3 tips for better online searches
Often, when we conduct online searches we end up getting hundreds of thousands of results – many of them irrelevant. Thankfully, there are a number of simple steps you can take to help generate more accurate results.
Keep it simple
When you’re performing online searches it is usually 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
Boolean searches are something many of us are familiar with, whether we realize it or not. Essentially, Boolean searches center around using the terms “and,” “not” and “or” in your searches. It enables you to include or exclude several words and phrases from your search results.
This concept also is effective when you use pluses or minuses in your searches. If you want to include a phrase 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
Preciseness is one of the most basic ways to ensure better search results. Using broad phrases can often leave you with thousands of results that have little to nothing to do with what you’re searching for.
Quotation marks are typically very useful when performing an online search. Most search engines recognize it as meaning “search for this exact phrase.” So, when you know the business or idea you’re searching for, it may be best to search for it in quotes.
These three strategies can make quite the difference when it comes to relevance of search results. Implementing them can almost guarantee that you will spend much less time sorting through results you don’t want.
If you’d like even more tips on performing online searches, take a look at this article.