Perform better online searches with these suggestions
Often, when we conduct online searches we wind up getting hundreds of thousands of results – many of them irrelevant. Thankfully, there are many simple steps you can take to help generate more accurate results.
Keep it simple
When you’re performing online searches it is typically best to use as few words and phrases as possible, while still communicating what you’re searching for. If you’re looking for a bookstore in your area, simply type in “bookstore” and add the name of your town or your zip code. This should provide you with accurate results that will likely be quite relevant.
Learn about Boolean
Whether you know it or not, you are probably familiar with Boolean searches. This simply refers to using terms like “and,” “not” and “or” in your online searches. This is a good thing to do when you are more familiar with what you’re searching for and know which terms you wish to include or exclude.
This concept also is effective when you use pluses or minuses in your searches. If you want to include a word in your search results, simply type a “ ” before it in your search. If you want to exclude something, precede it with a “-“ when you search.
Be precise
When you’re conducting a search, it’s best to be as specific as possible. If you know what it is that you’re looking for, use exact phrases instead of just keywords. When you use broad phrases, they can often be misinterpreted by the search engine and leave you with results you don’t need.
Quotation marks are generally the international search engine symbol to search for an exact phrase. If you are looking for something specific, using quotation marks can help ensure that your results are more relevant.
All of these suggestions are unbelievably simple and extremely useful. Taking these into account when you’re searching online can greatly improve your search results.
For even more tips on performing online searches, take a look at this article.