Intro To Effectively Using Search Engines

Everyday, people ask me .. "how do I fix this XYZ problem?".  If I don't know the answer right off, I simply go online to Google, and perform a search for the problem.  POOF - there it is in black & white (red, green, etc.).  I then relay the information to my caller - they THINK I'm really smart.  In one sense I am - I know how to search the net!  It's an acquired skill and the more you use it the better you get at it.

If you learn one thing this semester, LEARN HOW TO SEARCH FOR HELP!  You can thank me later!  This page has more information than you need, but it's a great place to start the learning process.

Web Searching Tips

This section provides tips on using search engines better, along with some fun facts such as what people search for on search engines.  All links connect externally.  Thanks to Search Engine Watch, you have direct access to all the search engine help below.

Using Search Engines Better

• Web Search Strategies - A Guide to Finding It Online
• Search Engine Math
  Explains how to use simple commands to improve the results you get from search engines.
• Power Searching For Anyone
  A summary of how to do advanced searches with the major search engines, including field searching.
• Search Assistance Features
  A summary of how to do advanced searches with the major search engines, including phrase searching.
• Search Features Chart
  A one page summary of major search commands and operators at various search engines, plus a comparison of special search features.
• Search Links: Search Engines Worldwide
  Search Links is a collection of search engines, ranging from the major global search engines to those designed for kids
• Search Engine Tutorials
  Links to tutorials, guides, articles and resources to help you use search engines better
• Search Toolbars & Utilities
  Covers search toolbars, companions and utilities that let you access search engines, meta search utilities and other programs to help with searching.
• Boolean Searching
  Explains how to use Boolean commands and operators on the major search engines.
• Search Engine Reviews
  Reviews of search engines and articles that offer a behind-the-scenes look at how they work.
• Search Engine Glossary
  Definition of terms relating to search engines, such as phrase search, Boolean operators, stop words and more.

Fun Stuff

• What People Search For - Most Popular Keywords
  A summary of places to see what people are searching for, or the most popular search words, top keywords, on the web. Includes WebCrawler SearchTicker, MetaCrawler MetaSpy and Magellan Voyeur
• Sprechen Sie Search Engines?
  How to say search engines in major languages, such as French and German.

Under the Hood of Search Engines
Some of these pages are written primarily for webmasters, but anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of search engines will find them interesting.

• How Search Engines Work
• How Search Engines Rank Web Pages
• Search Engine Sizes