Our dependence on Google is at a point where we need it for almost everything. Not a day goes by that we don’t use it to define a word, get relationship advice, or seek medical insights. It’s a powerful tool that provides answers to life’s burning questions. However, many Google users haven’t scratched the surface of this search engine’s capabilities, even if they use it daily.
There are many ways to maximize Google and get the results you want. To help you, here’s a quick guide to the Google search engine, including some tips and tricks and how to access hidden features.
Use the Google Tabs to Narrow Your Search
Every time you search on Google, the results page displays some tabs on top. There’s one for images, shopping, news, and maps. If you click “More,” you’ll see additional categories, including videos and books. You can use these tabs to narrow your search if you can’t find what you’re looking for on the general results page.
Use Google Operators to Get Specific Results
Google gives you thousands of search results, and it hits the nail on the head most of the time. But there could be moments when you’re looking for something more specific. That’s the time to use Google operators, which are special characters that refine your search. Here are some examples of basic operators and their functions:
Use (” “) to Get an Exact Match
If you enter a phrase on Google, it will give you all the results that contain the exact words. However, they’re not necessarily in the same order. Put the phrase in quotation marks to retain the order and get exact matches. You can also use quotations for single words if you don’t want synonyms.
Use “OR” to Get Separate Results for Different Terms
Typing two search terms will give you results that have both words in them. If you want separate results for each search term, place an “OR” between them. For example, typing “iPhone OR Android” will give you pages that discuss them individually.
Use “site:” To Search Within a Website
Instead of searching the entire World Wide Web, you can narrow your search to one website. Enter your search term followed by “site: website domain.” An example would be ” site: apple.com iPhone 13.”
Use the Advanced Search Feature
Google operators are handy but can be a little confusing at first. You can use Google’s Advanced Search instead if you don’t want to spend time memorizing the various commands. To access this feature, click the gear icon on the right side of the results page and select “Advanced Search.”
In the Advanced Search box, you can type the exact terms and phrases you want to look for or enter words you want to omit in your search. You can also narrow your results by language, region, time, and domain.
Perform a Reverse Image Search
Most of the time, we use Google to search for images, but you also upload an image to get more information about it. To perform a reverse image search, go to the Images tab and drag and drop an image file into the Google search bar. You can also upload it from your computer or input the image’s URL.
Set a Time Range for Your Search
If you want information about a topic within a specific time range, there’s a way to narrow your search. On the results page, click “Tools” and then open the “Any time” dropdown menu. You can then filter results from the past hour, 24 hours, week, month, and year. You also have the option to select a custom date range.
Closing Thoughts
The possibilities with the Google search engine are limitless, but you can only maximize its capabilities if you know how to use it. With these basics, you should be able to find anything and everything you need on the web. For more information, you can contact Transformation Marketing at 402-788-2896.