Smarter Surfing

Tips from Around the Web on how to Use Google to Search more Effectively

Posted July 27, 2000; updated Mar. 17, 2003
 
Almost everybody agrees that Google is the best search engine. surprisingly, though, very few people spend much time learning how to make the most of it.

Here are some tips that can improve your Google search results:

1. Searching for a specific file? Google for:
   “Index +of” $filename
   The quotation marks are relevant.
   [Attribution: Slashdot]
2. Tweak the URL to get Google News to display the navigation bar on top
   [Attribution: Slashdot]
3. Tara Calishain, the co-author of Google Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips and Tools has a website with plenty of cool Google tips and tricks.
4. Google has a number of specialized tech search options.
   For example, try:
   www.google.com/mac
   www.google.com/linux
   www.google.com/microsoft

For Further Reading:

• The Power Of Search Engines And Demos

  Summary: Using Alta Vista's advanced search options to reduce the number of "false hits" you receive when performing a search. Also, how to avoid "spam" and irrelevant junk mail when browsing  Usenet newsgroups. By Graeme Bennett.
   

• Promoting Your Website  -- as important as building it.

  Summary: A discussion of Metatags and how search engines find pages. By Graeme Bennett.
   

• GenieKnows.com

  Summary: Halifax trio unveils Internet super-searcher.
   

• The Search for thePefect Search Engine

  Summary: There is a a need for better indexing design if we're to be able to find things on the Web. This article looks at some recent innovations.