How you can do better searches on the Internet? Some of the art to it, explained.

[2greys]

Hi. I thought that perhaps some of you would like to know just how to use a search engine more efficiently. Not just type words into Google and hope for the best only to find what you want may be in a seemingly endless list of millions of result returns to scroll through. But to use more advanced methods to do that research and a few of the 'operator' tricks/commands that you can use. This how I find all those articles, generally by using Google Scholar found further down on this blog.

There are some even more advanced commands, but for now I will try to keep things simple. You may want to save or bookmark this post/page for future reference.

• Multiple term search: When you want to make your search as specific as possible, you might want to type in as many keywords as possible to make sure you are narrowing the results. For example, instead of "diet," you might type in "diet healthy vegetarian."

• Quotation marks: If you want the search engine to search for something that is spelled the same way that you typed it in, surround the word with quotation marks. This tells the search engine that you want only results that match the spelling exactly.

• "AND": One of the Boolean operators is "AND," which is a way to tell the search engine that you want to include multiple words in the search engine results. For example, if you want to talk about salt and pepper, then you might type in "salt AND pepper." This will lead to results that include both of the keywords.

• "NOT": If you have a term you need to research, but you do not want another term associated with it, then you would use another Boolean operator. For example, you want to research "pepper NOT salt." This will exclude any results that include salt. You can also type in “Michelle Briggs” -blogs, it’ll exclude blogs in the search.

• "OR": The last used Boolean operator is "OR." If you are not sure what you need to include, but you need to include both terms, you might put "salt OR pepper." Your results might include one or the other or both keywords.

• Use common terms: If you need to do some research on sweatshirts, it might be better to use the word "sweatshirt" instead of "hoodie." Think about the most basic term associated with the idea you need to research.

• Synonyms: You also may want to choose to use synonyms of the topic you need to research if you cannot find the original word online. You can turn to your thesaurus for help with finding synonyms.

• Related terms: You may also want to create a list of related words that can help you begin to find more research results. When talking about an engagement, for example, you might include "diamond ring" in your search list, too.

• List the most significant word first: When you have a list of words you will use in your search engine, type in the most important word first. This will ensure the search engine focuses on the most important term.

• Asterisks: When you are not quite sure how to spell a word or you are missing a part of a phrase, you can use an asterisk to tell the search engine you need help. For example, if you are not sure what Shakespeare's important quote in Hamlet was, you might type "to be * to be." This would return results that answer your question.

• Question marks: If you are not sure about your keywords or a part of the phrase you are typing into the search engine, then use a question mark.

Plus (+) sign: You can also use this to link together the keywords you want used as a part of the search process. For example, you might use "peanut+butter+jelly."

• Use Bullets: If you’re looking for specific content on a website you can use a bullet symbol. If you’re searching for Afghan refugee news.sky.com and put a bullet symbol right before it, it’ll only search for the Afghan refugee on the Sky News website. Like this - •Afghan refugee news.sky.com

bulletpointsymbol.com/

• Finding Similar Sites: Finding similar sites to what you’re looking for. First, type a colon then type related: (website). Now, you’ll find links to websites that are similar to what you typed in.

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Google Scholar: Advanced Search Tips.

You could search for "Google Scholar: Advanced Search Tips" (including the colons) for text based instructions on it's use.

Or watch a video, it may be hard to follow and remember it all. You may also want to go to YouTube itself to be able watch it in full screen mode.

youtube.com/watch?v=kW-7a2C...(Not working as expected?)

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An explanation of generic Top Level Domain names (gTLD).

It is also very helpful to understand the sources of search results, and how reliable they may be.

Some sites are motivated purely for financial purposes, to make money, for profit.they may be exaggerating certain claims or benefits, ie unreliable. They may not actually be selling anything, they could be encouraging you to "sign up" and then sell your details on, to advertising companies.

Or simply by being paid to advertise directly on their site by using pop-ups.

.com

.com has remained popular ever since the first wave of gTLDs was released, and as a result, is the most recognized top-level domain.

• The “com” in .com stands for “commercial”

• .com is the most widely used gTLD of all time

• .com is the most recognized gTLD of all time

Originally intended for use by for-profit, commercial businesses, .com became the go-to extension for the majority of websites.

If someone has the chance to register a domain name with a .com gTLD, they should seriously consider taking advantage of the opportunity. Here’s why:

Familiarity: Almost every internet user has typed “.com” at some point in time (if not on a daily basis) and that’s led to an implicit authority possessed by all .com websites. People tend to trust .com websites as they see them all the time and are most familiar with them.

• SEO Favourability: SEO experts agree that many search engines are biased towards .com websites as .coms are widely used and frequently searched. So websites with a .com domain name have a higher chance of appearing towards the top of search results.

.net

There’s no debating the dominance of the .com gTLD, but there’s also no debating the strength of the gTLDs trailing right behind it in registration volume.

• The “net” in .net stands for “network”

• .net has been a gTLD since the 80s

• .net is one of the most popular gTLDs available

The word “network” suggests that the .net gTLD was originally intended for tech-based companies and industries. It’s frequently used for websites that advertise, promote, and sell web-based services. Or using the Internet providers network used by home customers to publish a website for free as part of their package.

Since fewer .net domain names have been registered than .com domain names, companies or individuals have a higher chance of securing the .net domain name that best fits their brand.

.org

.org is another gTLD that’s available for anyone to register. However, its original purpose was to indicate websites belonging to non-profits, NGOs, and other organizations. Like .net and .com, .org is one of the oldest and most credible gTLDs available.

• The “org” in .org stands for “organization”

• .org websites often focus on community building

.org websites are normally seen as trustworthy. Some of the most famous .orgs, like Wikipedia, have done a lot to bolster the credibility of this classic gTLD. .org is often associated with websites that impart reliable information, but it’s also commonly used to register websites that serve as an online home for communities of people with similar interests.

.org is a powerful choice for SEO. While it may not have the same amount of pull as .com does with search engines, it still performs well as it falls in the second tier of preferred gTLDs (along with .net.)

Although .org was originally intended for nonprofits, a lack of regulation has essentially eliminated that restriction, making it possible to secure your ideal domain name with a .org gTLD. There are millions of registered .org domain names, but not as many as .com, so you may have a better chance getting the domain name you want with this gTLD.

.co

Of all gTLDs, .co might have the most interesting backstory. Most of the gTLDs we’ve discussed have been around almost as long as the internet has, but .co came much later as it was introduced at the same time as other ccTLDs.

• The “co” in .co officially stands for Colombia but it’s changed to stand for “commercial” or “company”

• .co is a trendy option for many companies and startups who want to separate themselves from older, more traditional .coms.

.co is the only TLD on this list that was originally created to be used exclusively as a country code. There are several reasons that this extension gained popularity in the last decade.

The first reason is distinction. Startups and companies are always looking for ways to distinguish themselves from their competition. One of the best ways to do this is by distancing your company from previous generations, those same generations that all obsessed over the .com gTLD.

.co is seen as a forward-thinking, fashionable TLD. While .com clearly indicates “.commercial,” .co can suggest “company,” “corporation,” as well as “commercial.”

By opting for a .co TLD, you have a higher chance of securing your ideal domain name. Businesses have swept up .com domain names for decades, but .co is still relatively new and hasn’t been abundantly registered. .co.uk is also extensively used within the UK for commercial sites.

.edu

• The ".edu" stands for education it is used for educational institutions like universities and are seen to be trusted sources.

.ac

• The "ac" stands for academy is used for educational institutions like universities in the UK and are seen to be trusted sources.

.gov

• The "gov" stands for government, used by US government websites.with .gov.uk obviously used by the UK.

gTLDs vs ccTLDs

Top-level domains can be divided into multiple categories. Two of those are gTLDs, like the seven listed above, and ccTLDs, which stands for “country code top-level domains.” Just like gTLDs, ccTLDs are represented by a string of letters that come immediately after the dot in a web address.

Unlike gTLDs, ccTLDs designate a country, autonomous territory, or sovereign state. If a web address includes a ccTLD, it’s safe to assume that the website refers to a specific geographic location.

A report was released in 2018 that listed the 10 most popular ccTLDs in the world. Here they are, in order of relevance.

• .cn – China

• .tk – Tokelau

• .de – Germany

• .uk – United Kingdom

• .ru – Russia

• .nl – Netherlands

• .br – Brazil

• .eu – European Union

• .fr – France

• .au – Australia

Compared to gTLDs, ccTLDs help websites target internet users in their geographic region. Many ccTLD domain name owners believe that using a specialized ccTLD gives them a competitive advantage. Some ccTLDs, like .ca or .us, have geographic restrictions on who can register and use them.

[Snackjack]

That is really helpful as I have found that the endless list of results leaves me not really knowing which ones to click on and it does seem like hard work trying to find what you actually wanted. I usually avoid the ones at the top of the list prefixed with "Ad". I have saved this post on Health Unlocked and have also printed it off so that I can refer to it next time I am doing a search for something. Thank you.

[2greys in reply to Snackjack]

I really should have assembled and posted it a long time ago, sorry that I did not. I hope members do find it useful. Maybe show their children that they are not so 'fuddy duddy' after all and know more about it than they do

[maggiewhiteley in reply to 2greys]

Wow, back with a vengeance 2Greys, So much info to share with us. Thank you for sharing.

[HungryHufflepuff]

I will read this again properly later. Thank you so much 👍

[Osha]

Thanks 2greys very useful info as usual

[Aingeful]

Really interesting and helpful!

[knitter]

Comprehensive article , thanks , will bookmark .

The front got smaller on my Google page this Saturday ….finding it more difficult to read , but more search results fit on one page now .

[2greys in reply to knitter]

Depending on which browser you use, it should be possible to alter the font size in the browser's settings.

I have had to do that myself on my Home Theatre PC connected to my 50" TV to be able to read browser text from the sofa, that is twelve feet away. I use a remote keyboard/pad to control it.

[Patsy164]

Thanks really helpful point in web searching and much much more information 😊

[Hidden]

That’s great, 2greys, really useful guide to researching stuff. I’ve saved it. Thanks!

[helenlw7]

This is really helpful, thank you. I’ve used some of the methods like vertex commas and and. I’m definitely saving the page. Thank you again, I’ve missed your articles.

[illawarra]

Great help 2greys. Thank you.

[Hidden]

Thank you. This is really helpful.

[frose]

Brilliant!Thank you 😊

[johnderby]

Very useful information 2greys. Thanks. It makes loads of sense and will be very handy. 👍😀

[northernlass]

I use Ecosia as it ‘plants’ trees for searches, used to plant more and whilst it’s ‘owner’ is still the big boy, (google I think), I find it gives better results and a few years ago, I did a speed test with my nephew and it was comparable and offered less ‘profit skewed’ results.

[Lizzab]

Gave up on Google long ago. Duck duck go, search brave.com

[2greys in reply to Lizzab]

Those search engines have exactly the same 'operator commands'.

I use DuckDuckGo as my default search engine. If you use the above operator commands as well, you will be even more impressed, with the improved, returned results. Google Scholar does take some beating though with finding results from university archives.

[Izb1]

Wow very useful 2g , thanks for posting x

[ninelives]

Thank you so much 2 Grey's ,the timing was so apt having been abruptly told by one of my family to learn to do internet things myself. I find internet incredibly stressful as I don't understand it.So many thanks you are awesome

[2greys in reply to ninelives]

No not awesome, just 25 + years of experience and spending every night, after work, using the Internet.

[Annie04]

Thank you for this, it’s so helpful 💐

[Bingo88]

Thanks very much for all that information 2greys. Hope you're keeping as well as possible. Brian

[deni-123red_]

Thanks so much 2g. This is extremely helpful and will be a time saver.

[Timberman]

Great material and thank from all I am sure. Just a couple of points - the method of searching using booleans has not been helped by Google's algorithms. Back in the early days, before Google, focus searching was all the rage but it has been made more difficult. There are other search engines.And .tk - tokelau coming second is bizarre - it a tiny island off New Zealand! I suggest something not quite right!

But thanks again.

[2greys in reply to Timberman]

Easily explained, .tk is used quite a lot by pirate sites, along with a few other TLDs the reason being is that they ignore all 'take down' requests of those sites by the copyright holders, being in self sufficient, sovereign countries there can be no action/leverage enforced. A bigger country that relies on foreign trade is totally different. Google can still be used with operator commands. I use DuckDuckGo as my default search engine. Google Scholar does take some beating though with finding results from university archives.

[Timberman]

I found the answer to the .tk phenomena and it is not good news. It does indeed nearly top the number of TLDs but for all the wrong reasons and is to be avoided at all costs. Most of the TLDs are Phishing sites - that is, involved in organised cyber crime!So if you see anything with .tk at the end of the URL - delete immediately; report to cyber crime if possible.

[2greys in reply to Timberman]

As above, reporting it will just not work. All take down requests are denied, that is the point of them using the .tk domain. My info is 100% correct as being a list of the top 10 used TLDs, nowhere will you find an endorsement for them from me.

Any hacker worth their salt can use a legitimate site for their own surreptitious means as well. Which is why you must always use security software whist connected to the Internet.

Personally I have no such fear of visiting any dodgy TLDs. I never divulge personal information and well protected from any nasties being covertly dumped on my system, I would also be using TOR browser. Where there is a will there is a way.

[Firefly25]

Really useful - thank you so much for posting this.

[Timberman]

I said report to cyber crime; the take down route is not the point; warning others is.

[2greys in reply to Timberman]

The problem with reporting is two-fold. Those warnings either do not get issued or not publicised enough to reach the masses or for them to take notice.

The other point is that nearly all of them are just remote bots (robotic software) to other websites that can be/are legitimate and hacked to drop malicious code onto the user's system or as a designed redirect from another site that is used in email/sms text messages as phishing scams. Do you know about redirects in html coding within those phishing sites and how they work? They will never directly point to .tk TLDs.

Believe me, I have been using the Internet for over 100,000 hours, I even dipped my toes into hacking when younger and still have some contacts in that community, I really do know how it works and what goes on. I am also a Webmaster and build websites. You are delusional to think reporting will make a difference, hackers are streets ahead with their cyber knowledge and skills than the police force is or ever will be (those few that have any real skills are taken up by the security forces like MI5 and MI6 at GCHQ). In which case why does it all still go on after all these years of trying to eradicate it? Do you really believe their propaganda, which is just a means of justifying and protecting their, relatively inexperienced, jobs? Welcome to the real cyberworld.

[Timberman]

Sadly I know all that from bitter first hand experience (I joined Pipex in 1994) but if you cannot beat the b***ards you can at least TRY to make people more aware and more cautious.

[2greys]

Most of the scams are initiated through email and phone. A lot of those contact details get harvested by hacking social media like Faceache who will also be able to access your phone book via WhatsApp and Instagram which they own. Which is why I will never sign up to them. Unfortunately I have no control over others who may have me listed in their contacts.

I am suspicious by nature though and have a good chuckle with most of them, I never get parcels, I don't have a car that needs taxing, I don't care about my NI number having fraudulent activity. Inland Revenue can take me to court if they want and we do not watch broadcast TV so do not have a TV Licence, with payments that have not been paid, home insulation and double glazing scams do not work, living in a council flat. Basically I'm immune from all of it. Microsoft support, oh do come on! As close to living off the grid whilst living within society. In any case the URL that they want you to log on to never, ever looks legit to me. Sadly it must work or they would not waste their time and resources.

[Farmlover]

Some nice tips, thank you. These tips can also help to understand how the google search engine works, and to know which keywords for your business website, or blog are the best. But that is really hard to learn SEO from the beginning, so if you want to improve your google ranking you can turn to graeme winchester seo consultant detailmarketing.co.uk/ He can do the best SEO job for your business.