3 tips for more effective online searches

Each and every one of us knows what it’s like to perform an online search and get results that are not even close to what we were looking for. This can be quite frustrating. Fortunately, there are many simple steps you can take that can ensure more relevant search results.

Keep it simple

When you’re performing online searches it is typically 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 give you accurate results that will likely be quite relevant.

Learn about Boolean

Boolean searches are something most of us know about, whether we realize it or not. Basically, Boolean searches revolve around using the terms “and,” “not” and “or” in your searches. It allows you to include or exclude several words and phrases from your search results.

This concept also works 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 can immediately eliminate a great deal of the unrelated and confusing search results. If the search terms you use are too general, you are often left with thousands of results that have nothing to do with what you’re looking for.

Using quotation marks is a great way to ensure better search results. Most search engines recognize that as a request for an exact phrase search. So, if you’re looking for a company and know the exact name, it may be in your best interest to search for it in quotes.

These three tips 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.


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