Google is part of our lives. Time to get better at it than just typing in your name! First off, check this out - it's Google's own How To page.
I have added 8 tips from that Google page to supplement the most excellent "12 Quick Tips To Search Google Like An Expert" blog, which was posted by Dharmesh Shah of Small Business Hub earlier this year. (Great blog by the way).
Explicit Phrase: Enclose the search phrase within double quotes. Example: "internet marketing"
Exclude Words: To search for content but to exclude results that contain a term - use the "-" sign in front of the word you want to exclude. Example Search: internet marketing -advertising
Site Specific Search: To search a specific website for content that matches a certain phrase simply use the "site:somesite.com" modifier. Example: "birthday cards" site:www.longtermclients.com
Similar Words and Synonyms: o include a word in your search, and to display results that contain similar words or synonyms - use the "~" in front of the word. Example: "greeting cards" ~professional
Specific Document Types: To find results of a specific type, use the modifier "filetype:". To find only PowerPoint presentations related to internet marketing, do this: "internet marketing" filetype:ppt
This OR That: Find all the terms specified in a search. If you are looking for one or more terms that match or are close, - use the OR operator. (Note: The OR must be capitalized). Example: internet marketing OR advertising
Phone Listing: Look up phone numbers on Google using the phonebook feature. Example: phonebook:617-555-1212
Area Code Lookup: To look-up the location of an area code enter the 3-digit area code and Google will tell you where it’s from. Example: 617
Stock Symbol: Enter a valid symbol and Google will give you the current financials and a quick thumb-nail chart for the stock. Example: GOOG
Calculator: To do a quick calculation, type your expression in to Google. Example: 48512 * 1.02
Word Definitions: To define a word or phrase, use the "define:" command. Example: define:plethora
Convert: Examples: "72F in C" "100cm in inches" "100 US gallons in UK gallons" "100bar in psi"
Local Time: "Time in Tokyo" or any major city displays the local time
Currency Convertsion: Example: 100 GBP in USD
Weather: "Weather (zip code)" gives the forecast. Ex. "weather 20500". Or use the city if you don't know the zip. Example: "weather in Detroit"
Travel: Type the airport's three letter code followed by "airport." For San Francisco delays and weather conditions - type in "sfo airport."
Questions: Got a question? Type it in. Example: population of Japan
Shopping: Want a pizza? Sushi? Type it in and your city. Example: Sushi Boston
full credit: Small Business Hub blog by Darmesh Sharma. Subscribe!
