Millions of people search on Google every day for different reasons. Students do it for their studies, business people do it for research, and many do it for fun. But most people probably don’t use Google search enough.

Want to use Google search effectively and get results quickly? Here are 20 search hacks to maximize your search efficiency:

1. Use labels

The first trick is to use Google search tags. There are a lot of tabs at the top (and maybe not at the top) of each search. Usually you’ll see tags for sites, images, news, and other tags. Using these tags, you can define your own search scope.

If you need an image, use the image tag. If you’re looking for recent news, use the news tag.

This is basic, and most people already use tags. If you haven’t already, it is highly recommended that you use tags. Using them correctly can save you a lot of time.

2. Use quotation marks

When you search for specific content, try using quotation marks to make Google search less guesswork. When you put the search in quotes, this tells the search engine to search for the entire phrase.

For example, if you search for Puppy Dog Sweaters, the search engine searches for Sweaters in any order containing the three words.

But if you search for “Puppy Dog Sweaters”, the engine searches for that phrase exactly as you typed it. This can help you find specific information that might be hidden under other content if it’s not sorted properly.

3. Use hyphens to exclude words

Sometimes you find yourself searching for ambiguous words. For example, Mustang. When you Google Mustang, you’re likely to get ford cars and horses. If you want to exclude one, use a hyphen to tell the search engines to ignore it. You can look at the following example.

  • Mustang -cars

This tells the search engine to search for Mustang, but exclude any results that contain the word “car.” It’s useful when looking for content, because you don’t have to get information that contains something.

4. Use colons to search for specific sites

You might find yourself in a situation where you need to Google relevant content or articles on a particular site. The syntax for this case is very simple, see below.

  • Sidney Crosby site:nhl.com

This is a search for Sidney Crosby, a famous hockey player, but only on NHL.com. All other results will be removed. Use this shortcut if you need to find specific content on a specific site.

5. Find pages that link to other pages

This Google search trick is a bit arcane. You are searching for links to specific pages, not for specific pages.

Think about it in a different way. If you want to know who quotes a New York Times article on their website, you can use this technique to find all the websites that link to it. Its syntax is as follows:

  • link:nytimes.com

This will return all pages linked to the official New York Times website. The right hand side of a URL can be almost anything.

Note, however, that the more specific the URL, the less results you’ll get. We know that many people won’t use this Google search trick, but it can be useful for some.

6. Use asterisk wildcards

The asterisk wildcard is one of the most useful tips on this list. Here’s how it works.

When you use an asterisk in a Google search, it leaves a placeholder that the search engine can then fill in automatically. If you forget the full lyrics, this is a smart way to find them. Let’s look at the syntax:

  • Come * right now * me

To you and me, this may seem like nonsense. However, a Google search will search for the phrase because it knows that the asterisk stands for any word.

Often, you’ll find they’re lyrics to The Beatles’ “Come Together” song, and that’s what a search will tell you.

7. Find sites that are similar to other sites

This is a unique technique that most people would use if they knew it existed.

Let’s say you have a website that you really like. It can be anything. However, the site is a bit boring and you want to find other sites like it. You will use this technique. Here is the syntax:

  • related:amazon.com

If you search the content above, you won’t find a link to Amazon. Instead, you’ll find links to online stores like Amazon. Barnes & Noble, Best Buy and other sites that sell physical goods online. It’s a powerful Google search trick that can help you find new websites you want to visit.

8. Do math with Google searches

Yes, Google searches can do the math for you. This is rather complicated to describe because it can be used in many ways. You can ask Google for basic (math) questions or something more difficult.

It’s important to note that Google search won’t solve all the math problems, but it will solve a lot. Here are some syntax examples:

  • 8 times 5 plus 5

  • Planck ‘s Consant

If you search first, the search engine will return 45. Of course, it also shows a calculator so you can find other problems.

This is handy if you need to do some quick math but don’t want to do it in your head. If you search for the second term, it will return the value of Planck’s constant.

So it can do math, and it can help you solve math problems by showing you the values of known math terms.

9. Search for multiple words at once

Google search is flexible. It knows that you may not be able to find what you’re looking for simply by searching for a single word or phrase. Therefore, it allows you to search multiple times.

By using this technique, you can search for one word or phrase as well as a second word or phrase. This helps narrow down your search to help you find what you need. Here’s the syntax:

  • Best ways to prepare for a job interview OR How to prepare for a job Interview

By searching above, you will search for two phrases. Do you remember the quote marks above? It’s also used here. In this example, the two exact phrases will be searched. You can also search by word, as in the following example:

  • chocolate OR white chocolate

Will search for pages containing chocolate or white chocolate!

10. Search a list of numbers

Searching a range of numbers is another technique that many people probably won’t use. But the people who use it have probably been using it for a while.

Anyone interested in money or statistics will find this tip especially useful. Basically, you use two dots and a number to let Google search know that you’re looking for a specific range of numbers. The syntax is as follows:

  • What teams have won the Stanley Cup .. 2004

  • 41.. 43

In the first example, the search engine will return the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2004. Two dots followed by a number will tell search engines that you are not looking for content before or after 2004. This can help you narrow down to a specific number to improve your search results.

In the second example, Google will search for the numbers 41, 42, and 43. It’s vague, but it can be useful if you need to search for numbers like this.

11. Keep it lean

Now let’s move on to the general technique. Google Search knows how to search for many things. This means you don’t have to be overly specific about what you type. If you want to know about pizza places nearby, use the search below.

  • Pizza places nearby

A Google search will pick up your location and provide a variety of results about pizzerias near you.

12. Gradually add search terms

Sometimes Google doesn’t give you the results you were expecting. In this case, staying lean (see article 11) may not be the best option.

As Google itself suggests, the best approach is to start with something simple and gradually grow more complex. Look at the following example:

  • First attempt: Job Interviews

  • Second attempt: Prepare for Job Interviews

  • Third attempt: How to prepare for a job interview

This will gradually refine search, giving you fewer but more targeted items. The reason you don’t have to go straight from the first to the third attempt is that you might miss out on what you want by skipping the second attempt.

Millions of websites present the same information in different ways; With this technique, you can search for as much of the best information as possible.

13. Use web jargon

This is an important point. When people use Google Search to access the Web, they usually search for content in language similar to ordinary speech.

Unfortunately, websites don’t communicate the way people do; Instead, they try to use professional-sounding language. Let’s look at the following example:

  • I have a flat tire.

  • “Headache relief.” Should replace “My head Hurts.”

The list is a long one. When you search, try to use technical terms on professional sites. This will help you get more reliable results.

14. Use only keywords

Google search works by matching what you’re searching for with keywords in online content.

When you search for too many words, it can limit the results you get. This means that it actually takes you longer to find what you want. Therefore, when searching for that content, it is appropriate to use only keywords. Let’s take a look at this example:

  • Don’t use: Where can I find a Chinese restaurant that delivers.

  • But try: Chinese restaurants nearby.

  • Or Chinese restaurants near me.

Doing so helps Google find the content you want without causing any confusion. So remember, keep it short (point 11) and use only keywords.

15. Google search has shortcuts

There are many commands that can be typed to give you immediate results.

Like the math example above (point 8), Google can immediately return the search results you want and display the information you need at the top. This can save you a lot of time and effort by keeping you from clicking on a bunch of cumbersome links.

Here’s a sample of some of the commands you can type into Google:

  • Weather * Zip Code * – This will display the Weather for the given zip code (area). You can also use the name of the town or city instead of the area code, but this may not be accurate if there are multiple area codes in the city.

  • What is * Celebrity Name * Bacon Number – This is a funny little story that will show you how many connections any given celebrity has with the famous actor Kevin Bacon. In a popular anecdote, six degrees of separation refers to the fact that no actor is connected to Kevin Bacon at more than six levels. Mark Zuckerberg (and Kevin Bacon) connect through three layers of relationships.

  • The math example.

  • What is the definition of *word* or Define: *word* – This will show the definition of a word.

  • Time *place* – This will display the Time you entered the place.

  • View a stock in Google by typing its name. If you search GOOG, the engine will look at the share value of Google.

These quick commands can replace multiple clicks on a website and compress it into a single search. This helps a lot when you need information over and over again.

⚠️ Broadly speaking: Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon – Any two people in the world can be connected by up to Six people.

Spelling is not necessarily important

Google search has gotten smarter over the years. As a result, you don’t even need to spell the word correctly.

As long as it’s close enough, Google can figure out what it means. Here are some examples:

  • If you search for"Nver Gna Gve Yo Up", Google will automatically assume that you are searching"Never Gonna Give You Up."If your spelling error is accidental, Google will give you the option to correct your search.

This is a great technique if you happen to forget how to spell words or are not at all sure how to spell certain words.

It’s useful when searching for obscure phrases. The same applies to uppercase and syntax.

17. Use descriptive words

Quite a number of things can be described in many ways. Take our namesake, the ** “life hacker”. The term “hacker” refers to a computer programmer who breaches the security of a network or system. However, when used in conjunction with the word “life,” the meaning changes. It refers to small techniques that people can use to improve their lives.

If you can’t find what to search for, keep in mind that people may search or define the information you need differently than you do.

  • You might search “How to install drivers in Ubunut?”

  • But your intent is “Troubleshoot driver problems Ubuntu.”

There really isn’t a good example. If you search for something and can’t find an answer, try asking the same question in different phrases to see if it helps.

18. Find a specific file

An oft-forgotten feature of Google search is the ability to search for a particular file or file type. If you need a specific PDF or PowerPoint file that you have previously viewed or need for another project, this is a great help. The syntax is fairly simple:

  • Search term here filetype:pdf

In the example above, you simply replace the Search term with what you want to Search for. Then use the filetype command, (filetype) followed by any filetype extension you want.

This is useful for academic purposes, but business shows and other kinds of demonstrations can also benefit.

19. Currency and unit conversion

Google searches convert units of measure and currency quickly and accurately. This has many uses, such as checking the conversion rate between two currencies.

If you happen to be a math student, you can use it to convert feet to meters or ounces to liters. Here’s how to do it:

  • Miles to km – This will convert miles to kilometers. You can put numbers in front of (mile) to convert to a specific number. For example, “10 miles to km” will show you how many kilometers are converted from 10 miles.

  • USD to British Pound Sterling – This will convert US dollars into British pounds. As with the units of measure above, you can add numbers (before USD) to find the exact conversion for a specific amount.

This technique is really suitable for math students and international business people. But you’d be surprised to find that this technique is also used by the general public.

20. Track your package

Our final tip is to use Google search to find out where your package is. You can type any UPS,UPSPS or Fedex tracking number directly into the Google search bar and it will display tracking information about your package.

It’s more convenient than going to a specific website, you don’t have to wait for the site to load and then search for your package there.

I don’t need an example. Try entering your tracking number and find the location of your package.

conclusion

Google Search is a very powerful search tool. Using the techniques mentioned above, you can find anything you might need on the World Wide Web.

Whether it’s avoiding Wikipedia’s school paper project, finding the latest stock price, or even finding song lyrics, there are ways to make Google search work for you.

Original: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/20-tips-use-google-search-efficiently.html

Article: https://github.com/reng99/blogs/issues/9

More: https://github.com/reng99/blogs