Newsletter #7 - Search Engines, Part 2

Here is Part 2 of our letter about Search Engines, with an article by Jay on how to really find what you’re looking for on the internet. Next time, Cheryl explains how to get your site into the engine results. But first . . .

There has been a rash of strange emails going around. You may receive an email that looks sort of like this:

DON'T OPEN IT! Of course, you all have up-to-date virus protection in place, but if something like this slips past, DON'T OPEN IT!

Look at the above message. It's supposedly from the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov); still, DON'T OPEN IT!

Reply to the message, if you like, and ask for more information about the attachment. Chances are, you'll find that the "From:" email address is bogus, and your reply won't go through. If you're in a good Samaritany mood, alert people at the URL (in this case FTC.gov) that you have reason to believe someone is falsely distributing email with their name on it. But the main thing is... DON'T OPEN IT.

Raise your hand if you’re jealous of those who consistently find exactly what they’re looking for on the net, or you’re tired of helping those whose searches are never fruitful. If you’re part of the first groups read on and if you’re a member of the later, pass this on to your compatriots.

Here are some really quick tips on how to improve your search results. Three or four small adjustments are all it takes to turn a difficult search around.

First it helps to know how a particular search engine works. There are indexes, directories, and combinations of both. Engines like Google and Northern Light index information using automated programs called robots or spiders or web crawlers. Directories like Yahoo and HotBot, present users with hierarchical menus, which break the information down topically. To find out what kind of search you’re dealing with, try the help files on those sites.

Directories tend to be better when looking for general or popular information. Your best bet is to use a variety of engines and directories if you need a thorough search.

Second it helps to have some understanding of word prioritization, and stemming (or truncating). Most search engines prioritize from left to right. Keep that in mind when arranging search terms.

Regarding search terms, always use the stem form of the word. This is called truncating. For example try “sign”, rather than “signs”. Not all sites search for the extra forms, some offer it in their advanced options, others, like AltaVista, HotBot, and Northern Light, go one further and offer the wildcard character * , to search for words that begin with sign* , signage, signing, signs, etcetera.

Third it helps to use operators. This is often the best way to narrow a search. A search for information on “McIntosh apple” is revealing.

Here proper spelling is crucial. Without the ‘a’ “McIntosh” searches turnout relevant ‘apple’ results with some ‘computer’ hits, but with an ‘a’, “Macintosh apple”, results in a lot of computer hits and a few other miscellaneous hits on apple-scented candles as well. By adding ‘fruit’ it returned a few more relevant links, but using operators, you really get what you are looking for.

Macintosh apples + fruit -computer -candle
…tells the engine to include fruit and exclude pages that have computer or candle subjects.

Other operators are, AND, OR, NOT, and quotations marks. As you may have guessed AND is interchangeable with the addition sign, NOT with the minus sign, and, OR, is in a league of it’s own where you have a, one or the other, type of search. The use of quotation marks, is used when looking for exact phrases. Here is an elegant search for a nearby florist:

florist + “chula vista, ca” OR “national city, ca”

These are just a few of the really neat things that can make surfing the web for information a little easier, mostly you want to use patience, because as soon as you relax and let your thoughts go you’ll find the approach that will speed you on your way.

peace, J

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