7 Simple Steps to Search the Web Faster and More Efficiently
By Leo Eigenberg
Search engines are a great method to explore the web and find the desired information. They will make a great attempt to put the most likely result on the first page, but for the searches that include quite ambiguous or broad terms, the websites suggested might not be what is wanted. By learning the basics of entering the most relevant terms, it should be possible to complete a search that is both effective and fast.
Here are seven tips to make searching the web more efficient, easier, and faster:
Use several different search engines
Whether using the major or independent search engines, each one is programmed with a different algorithm which means the end results will vary. If you aren't able to find relevant information using one search engine, it might benefit to move onto another one to see if you are able to get the more desirable results. Plus, the type of information being searched can have an impact on the type of search engine used. Some of the popular options include all-purpose, people, visual, job, etc.
Enter specific terms or phrases
To increase the chance of getting the right results back, use specific terms that relate to the topic being researched. Add in words like how to, benefits, tips, location, etc. to reduce the pages returned and improve the chance of getting the desired information on the first page.
Improve the search using the minus operator
If searching for a particular term that is quite common there is usually a high change of the search engines returning a lot of unhelpful results. A reliable method to narrow the search and get more precise terms is to use the minus operator (-). For instance, if you want to look up caterpillar and more interested in the insect and not the manufacturer of construction equipment, you can search caterpillar -construction to get the results back that are more insect related. Using a variety of terms can help to refine the results to give the precise information needed.
Using quote marks to find exact words
Quotation marks are a great way to help with tracking down specific words or phrases. Using this technique will severely limit the results returned from the search engines, but if you have a good idea of a particular piece of text you want to search this is a great option.
Avoid the use of everyday words and terms
Most of the common, everyday words like the, and, are, all, am, any, at, etc. are ignored by the search engine algorithms to help speed up the search process. Plus, most punctuation is excluded in a similar fashion to common words. These words are referred to as stop words.
Using Global Web Search
Rather than restricting the web search to local websites, there are several international search engines available that can give a wider view on certain subjects. Also, there are free web-based tools that can help to translate content which makes it easier to read sites written in a foreign language.
Use the advanced features of the search engines
Most users just enter a word or phrase in the main search box and wait to see what results are returned. But, most of these websites have extra tools to make it possible to refine the search process. There are many benefits to making full use of the extra services, tools, and options offered by the search engine, including the ability to make a search that much more helpful. Popular search options include location, new or previously visited pages, age of content, and source country of content.
Anyone can easily find the right facts and information when using the search engines in the correct manner. By using the search terms and one or two basic tricks, we will grab it for you and provide the relevant subject material.
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