Monday, September 15, 2008

Using Google or Utilising Google? Tips for better search on Google

Just a Q for u..Do u use Google or utilize Google? Well most of us just use Google. I am sure, at the end of this article, Google search looks to u in a different way.

1. Using the double quotes or a plus operator in between the words
eg: Type sundar swaroop in your google search box and search. On the right hand side of the screen in the results page, you can see the number of results, google has brought for u.
Now change the keyword(the word or words u give to search the required information) to "sundar swaroop" and search again. Compare the number of results displayed n u find that there is a variation of few thousands.

Explanation: As we search with the first keyword, the google algorithm looks for all the records which contain the phrase sundar or swaroop or the combination of both. We certainly are not looking for sundar or swaroop but we are looking for sundar swaroop together. So that makes the difference.
To evaluate technically, with out the qouble quotes, the search query had like but the double quotes forced the query to use equals or =

The plus operator in between also functions almost the same as the double quotes. but the difference is , any content ending with the sundar and followed by swaroop is displayed.

2.filetype:
Syntax:filetype:fileformat keyword
This is a key word which is highly productive to u after this article. Suppose we are looking for some data in a specific file format like a pdf or doc or a power point presentation or an excel file etc.
eg: Search for a book titled Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum as u were searching earlier.
Also in a next tab or page, search with the keyword as filetype:pdf bourne identity.

Explanantion:Compare the results. For the usual keyword, we get lot of results but we need to go on a manual hunt to figure out, where the pdf file link is present. May be we need to navigate through multiple result pages also. But if we see the second keyword, filetype:, we find that the search results contain more of the pdf file links than the usual HTML or page links. Not just pdf, we can search using any other valid file format.

Limitation: The key word we enter should match the file name contained in the uploaded page.

3.Site:
Syntax:site:sitename or site extension keyword
We go a step ahead. With in a particular familiar website, we need to look for some content. Instead of searching through out the net for the content, we reduce the risk to the particular location.
eg: Search for the wallpapers of Katrina Kaif as the usual search, we used to do. Now search the same with site:santabanta.com katrina kaif

Explanation: Here we already know that the particular wallpaper we are looking for is in the santabanta.com website. So instead of searching through out again n going to the website and using an internal search in the site, bla bla... all that is no more, just use the key word site: and get the pic.


The site: keyword also is very much useful while looking out for some public docs in a government website. Something like a particular G.O or an amendment in some particular Act etc.. Here I was able to know some of the content of 610 G.O, related to the Andhra Pradesh Govt.
(Caution: Dont try to mess up with the govt sites, use this for constructice purposes only. Google also does not take responsibility for any illegal activity.)
Let us go further in the site: key word. Just try the search as site:sundarswaroophere.blogspot.com html
The results display all the pages with extension .html which are posted by me from the beginning of the blog. Just try the search with your company site and other sites with other extensions like aspx or php or htm etc.... U can know all the publicly accessible pages available on the site.

4.Using *
eg:
What is the height of mount everest?
Mount everest is * feet high
Search using the above keywords.

Explanantion: Of course not much difference can be made out with the results, as the content is the most popular search. Try some other searches like the number of parliament members of India or the relation of two people like: * is the son of Mahatma Gandhi or AK 47 was invented by * etc..
So the logic here is, modify ur search from a question to a statement and the results are refined.

5.Conversions and Calculator
Google search can be used to convert one type of value to the other desired type.
Eg: 1 INR= ? dollars
This gives us the result as the value of a single rupee in dollars. Similarily, 1 foot= ? metres, 1 pound=? grams etc...

Google search can also be used as a calculator.
eg:4*7/2
This gives us 14 as result. This is a simple arithmetic, we can use the complexities like algebraic sin or cos values or square root functions etc

6.Range of numbers like price ranges etc using ..
We plan to buy a mobile or any other item with a fixed amount of budget and search for a mobile on the internet. We get lot of sites showing the prices. We need to fix a range of cost like 5000 to 10000 rupees and refine the search.
This can be achieved by just specifying range as mobiles $100..$200
The search now gives us the list of mobiles whose cost lies between 100 to 200$.

Limitation: Currently this search works 100% with in the US currencies. The Indian or other currency ranges may not give us the desired results.

7.Local Search
syntax:keyword location or keyword pincode
Most of us dont know that Google provides us with a lot of local search options. For eg, I need to search for some hotels with Italian food in Bangalore. Just search as italian food bangalore. We are welcomed with a list of well-known hotels in Bangalore city serving the Italian dishes. Even the route maps are located if the business entity has marked the location in Google maps, no fee of course n absolutely free.
Try the search for other options like movies or shopping or colleges or institutions or cabs etc...
eg: Righteous Kill Bangalore, Homam Hyderabad.
Note: The search results provided here depends on the sites containing the relevant information. The pincode option is limited to US and some other countries.
This feature is very much effective for the e-commerce listings. They can register with Google and get their business location displayed in the search results.

Some of the features discussed here are limited to certain parts like US only, Google is in the process of extending the services world-wide.
Happy Googling
Refer the links for the original documentation n videos from the senior Google Engineers like Matt Cutts etc..
http://www.google.co.in/intl/en/help/features.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXHCcwS00bk

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