Often, when we conduct online searches we wind up finding hundreds of thousands of results – many of them irrelevant. Luckily, there are several simple steps you can take to help generate more accurate results.
Keep it simple
Simplicity is key when it comes to online searches. It’s almost always in your best interest to use only a few words or phrases if the search is not too complex. If you’re looking for a type of business in your area, you can type in that business type along with the name of your town or your zip code. That should garner results that are both accurate and relevant to you.
Learn about Boolean
Boolean searches are something many of us are familiar with, whether we know it or not. Basically, Boolean searches center around using the terms “and,” “not” and “or” in your searches. It enables you to include or exclude a number of 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 word 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 irrelevant and confusing search results. If the search terms you use are too broad, you are often left with thousands of results that have nothing to do with what you’re looking for.
Quotation marks are generally the international search engine symbol to search for an exact phrase. If you are looking for something specific, using quotation marks can help ensure that your results are more relevant.
All of these suggestions are incredibly simple and extremely useful. Taking these into account when you’re searching online can greatly improve your search results.
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