The best Googlers unearth some secrets when they search. While most everyone else is still in the dust and still combing through countless search results, knowing these 10 effective ways to search will go a long way in getting you exactly what you want.
When trying to use Google to find an answer to a particular question, we receive thousands of results. Until you know how to search on Google using any of these effective tips, it can overwhelm and lead you astray. Here are 10 of the best Google search tips I’ve ever used.
Google denies it manipulates search results.
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1. Use tags provided by Google
Note that when you do a search on Google, once you hit enter, it gives you various tabs. It gives you options to search for pictures, news, maps and shopping. It even includes a “More” tab that gives you additional search options such as videos, books, and flights. Depending on what you’re looking for, these tabs can help cut your search time in half and get you the specific results you’re looking for.
Screenshot of combat boots for sale.
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2. Search with quotes
If you’re asking a very specific question or looking for a specific term, it may be beneficial to type what you’re looking for in quotation marks before pressing Enter. When you try to search for a term like a water bottle with a filter and you don’t include the quotes, Google will search for anything that contains those four words.
Screenshot of a Google search for water bottles with filters, without quotes in the search bar.
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But if you put “water bottle with filter” In quotes, Google will know to search for that specific term, giving you what you’re looking for.
Screenshot of using quotes to search for water bottles on Google.
(Fox News.)
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3. Use a colon to search for a specific site
Sometimes when searching, you may find information from a specific website. For example, if you’re looking for information about New York Yankees baseball player Aaron Judge, just Google his name and you’ll find tons of articles about that athlete from all the different sites.
Screenshot of a Google search for Aaron Judge.
(Fox News)
But if you specifically want to view articles on the official MLB website on Judge, all you have to do is type Aaron Judge Website: mlb.comthe result will be every MLB article about him.
MLB Google Aaron Judge.
(Fox News)
4. Use the asterisk wildcard
This is a particularly useful tip if you’re looking up the name of a song or movie whose name you can’t remember. Using an asterisk in a Google search leaves a placeholder in your search that can be autofilled by the search engine later. For example, if you try to google “o * you can *Google can fill in those words and give you Stars and Stripes results.
Screenshot of Google search with asterisks.
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5. Search for sites similar to other sites
Many people use a website as their “go-to” when they want to buy something, but searching on the same site all the time can get a little boring. If you want to broaden your horizons and explore other sites, but aren’t sure how to simply ask Google to provide you with sites related to your favorite sites. For example, if you search for “Related: cvs.com‘, and Google will give you options for other sites like cvs.com.
Screenshot of Google Search and similar sites to CVS.
(Fox News)
6. Use + or – in search
Using + or – symbols in your search will help add or omit details and get you closer to what you’re looking for.For example, if you’re looking for a good brand of toothpaste but don’t want to use Crest, you can search Toothpaste – Crest Google will give you a variety of other toothpaste brands.
Googling toothpaste to demonstrate the use of plus and minus signs in google.
(Fox News)
Alternatively, you can use the + sign if you want to add something specific to your search.For example, if you’re looking for a long dress with polka dots, you can type long skirt + dots It will give you the exact.
Screenshot of searching for maxi dresses on Google using plus and minus signs.
(Fox News)
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7. Use Advanced Google Search
If you don’t want to learn, you can skip all these tricks and go straight to Google’s advanced search options. It already has various modifier settings built in, so you can get as specific a setup as possible.just enter Advanced Search Go into your Google tab and click the first link on the Advanced Search page.
Screenshot of Google Advanced Search.
(Fox News)
8. Set time limits
When you Google something, you’ll notice a tool button just below the search bar after you press Enter. By clicking on it, Google will give you the option to modify your search by time. Let’s say you want to find articles published last week about the Apple iPhone. All you have to do is type iPhone in the search bar, Select the tool, then change the time option to the past week.
Google for iPhone.
(Fox News)
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9. Solve Mathematical Equations
If you want a fun and fast way to perform math equations, you can simply google them.When you enter an equation such as 25*43 It spits out the answer immediately. If you want to keep doing more equations, this page will give you a full calculator keyboard to solve any problem you want.
Screenshot demonstrating how to use Google to solve a math equation.
(Fox News)
10. Search for specific file types
There is also a way to search if you’re looking for documents of a specific file type, such as PDF or PowerPoint. For example, you might want to read some Shakespeare plays online and find it easiest to read them in PDF format.To search for this content, enter Shakespeare playsfiletype:pdf Google will strictly give you PDF results.
Screenshot of Google Search for Shakespeare plays showing Google searches for specific file types.
(Fox News)
For more of my Google tips, go to CyberGuy.com and search for “Google” and be sure to sign up for my free newsletter.
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