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The miraculous and ubiquitous Google is something that needs no introduction. From children to adults everyone is aware of its worth. There are several myths about Google which keep its users away from its right usage. People believe that there is a lack of credible information on Google and the unwanted results from millions of resources are inevitable.
You can find trustworthy information and can filter it to avoid unwanted results by utilizing right tricks and strategies. Google search is very simple to use and by applying different techniques for search you can get better outcome of your query. Since it uses cloud computing, Google retrieves information from all over the world which can be made specific by basic search methods. Here are some tips and tricks for you which will surely help you to get great results from Google search.
In order to make your search powerful there are some basic tips that should be adopted to refine your search. Before going into detail I would like you to know that although Google shows all possible results but there are some keywords which are ignored by this search engine. These are those words which appears too frequently to be of any use like I, where, a, an, the, this, that, about etc. Some tips that I found constructive are as follows.
If searching for a specific quote then use quotation marks (“”). The Google will find out the results containing accurate set of words without any change in order. You can also use a plus sign (+) immediately before the word without any space, it will provide you the same result as from quotation marks.
If Searching information from a specific website then use the keyword with the name of your desired website and separate them with double colon [abc: xyz.com]. You can specify domain as well like [abc: .gov] or [abc: .uk]. It will show result only from government site or in case of other domain only from sites with your required domain.
If you want to exclude a specific word from your search results then you can use a minus sign. This will omit the word following minus sign from search results except the words where minus sign is used as a hyphen like [eye-catching]. This example will show websites containing information about eye-catching.
If searching for a unclear information about a specific thing then use (*). The Google will find out all possible combination of information to the related post like [* flower].
You can give Google a choice between two keywords by using OR operator. The Google will submit results about either of the two keywords like [world cup 2011 OR 2006]. The resulting sites will be about world cup 2006 or world 2011 whereas if you expel OR operator than the consequence will include those sites which contain the information about both.
Along with tips and tactics, strategies are also required to get a fruitful result. Following are some strategies for you to optimize your search.
Besides searching a keyword using basic guidelines there are some special queries that can be used to search in an advanced form. These queries will restrict your search and prohibit you from wastage of time. These queries are very much similar to the query used to make your search specific to a country or domain. There are some smarter and advanced features of Google which will enthrall you.
If you want to book a flight you can write the names of the destinations only and Google will retrieve the flight information like [khi isb].
If you want a result within a range of numbers than you can write it like [12…20] instead of specifying all numbers of the range.
If you want to have a result only in a specific file type then write your keyword along with filetype:pdf like [airplanes filetype:pdf].
You can even found links of a webpage by using query like [link: www.1stwebdesigner.com].
If you are searching for a definition then you can refine your search by adding the word “define” with a colon like this [define: jazz]. This will give you result which holds definition of the word only.
If you are searching for phone number from a specific region then use phone book : like [phone book : New York].
You can find sources related to movies only by using query like [movie : New York]. This will give you result not only about movie but also its showtimes, reviews etc.
If you want only stock information or finance news then write your keyword or ticker symbols along with stocks : like this [stocks : Google].
If you are searching for a web page of that object which is popular for something then use [allinanchor: useful educational sites] and [allintitle : web designer ] to view a page with a title containing “web” and “designer”.
This shortcut will be helpful if you want to know the meaning of any word. Just type in the word followed by the word define and get results. By using this shortcut you do not need to search the whole dictionary.
Google has blessed us with a Google calculator. You do not need to waste your time in searching for calculator. It works like any simple calculator, try it and make your calculations easy.
Now you can search public data to know population rate or unemployment rate by using this shortcut. Just type population or unemployment rate with the name of city and get the answers.
If you are searching for time to reset your clocks then Google will let you know the time of any city of the world by this tool. Find time by writing time in the search box with the name of the city.
Due to high frequency of natural disasters around the world. Google has made this shortcut to provide information about earthquake and related activities from all over the world.
Due to shortage of time, mostly a machine is required that replies with our less efforts. This shortcut is one contribution of Google to provide accessibility without less effort. Now you need to write only the initials of the information with a asterix sign and the Google will fill the blank itself.
This is very helpful for those who works in postal services. This tool will tell you the location of the zip code. You just have to write the zip code in the search engine.
Conversion of units are also very comfy now by Google unit conversion. Type the desired unit with the amount that you want to convert and get the converted rate.
This is another tool by Google, using this you can convert any currency amount into desired currency you want.
This tool will help you if you want to track your package by just typing the tracking number for Fedex or USPS.
This tool will give you information of mortgage rate which will depends on your location. The resulted links will comprises of the websites that contains the information of the mortgage rate.
Thats all. If there is anything we missed, please feel free to tip us in comments :)
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Thursday, December 8th, 2011 11:42
It knew almost all the commands of search, with the exception of mortgage rates and package tracking. I expect not to have to use the first one for nothing XD
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 22:17
Google have many secrets witch we can use?or is some supplementary functions for one filter who is public functions?
Thank you for reply me
Sunday, October 16th, 2011 17:26
Thanks for the very helpful article. It will help me become a search pro in no time. Thanks again
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 00:27
It’s an “Asterisk” not an “Asterix” :)
Thursday, May 26th, 2011 14:02
Thanks for the very helpful article. You should consider writing a mini eBook with all this information, most people will find the information invaluable. It will help me become a search pro in no time. Thanks
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 06:55
Awesome…..it will surely help us.
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 17:32
For you 2nd tip – Use domain or website name
It does not work on Google on my side. I use
site:www.1stwebdesigner.com wordpress
Friday, April 29th, 2011 13:04
gr8 article got some more of tools to use google which i didn’t know yet. thanks :)
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 09:56
Some really nice tips there. There are also a lot of great tools available in Google Labs which can help improve your overall Google search experience.
Sunday, April 24th, 2011 14:16
This is a nice compilation of Google tools. A few that I have not seen before too, so thank you very much.
Have a good day!
Sunday, April 24th, 2011 14:01
thanks everyone for your valuable comments… :)
Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 08:50
These tips are really helpful. personally I use the quotes and + symbol a lot..
Really nice article.. thanks
Friday, April 22nd, 2011 10:30
this ones gonna help me for a long time.. :) thanks for sharing.. :)
Thursday, April 21st, 2011 23:42
Learned something new, as i did not know all the tips mentioned here, thanks!
Thursday, April 21st, 2011 17:47
The filetype code helps me to find free files like .zip or .pdf.
Thursday, April 21st, 2011 12:42
You may use Google like a Pro, but I use it LIKE A BOSS!
Thursday, April 28th, 2011 13:57
Google ‘LIKE A BOSS’ and you’ll get the joke!
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Machina
Thursday, April 21st, 2011 12:42
You may use Google like a Pro, but I use it LIKE A BOSS!
Dainis Graveris
Thursday, April 21st, 2011 19:32
And how exactly is it? ;D
Machina
Thursday, April 28th, 2011 13:57
Google ‘LIKE A BOSS’ and you’ll get the joke!
Arpan Kar
Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 08:51
really helpful article. thanks
Faiza
Sunday, April 24th, 2011 14:01
thanks everyone for your valuable comments… :)
mark
Sunday, April 24th, 2011 14:16
This is a nice compilation of Google tools. A few that I have not seen before too, so thank you very much.
Have a good day!
Arpan Kar
Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 08:50
These tips are really helpful. personally I use the quotes and + symbol a lot..
Really nice article.. thanks
manohar
Friday, April 22nd, 2011 10:30
this ones gonna help me for a long time.. :) thanks for sharing.. :)
Dinesh
Thursday, April 21st, 2011 17:47
The filetype code helps me to find free files like .zip or .pdf.
Theo
Thursday, April 21st, 2011 23:42
Learned something new, as i did not know all the tips mentioned here, thanks!
James
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 09:56
Some really nice tips there. There are also a lot of great tools available in Google Labs which can help improve your overall Google search experience.
Rohit Panghal
Sunday, October 16th, 2011 17:26
Thanks for the very helpful article. It will help me become a search pro in no time. Thanks again
Walter
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 22:17
Google have many secrets witch we can use?or is some supplementary functions for one filter who is public functions?
Thank you for reply me
Zed
Thursday, December 8th, 2011 11:42
It knew almost all the commands of search, with the exception of mortgage rates and package tracking. I expect not to have to use the first one for nothing XD
Derek
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 00:27
It’s an “Asterisk” not an “Asterix” :)
Ray
Thursday, May 26th, 2011 14:02
Thanks for the very helpful article. You should consider writing a mini eBook with all this information, most people will find the information invaluable. It will help me become a search pro in no time. Thanks
Aryan
Friday, April 29th, 2011 13:04
gr8 article got some more of tools to use google which i didn’t know yet. thanks :)
cuded
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 17:32
For you 2nd tip – Use domain or website name
It does not work on Google on my side. I use
site:www.1stwebdesigner.com wordpress
Diggi
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 06:55
Awesome…..it will surely help us.