Internet Searching Tips

Would you like some good internet searching tips?? Here's the first one: "Furious activity is no substitute for understanding!"

"If you search the Internet on a regular basis, you should invest a few hours to learn how to make your search time more productive."

"The initial problem with searching the Internet is that everyone assumes it is easy. In fact, it is not! The number of sites queried by most search engines has grown tremendously. The real problem is getting too many 'hits'. So it can be quite a challenge to find the site(s) that has the information you are actually looking for." Michael Botos, EDP (Michael is a certified 'Electronic Document Professional')


STARTING YOUR SEARCH

It's always a good idea to THINK about your search before you begin. Create an internet searching strategy in your head by asking yourself this question:

What do I want to do?

1. Browse?
2. Locate a specific piece of information?
3. Retrieve everything I can on the subject?

Your answer will determine how you conduct your search and what tools you'll use.

1. If you're browsing and trying to determine what's available in your subject area, start out by selecting a subject directory like Yahoo! Then, enter your search keyword(s) into one of the metasearch engines, such as Dogpile.com, just to see what's out there.

2. If you're looking for a specific piece of information, go to a major search engine such as Google, or to a specialized database such as Bureau of the Census (for statistics).

3. If you want to retrieve everything you can on a subject, try the same search on several search engines. Also, don't forget to check resources off the Web, such as books, newspapers, journals and other print reference sources.

Adapted from The University of South Carolina, Beaufort Library,
Bare Bones Lesson 6: Creating a Search Strategy


Then, too, there's Google.

If you want to go beyond just typing a query into the search box, go to the Google Advanced Search Page

In addition to providing easy access to billions of web pages, Google has many special internet searching tips to help you find exactly what you're looking for. See them here: Google Web Search Features

You might also want to see the internet searching tips on the Google Cheat Sheet


Meta-Search Engines

A meta-search engine transmits your search request to several individual search engines and their databases of web pages. You get back results from all the search engines queried. Meta-search engines do not own any databases of Web pages; they send your search terms to databases maintained by search engine companies.

The following webpage from the U.C. Berkeley Library briefly discusses Meta-Search Engines, gives short tips on using them, and lists some of the best. I personally like Dogpile!

Meta-Search Engines

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTER!
Get valuable information about making your living online.
Your privacy is absolutely guaranteed.

Back to the HOME page
from this page on Internet Searching Tips