisements

If you’re looking for reliable product information, it’s generally best to steer clear of advertisements. The top, highlighted Google search results are advertisements, and so are the sidebar results. Google puts a small disclaimer next to these ads saying “search ads” or “advertisements.” These can be useful for finding a specific product, but for more scholarly research or for reviews, avoid these sites.

Searching by Author

If you’re looking for a specific affiliation or author, add the author to your search terms. For example, if you want to read up on philosophy and Socrates, google the two terms together. If you want specific information from a specific website, put the website into the search bar along with the search terms you are seeking.

Avoiding Viruses and Spam

Viruses are frequently downloaded through .exe documents and flash displays. Try installing a flash blocker on your computer, which will allow you to view flash websites only when you click a button saying you want to do so. Similarly, if you see a download in Google search results, only click it if you know and trust the source. Otherwise, you may inadvertently download something that could harm your computer or compromise your privacy.

About the Author:

Jane Warren spends a lot of time on the internet, so she hates to waste time on irrelevant information. She loves to shop online, research and review products and services, and take classes online. 

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Comments

  1. Austin says:
    March 30, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    There are a ton of tricks that can be used when searching Google… i.e. quotations, site:, inurl:, etc.

    They also have an advanced search feature that can really narrow down results. Who knew searching the internet would be such an art! Although, Google does a pretty good job of giving me what I want the first or second time I try and find it. Great post!
    Austin recently posted..Owner Finance Homes: What Does It Mean?My Profile

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  2. Promit says:
    March 31, 2012 at 4:02 am

    I always search on Google by writing (site:, inurl: ). Because it gives me correct result.

    Reply
  3. Ray says:
    March 31, 2012 at 9:36 am

    I remember the good old days when we had a lot more search engines competing with one another. Each of them had slightly different results. Sometimes I miss those days when there weren’t so many sites, and other times I think why did we need so many search engines. It is amazing sometimes how just changing your keyword or key phrase slightly will result in a whole different set of results.
    Ray recently posted..So You Want to Claim the Top Spot in GoogleMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Yula Martel says:
    March 31, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    I think search engines have become so effective now that internet has really become a giant mastermind of sorts. In some old sci-fi movies there used to be “universal bots” that would give you answers to any question you ask. Well….google and other engines are such bots. I don’t think we are too far away from creating computer algorithms that can think just as humans do. It isn’t far fetched because human mind uses certain algorithms to think and once we can figure that out….then we will have human like robots. I am not sure if tat will be a good thing or bad thing but…..who knows!
    Yula Martel recently posted..30th Mar 2012 – In Determining the Best Yoga MatsMy Profile

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  5. Ayush Agrawal says:
    March 31, 2012 at 2:43 pm

    Thanks For the tips. Because of SEO being commercialized, even useless websites find their way towards the top, thus reducing the quality of search results.

    Reply
  6. annelg says:
    March 31, 2012 at 2:47 pm


    Twitter:
    Great tips, Jane. One thing I never do is use other search engines. I don’t know why, but I always use Google. I’m obviously not getting the best of my searches, am I?

    Having said that, with the Google+ element in play, I always get what my friends are recommending these days.
    annelg recently posted..Get Rid Of DampMy Profile

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  7. Sara says:
    March 31, 2012 at 2:53 pm


    Twitter:
    Nice post.Yes I agree that there are many search tips which are useful and necessary if you consider that, targeting a group of the market is very essential in order to achieve your business goals.Thanks for sharing
    Sara recently posted..DTY Direct Gas GrillMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Arjun Singh says:
    April 1, 2012 at 6:04 am


    Twitter:
    Really easy to follow yet powerful tips out there.

    I was searching about very complicated query and believe me these tips helped me in getting the desired result :)

    Thanks a lot.
    Arjun Singh recently posted..Old Facebook Chat Back on Facebook – Booms This TimeMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Karen says:
    April 1, 2012 at 12:53 pm


    Twitter:
    I always hate starting a comment with great tips, but these really are, I remember those early days of the search engines when you would search for hours just to find something, but using some of your tips here will certainly help reduce the time needed to find even the simplest of things ;)

    Reply
  10. Katy says:
    April 2, 2012 at 3:44 am

    My strongest weapons are the quotation marks and the minus sign. I also use the tilde sign (~) standing for synonyms.

    Also, I find blekko a very useful search engine.
    Katy recently posted..Walking Improves Mental HealthMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Rick Magennis says:
    April 2, 2012 at 4:16 am


    Twitter:
    Excellent tips! I always use Google for my searches because I believe they provide me with the most relevant information. I find that using Bing and Yahoo the search results are inferior. Searching for what you are looking for today has become so easy because of Google and their magnificent tools. Thanks Jane for the great read. I look forward to more of your articles.
    Rick Magennis recently posted..BOB Revolution SEMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Taba Rama says:
    April 2, 2012 at 9:22 am


    Twitter:
    Ignorance of question, exclamation mark by the search engine is the main reason behind its irrelevant results. What i feels that, its not the User who should be smarter while searching Search engine SHOULD.
    While its obvious that all the users are not gonna be technocrat nor a webmaster, most of them are non-technical. I use Google because it has got the best accuracy than others like bing, yahoo, but Loves Google because of its tons of webmaster features..
    The tips you provided is really helpful and should surely have to be smart while searching Till The Search Engines gets Smarter Enough to understand it.
    Taba Rama recently posted..Fed Up With Google Search, Now Try Facebook New Search Engine [Report]My Profile

    Reply
  13. Norm says:
    April 2, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    Local search should also be mentioned in this article. A large percentage of searchers are actually looking for local services and products. When this is the case, entering your city and/or state will go a long way to ensuring you are shown relevant local searches.
    Norm recently posted..Create CPA Websites Just Like the ProfessionalsMy Profile

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  14. Norm says:
    April 2, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    Often times forums will show up in search results when you’re searching for tips or advice. These can be very helpful for advice, but remember that forums are usually just opinions and aren’t “official” answers. Sometimes you can go to a trusted website (like the Mayo Clinic site, for example) and within that site you can do a search of just information within that site. This way you know you’re finding information from a trusted source, instead of just whatever is out there on the world wide web!
    Norm recently posted..Create CPA Websites Just Like the ProfessionalsMy Profile

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  15. Steve says:
    April 2, 2012 at 4:16 pm


    Twitter:
    Jane,

    Great collection of tips here. Specifically the advice on finding the right keywords. Those are your foundation. If you build on a solid foundation, you build to last. Even if you make mistakes later, it can always be fixed. Solid collection of tips here thanks,

    Steve
    Steve recently posted..How to Make Money on YouTube (with 5 Case Studies)My Profile

    Reply
  16. karlos196 says:
    April 3, 2012 at 3:07 am


    Twitter:
    Hi Jane,

    Nice article about search tips.

    What I do everyday is search in Google the Weather report for my city:

    type: weather NYC

    ;-)

    Karlos

    Reply
  17. Shree says:
    April 4, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    Hi Jane,
    I generally use only Google for my searches, so I need to include other search engines as well. These tips are useful as often search results tend to give inaccurate results. These tips will help to get the needed results.
    Shree recently posted..Trends going on in Web designMy Profile

    Reply
  18. Abhishek says:
    April 5, 2012 at 6:27 am


    Twitter:
    I always use Google to search things because no search engine provides relevant results like Google.
    Abhishek recently posted..TMB Recruitment of Clerk April 2012My Profile

    Reply
  19. Toshiba Burton says:
    April 5, 2012 at 6:57 pm


    Twitter:
    Hi Jan, Nice article before I start writing I usually go to Google & type in a “keyword phrase” & use this as my keyword throughout my article. Of course I use one with really good search results (on Google) .

    I find that this actually works better for me than just using a “keyword”
    Toshiba Burton recently posted..6 Tips On How To Market & Promote Your BlogMy Profile

    Reply
  20. Larry says:
    April 6, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    Google is amazing, mostly because of the fact that it, more often than not, returns the most relevant results. Marketers and the SEO industry in general play a big part in enabling Google to do this. Real-time phrase and word suggestions is one aspect of the Google search ‘experience’ that I personally find particularly helpful. Excellent work with the article btw!
    Larry recently posted..11 Essential WordPress PluginsMy Profile

    Reply
  21. Sean Mal says:
    April 6, 2012 at 4:00 pm


    Twitter:
    Hi Jane,
    Your warning about malicious software through flash was alerting. I’m going to be more careful about it. Great post, thanks.
    Sean Mal recently posted..Looking For The Best eBay Alternatives? Read This.My Profile

    Reply
  22. Raaj Trambadia says:
    April 21, 2012 at 12:35 am


    Twitter:
    Amazing tips to get best search results Jane! Thanks for sharing! Cheers :D
    Raaj Trambadia recently posted..“MyBlogIsMyMoney.com” – Domain Name For Sale!!My Profile

    Reply
  23. Mario says:
    May 6, 2012 at 9:45 pm


    Twitter:
    I am a fan of search engines because I love to explore the world of the Internet. Hence, I make a lot of use of different search engines. They help me a lot in research. Thanks for adding to my knowledge.
    Mario recently posted..The Coolest Blog Commenting Plugin For WordPress!My Profile

    Reply
  24. Derek says:
    May 25, 2012 at 9:46 pm


    Twitter:
    Great tips here jane.
    i like ur writing style
    Derek recently posted..Easiest Ways To Get Blog TrafficMy Profile

    Reply
  25. Jake Traverse says:
    June 28, 2012 at 9:26 am

    I use different search engines to find the same information and i feel Google and Internet explorer are two search engines that really stand apart, from other search engines. The search results i normally look for are in the first two pages.

    Reply
  26. Godson says:
    July 6, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    Thank you so much for these useful tips. I also use only Google for searching on the internet. I think if you don’t use Google in the right way, you won’t get your required results. So, these tips will definitely help one to search specifically and find the most accurate result.
    I think Google is the best also because it has so many features like search for image, video, news, maps and many more.
    Godson recently posted..Forgot Your Computer Password?My Profile

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  27. Salman says:
    July 11, 2012 at 5:08 pm


    Twitter:
    Great share Jane …

    Agree with what Austin said – Using the tricks like inurl, site, intitle, info etc etc. really make googling a fun
    Salman recently posted..The best free video editing softwareMy Profile

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  28. Ankit says:
    July 13, 2012 at 11:58 am

    i always make a point of using the exact keyword!
    Ankit recently posted..Full List Of Macs Compatible With OS X Mountain LionMy Profile

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  29. Inez Falencia says:
    July 21, 2012 at 1:13 am


    Twitter:
    To make it easier there are some tricks that can be used in a search on goggle, like the example belowinurl: receipt.docinurl: filetype: logBy using the inurl: can be the name of a file corresponding to the extension

    Reply
  30. Craig Thomas says:
    August 22, 2012 at 8:45 am

    I know the feeling, nowadays it’s really hard to get the result you wanted when searching the internet because there are a lot of spam sites and irrelevant posts. Like most of you guys, I use Google all of the time that’s why I’m glad to hear they’re doing updates to eliminate those spam internet sites.
    Craig Thomas recently posted..Top 5 Restaurants in San Francisco, CaliforniaMy Profile

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  31. Gurwinder Singh says:
    October 19, 2012 at 5:13 pm

    Nice post.

    Also see this –
    http://www.infozguide.com/2012/09/some-best-tips-to-become-a-google-search-master-infographic.html

    I think this will help you to understand about it in easy way.
    Gurwinder Singh recently posted..How To Keep Your Eyes Healthy In This Digital World [InfoGraphic]My Profile

    Reply
  32. Anchit Shethia says:
    January 20, 2013 at 6:23 am


    Twitter:
    And now GOogle has also added a “Applications” tab in search so that the wares and apps you want are easy to find
    Anchit Shethia recently posted..How to Cut Your Mobile Phone BillMy Profile

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