Ten tips to improve your Google searches
18 April 2011
Read by 1756 persons
The famous search engine has become a valuable tool for all executives. But do they know how to best exploit its formidable power? Tips for quickly accessing the most relevant information.
Eight out of ten internet users use Google today. To make their search engine the undisputed leader of the Web, Larry Page and Sergey Brin have constantly multiplied innovations. The latest? An application for iPhone (free download on the App Store), which allows you to launch your search vocally. But Google primarily owes its success to its power. And this, precisely, can play tricks on the unwary user, who quickly finds himself overwhelmed by a deluge of results. It is only by learning to refine his searches that he will fully exploit the potential of this "big engine" of the Web.
Type at least three keywords
Google allows the simultaneous use of 32 keywords. The more you use, the more the results will match your expectations. Typing at least three is enough to eliminate a large number of unnecessary results. Remember that the order in which these keywords are entered affects the results. And to avoid slowing down the search, exclude words such as "the, and, of…", as well as single letters or numbers.
Use special characters
A series of symbols typed in front of keywords help to clarify requests. Are you looking for a complete expression, a proper name, a quote? Use quotation marks. If you have forgotten a term in the sentence, replace it with an asterisk ("work more for more"). By adding + in front of a word (without spaces), you will get answers that necessarily contain it. Thus, if you are looking for a marketing project manager position in the automotive sector, type: "marketing project manager" + automotive. On the other hand, to exclude a word from the results, place a - sign in front of it (without spaces). If you want to get a price range, insert two colons without spaces between the extreme values of the desired range. Example: projector 100€..150€. A tip also valid for dates, weights, etc. All these functions are found in the "Advanced Search" option, but you will save time by using them directly.
Expand the search to synonyms
Hesitating about the keyword to use? Type ~ (ctrl+alt+2 on PC) in front of a term and Google will expand the search to synonyms. If you are looking for a service provider to protect your computer network, write: company service computer protection. Instead of listing only the headings containing "company service" and/or "computer protection", the engine will also display companies specializing in system maintenance, data protection, anti-hacking surveillance, etc. If you hesitate between several terms, insert the symbol "|" (ctrl+alt+6 on PC) between the words (without spaces): Google will indifferently perform the search on one or the other of the terms (for example: "household consumption" France drop|fall|decrease).
Target a specific file format
It is possible to specify a document format (Word, Acrobat, PowerPoint…). Ideal when searching for reports produced by organizations or companies, but poorly highlighted on their website, or information on a partner. To do this, type filetype: and the extension (without a dot and without spaces) of the desired application (doc, pdf, ppt…).
Delimit results over time
In the "Advanced Search" option, you can choose to limit the answers to information published in the last twenty-four hours, week, month or year. To find articles on the consequences of the scrappage bonus (for vehicles over ten years old), type "scrappage bonus" and select "last 31 days" in the "Date" drop-down menu. But if you want data on the device itself, choose "last 365 days" (the measure dates from last January). In the "News" tab on the Google homepage (top left), it is even possible to limit the search to articles published between two dates of the previous month or to those published "since one hour".
Gain precision thanks to the magic click
If, among the results proposed, some seem more relevant, click on the mention "Similar pages", which appears in blue at the end of the answer that interests you. Google then sends you the list of associated sites. No need to spend long minutes analyzing all the result pages. Similarly, if you want to visit the website of a company or institution, click on "I'm feeling lucky" after typing its name in the search field. You will be directly connected to its web page without going through the results.
Activate filters to avoid surprises
Are you looking for classified ads (to find a new supplier), information related to meetings (professional or friendly) or introductions (on the Stock Exchange)? In order to eliminate adult sites from the list of answers, activate Safe Search in "Preferences" by defining a degree of filtering ("strict" to ban images and texts of a sexual nature or "moderate" to exclude only the first ones). Perfect for a customer demo.
Use the translator's help
Google allows you to translate foreign sites into French. On the start page, unfold the "More" menu (top left) and choose "Translation". In the window that opens, type an address - for example, that of the American corporate website of Coca-Cola. Then select the original language (English) and the language into which the translation should be made (French). We note approximations (Muhtar Kent, the CEO of the Atlanta firm, thus becomes "CEO"), but, overall, the translator gives a correct idea of the content and sections. This function is also useful for translating documents and can serve as a dictionary for words or expressions.
Search on a particular site
To find out what a particular source (a magazine, a company or an organization) has published on a given subject, you will save precious time by limiting the query to its site. To do this, type site: and its domain name. Thus, to find out what the magazine "Capital" has written about the subprime crisis, the title of your search will be: + crisis + subprimes site:capital.fr. You can even specify, by going to "Advanced Search", where your search terms appear (anywhere on the page, in the title, in the URL address…).
Use specialized engines
At the top left of the homepage are (in blue and underlined) Google's specialized engines. The "News" section allows you to limit the search to news sites, "Images" to photos, and so on. The "Maps" tool can be used as a directory to find the coordinates of service providers. Finally, the "Books" section gives access to a real virtual library. Type a subject in the search field and you get the list of all the books related to it. Some are even available online. Ideal for preparing a seminar or conference.
Posted online April 18, 2011
Capital.fr
Eight out of ten internet users use Google today. To make their search engine the undisputed leader of the Web, Larry Page and Sergey Brin have constantly multiplied innovations. The latest? An application for iPhone (free download on the App Store), which allows you to launch your search vocally. But Google primarily owes its success to its power. And this, precisely, can play tricks on the unwary user, who quickly finds himself overwhelmed by a deluge of results. It is only by learning to refine his searches that he will fully exploit the potential of this "big engine" of the Web.
Type at least three keywords
Google allows the simultaneous use of 32 keywords. The more you use, the more the results will match your expectations. Typing at least three is enough to eliminate a large number of unnecessary results. Remember that the order in which these keywords are entered affects the results. And to avoid slowing down the search, exclude words such as "the, and, of…", as well as single letters or numbers.
Use special characters
A series of symbols typed in front of keywords help to clarify requests. Are you looking for a complete expression, a proper name, a quote? Use quotation marks. If you have forgotten a term in the sentence, replace it with an asterisk ("work more for more"). By adding + in front of a word (without spaces), you will get answers that necessarily contain it. Thus, if you are looking for a marketing project manager position in the automotive sector, type: "marketing project manager" + automotive. On the other hand, to exclude a word from the results, place a - sign in front of it (without spaces). If you want to get a price range, insert two colons without spaces between the extreme values of the desired range. Example: projector 100€..150€. A tip also valid for dates, weights, etc. All these functions are found in the "Advanced Search" option, but you will save time by using them directly.
Expand the search to synonyms
Hesitating about the keyword to use? Type ~ (ctrl+alt+2 on PC) in front of a term and Google will expand the search to synonyms. If you are looking for a service provider to protect your computer network, write: company service computer protection. Instead of listing only the headings containing "company service" and/or "computer protection", the engine will also display companies specializing in system maintenance, data protection, anti-hacking surveillance, etc. If you hesitate between several terms, insert the symbol "|" (ctrl+alt+6 on PC) between the words (without spaces): Google will indifferently perform the search on one or the other of the terms (for example: "household consumption" France drop|fall|decrease).
Target a specific file format
It is possible to specify a document format (Word, Acrobat, PowerPoint…). Ideal when searching for reports produced by organizations or companies, but poorly highlighted on their website, or information on a partner. To do this, type filetype: and the extension (without a dot and without spaces) of the desired application (doc, pdf, ppt…).
Delimit results over time
In the "Advanced Search" option, you can choose to limit the answers to information published in the last twenty-four hours, week, month or year. To find articles on the consequences of the scrappage bonus (for vehicles over ten years old), type "scrappage bonus" and select "last 31 days" in the "Date" drop-down menu. But if you want data on the device itself, choose "last 365 days" (the measure dates from last January). In the "News" tab on the Google homepage (top left), it is even possible to limit the search to articles published between two dates of the previous month or to those published "since one hour".
Gain precision thanks to the magic click
If, among the results proposed, some seem more relevant, click on the mention "Similar pages", which appears in blue at the end of the answer that interests you. Google then sends you the list of associated sites. No need to spend long minutes analyzing all the result pages. Similarly, if you want to visit the website of a company or institution, click on "I'm feeling lucky" after typing its name in the search field. You will be directly connected to its web page without going through the results.
Activate filters to avoid surprises
Are you looking for classified ads (to find a new supplier), information related to meetings (professional or friendly) or introductions (on the Stock Exchange)? In order to eliminate adult sites from the list of answers, activate Safe Search in "Preferences" by defining a degree of filtering ("strict" to ban images and texts of a sexual nature or "moderate" to exclude only the first ones). Perfect for a customer demo.
Use the translator's help
Google allows you to translate foreign sites into French. On the start page, unfold the "More" menu (top left) and choose "Translation". In the window that opens, type an address - for example, that of the American corporate website of Coca-Cola. Then select the original language (English) and the language into which the translation should be made (French). We note approximations (Muhtar Kent, the CEO of the Atlanta firm, thus becomes "CEO"), but, overall, the translator gives a correct idea of the content and sections. This function is also useful for translating documents and can serve as a dictionary for words or expressions.
Search on a particular site
To find out what a particular source (a magazine, a company or an organization) has published on a given subject, you will save precious time by limiting the query to its site. To do this, type site: and its domain name. Thus, to find out what the magazine "Capital" has written about the subprime crisis, the title of your search will be: + crisis + subprimes site:capital.fr. You can even specify, by going to "Advanced Search", where your search terms appear (anywhere on the page, in the title, in the URL address…).
Use specialized engines
At the top left of the homepage are (in blue and underlined) Google's specialized engines. The "News" section allows you to limit the search to news sites, "Images" to photos, and so on. The "Maps" tool can be used as a directory to find the coordinates of service providers. Finally, the "Books" section gives access to a real virtual library. Type a subject in the search field and you get the list of all the books related to it. Some are even available online. Ideal for preparing a seminar or conference.
Posted online April 18, 2011
Capital.fr
