Optimize your search on Google

If I ask you ‘do you know how to google’, you would probably tell me ‘hi I google everyday’ but do you always find what you were looking for? Probably not, right? The amount of data that is stored and transferred over the internet is immense. I remember when I started coding websites almost 20 years ago, the results for my query were a few pages. Today, the results get overwhelmingly long and it is difficult to get what you want. Here are a few tricks that can save you some time and reduce annoyance.

Tip 1: Use search operators
Let’s say you are looking for a program at NYU on Google. Instead of just typing nyu program into the Google search box, you will be better off searching explicitly for the phrase. To do  this, simply enclose the search phrase with double quotes.

• Example: “nyu program”

Tip 2: How to search within a specific webiste?

• Example: site:www.nyu.edu “digital marketing”

Tip 3: Word Definitions
If you need to quickly look up the definition of a word or phrase, simply use the define command.

• Example: define:fondue

Tip 4: Related search
If you want to find new websites with similar content to a website you already know of, use the related:somesite.com modifier

• Example: related:nike.com

Tip 5: Exclude Words
Let’s say you want to search for content about nyu program, but you want to exclude any results that contain the term cardiology. To do this, simply use the – sign in front of the word that you want to exclude.

Example: nyu program -cardiology

Tip 6: This or That
By default, when you conduct a search, Google will include all the terms specified in the query. If you are looking for any one of one or more terms to match, then you can use the OR operator. Make sure you write OR in capital!

Example: nyu program OR cardiology

Tip 7: Use of Symbols
If you want to search for the latest tweet or a specific hashtags, you simply use the # or @ symbol into the Google search box.

• Example: @pflury1973 will give you the latest tweet about me
• Example: #digitalyogi will list up everything that was combined with that particular hashtag

If you want to search for an Armada Ski around $400, you simply use the $ and it will show you the skies which are around that price range.

• Example: armada ski $400

If you want results within a price range simply use two dots.

• Example: armada ski $400..$600

If you have forgotten a word or two from a specific phrase, song lyric, movie quote, or something else. You can use the asterisk * as a wildcard, which help you find the missing word in a phrase.

• Example: much * about nothing

Tip 8: Words in the Text
If you want to find a webpage where all the terms you are searching for appear in the text of that page (but not necessarily beside each other), type in allintext:followed immediately by words or phrases

• Example: allintext:zweisimmen ski house mountain

Want to find a webpage with certain words contained in the title (but not necessarily beside each other)? Type in allintitle: followed immediately by words or phrases

• Example: allintitle:gstaad vacation

Want to find a website where one term appears in the title of that page and another term appears elsewhere on the page, like the text or the URL? Type in that first term followed by intitle:immediately by the other term.

• Example: vaccination intitle:advice

If you want to find pages with your search query mentioned in the URL, type allinurl: immediately followed by your search query.

• Example: allinurl:jura coffee

Tip 9: Specific Document Types
If you are looking to find results that are of a specific type, you can use the modifier filetype:
For example you are looking for a fdf file related to digital marketing

• Example: “digital marketing” filetype:pdf

Tip 10: Calculator
The next time you need to do a quick calculation, instead of bringing up the Calculator widget, you can just type your expression into Google

• Example: 5120 * 8.02

Tip 11: Tip Calculator
Along with a normal calculator, Google has a built-in tip calculator. Just search tip calculator and you can adjust the bill, tip %, and number of people splitting it.

• Example: tip calculator and fill in the data

Tip 12: Timer
Don’t have a timer handy? Google has you covered. Just type in an amount of time + the word “timer”, and the countdown will begin automatically.

• Example: 20 min timer

Tip 13: Weather
Next time you are looking for some weather stats of a forecast for a certain area/city, search for weather followed by a location. Google will give you both before the first search results

• Example: weather zurich

Tip 14: Sunrise & Sunset Times
If you are curious when the sun sets or rises that day at a specific location, do a simple Google query with the word sunrise or sunset along with the location name

• Example: sunset solothurn

Tip 15: Flight statuses
If you type in the airline and airplane number into Google, it will tell you the flight information, status, and other helpful information.

• Example: LX 41

Tip 16: Sports Scores & Schedules
Want to know the latest sports scores and future schedules of your favorite team or match-ups? Search a single team name or two team names and Google will use the Google Sports to spit out scores and schedules before the first search results.

• Example: young boys (yes that is a soccer club in Switzerland)

Tip 17: Stock Ticker
Just enter a valid symbol as your search term, and Google will provide you the current financials and a quick thumbnail chart of the stock.

• Example: APPL

Tip 18: Translations
Want to translate a simple wort or phrase into another language? No need for a dictionary. Just search translate (word) to (language).

• Example: translate fahrschein to english

Tip 19: Unit Converter
Easiest unit conversion ever. Just type what you are looking for in a sentence with the units have have and want.

• Example: 180 cm in inches

Tip 20: News in a specific Location
If you are looking for news related to a specific location, you can use the location: command to search Google News for stories coming from that location

• Example: lord of the rings location:new zealand

Tip 21: Search using your voice
Tired of typing? Say “OK Google” or “Hi Siri” or choose the microphone icon to search using your voice.

What is your favorite Google search tip? Share any I have missed in the comments section below.