|
Article Directory
|
+ Authors
+ Articles
|
|
|
|
Break Your Search Engines Habits To Get Better Information
Copyright (c) 2008-2012 Bill Platt
With the ever-expanding enormity of the Internet, desirable search engine results are more important than ever before. Search engines are generally an efficient way to narrow down the millions of pages of information available, to a few relevant results.
Advanced Search Features
The relevancy of results can depend on several factors. For one, the search terms used make a difference. Boolean search rules are probably the best-known and most widely used. These consist of separating specific terms with AND, OR, or NOT, to include or exclude results. To get an overview of the Advanced Search Features available in a number of search engines, check out this chart: http://www.mlb.ilstu.edu/ressubj/subject/intrnt/srcheng.htm
One rule to remember is that the more specific your search terms are, the better your results will be. For example, instead of searching for "dogs", try searching for "terriers".
Another rule is that less is more. Be concise with the search terms you pick - putting too many search words into the engine can result in confusing or too few results. In fact, most search engines limit the number of words that can be used in a search request to ten words.
Finally, you can also add filters to whatever you are searching. For example, if you are searching full text files, you can enter title:oxygen to find only files with the word "oxygen" in the title. The same can be done for URLs. If you know "oxygen" is part of the URL you're looking for, you would enter inurl:oxygen. I use this tool all of the time to find information provided on a government website by adding inurl:gov to my search criteria.
Organic and Paid Search Results
If you've ever used more than one search engine, you'll quickly realize that not every search engine returns the same results or links. There will be similarities and differences across most search engines, especially the "Big Three": Google, Yahoo, and MSN.
The Big Three search engines tend to include sponsored results (basically, results that somehow fit the search term as defined by the advertiser, and which appear above the real search results). Usually the sponsored results will note that they are "sponsored" results somewhere, so as not to be confused with the "real" results. Except, the search engine companies actually hope - that you'll click on the paid results instead of the real results, so the search companies can get paid for you visiting their clients' websites.
The results from the different search engines can actually overlap. If you want to have a wide variety of relevant links, you may spend time typing the same words into different engines, only to come up with mostly the same search results.
There is a tool that makes the similarities between the search engines abundantly clear; although this search tool is not good for much other than to show you how similar search results can be between Yahoo and Google: http://www.langreiter.com/exec/yahoo-vs-google.html
A variation on this theme can be seen here: http://ranking.thumbshots.com/
Meta Search Engines Combine Results From Many Search Engines
Instead of relying on the Big Three search engines alone, don't be afraid to try some different search engines. Meta search engines are a good way to be more efficient with your searches, and they will help you to get a much more diverse set of relevant search results. Meta search engines, such as http://www.Clusty.com and http://www.Widow.com are both good at returning a wide variety of results.
For demonstration purposes, let's take a look at some different search terms in each of five different search engines - Google, Yahoo, MSN, Clusty and Widow. The three search terms used for this unscientific experiment are: unemployment, weather, and Myanmar.
Test Search: Unemployment
For "unemployment", Google, Yahoo and Clusty first returned sponsored links. MSN and Widow both returned online encyclopedia results - MSN using Encarta's encyclopedia; Widow returning Wikipedia.org results. Wikipedia also showed up in the other three search engines, as well, but further down in the results lists.
A similarity between all of the search engine results was they each turned up specific states' unemployment links in the first page - primarily California, New York, and Ohio. Google and Yahoo also brought up current news items related to unemployment.
Widow.com (the meta search engine) provides additional tools in the left sidebar for related-keywords and clustered search options. For the search term "unemployment", the clustered results offered: insurance, compensation, unemployed, rate, workforce development, benefits eligible workers, information employers, data, individuals, and welcome Ohio. All of these additional search terms are just a click away.
Test Search: Weather
The next term is "weather." In this search, only Google and Clusty returned a sponsored result at the top. The top result for the other three engines was weather.com. The secondary results in each of the engines included, in varying order, Yahoo weather, and NOAA's National Weather Service website.
Differences for the term of "weather" included MSN showing MSN weather in their results, as well as a UK weather website on Widow.com. Again, I was impressed by the optional clustered search engine results on Widow.com. These included options for city searches, Doppler, and the latest weather news.
Test Search: Myanmar
The final search word for the five search engines was Myanmar, to test the relevance of findings for a region that's received a lot of media attention in the last few months since the Myanmar Cyclone. The results on Google started with several colorful maps of the area, a feature that really stood out for me.
As for similarities, each of the five search engines contained one or more Wikipedia results. The search engines also included current news links and some tourism links. Once again, many of the clustered search results on Widow.com caught my eye: travel, Burma (Myanmar's previous name), culture, cyclone, statistics, politics, government, and tours.
Search Lessons Learned
What are we to learn from this little search engine experiment? There are several things that you can take away from this. For starters, the Big Three search engines tend to have pretty similar results. Occasionally there are differences, but not anything spectacularly different.
Another conclusion that can be drawn is that you are more likely to get sponsored results when you use more general terms (unemployment, weather), as many advertisers can link their products to a wide variety of general terms.
The most pleasant feature is the availability of diverse range of clustered and related terms, available with a single click of the mouse, on Widow.com.
The potential for Meta search engines to cut down on multiple searches is there, if users are willing to break out of their typical searching habits, to uncover jewels of information within the existing data.
The Widow.com Meta search engine goes above and beyond what I have experienced with other Meta search engines. The Clusty.com Meta search engine also offers clustered search terms, but for some search terms, some of its offerings are simply nonsensical.
How I Discovered Meta Search Engines
In the course of my own work, I spend a lot of time searching on the web for information on a variety of topics. As a ghostwriter, I frequently write on topics that I know little about ahead of time, so I do loads of research to help me cover the topics I write about in a much more logical and educated manner.
I used to use Google almost exclusively. But, one day I was researching an article topic that I had written about previously. Imagine my aggravation when the only material that Google would show me on the topic was material I had written myself!
While I had written about that topic previously, I was not an expert on the subject. I did not want to simply rehash what I had written before; I wanted to write on the topic in a new and different way.
I tried Yahoo and MSN and met the same disappointment with the search results. Then I went to http://www.DogPile.com. I thought their results were awful, but I liked the concept of the Meta Search Engine.
I tried many Meta Search Engines, and then I came across the Widow Search Engine. I liked it so much that I made it one of the default search engines in the article search tools on my website. The thing I like about Widow best is the Clustered Search Listings. With Clustered Search, Widow brainstorms the keyword variations for me, so that I don't have to figure out the related search terms on my own. As they say in the MasterCard commercials - this is priceless!
In the end, this article is not about which search engine will send the most traffic to a website you own. Instead, this article is about which search engine will give you the best information to help you find the answers you want and need.
Good luck and happy searching.
|
Bill Platt is the owner of http://www.thephantomwriters.com article ghost writing and article distribution services. He has been helping small business owners promote their online businesses, using reprint articles, since 2001. In 2007, Bill wrote an ebook titled, "Article Marketing For Traffic, Sales And Profit". You can get Bill Platt's ebook here.
|
Follow "The Phantom Writers" on Twitter
(@phantomwriters)
to be notified when new articles are made available.
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Internet Articles || Related Categories: Computers Articles and Business Online Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Bill Platt
Sell Yourself, Not Your Products or Services
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2012-01-02 |
Word Count: 989 |
Page Views: 2326
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 4.00
Sell yourself, not your products or services. The point we
need to make is that your products and services will change
over time as your business adapts to the realities of the
marketplace.
Who Else Wants to Know How-To Write an Effective Advertisement?
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2011-08-25 |
Word Count: 1431 |
Page Views: 4135
| Votes: 22 |
Rating: 2.59
Webmasters struggle everyday with the question of how they should
advertise their website. There are so many advertising venues; it
is hard to know which is the right venue or the right combination
of advertising venues.
Book Authors: How To Sell More Books And Get Your Publisher Active
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2011-08-23 |
Word Count: 1871 |
Page Views: 41341
| Votes: 31 |
Rating: 3.94
It is an unfortunate reality that most people who write books
believe that their publisher will always put their best foot
forward, to promote their book. In the real world, it does not
quite work that way.
A Hard Look at PPC, Click Fraud and the Alternatives
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2011-08-19 |
Word Count: 1268 |
Page Views: 3186
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 3.09
Just a few years ago, pay-per-click search engine advertising
seemed like it was the answer to the prayers of webmasters vying
for search traffic. Given the increasingly competitive nature of
PPC advertising and spiraling costs, many small- to medium-
sized businesses have begun to question that wisdom. With click
fraud running at 25% and click costs for certain keywords hitting
$50 a click, advertisers are looking for other solutions.
The Death and Resurrection of Quality Content
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2011-03-04 |
Word Count: 769 |
Page Views: 680
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 3.00
No matter where you go online, you are bound to find someone
complaining about the quality of content available online.
When we want to find information that answers our questions
for us, the last thing we want to do is to land on a MFA
(Made For Adsense) website with questionable content. And
yet, many of the people who complain about this state of
affairs also contribute to the problem...
Cutting Through The Information Overload: Grab Your Readers' Attention With a Great Title
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2011-03-02 |
Word Count: 802 |
Page Views: 745
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 5.00
As avid readers, we have trained our brains to scan the
headlines looking for something that might suit our
desires... This article will give you a solid understanding
of how to grab your readers by the eyeballs and get them to
open and read your articles...
Article Marketing Tips: How Consumers Read Your Articles
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2010-12-16 |
Word Count: 1278 |
Page Views: 839
If you want to understand what makes one article marketer
successful, while many more achieve poor results, then
consider this 6-step process designed to help you understand
how to make your article marketing more effective.
Website Traffic Generation: Winning the Love of the Traffic Fairy
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2010-11-17 |
Word Count: 1149 |
Page Views: 792
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 5.00
Some people still believe that all they have to do is build
a website and customers will magically appear on their
site... Once they have built their websites, they wait
anxiously for the "Traffic Fairy" to come and sprinkle its
magic dust on their website too, so that they can make lots
of money like other success website owners.
4 Step Checklist For Online Marketing Success
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2010-10-25 |
Word Count: 1343 |
Page Views: 957
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 5.00
Many online business owners want to make the process of
developing a successful online business harder than it needs
to be... The truth is that a simple 4-step checklist can
lead anyone to online profits:
How To Get Your Syndicated Articles Opened, Read And Published
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2010-08-05 |
Word Count: 1318 |
Page Views: 1092
Syndicated articles can be a very powerful promotion tool in
the hands of the person who knows how to use them... This is
the reason why article marketing is generally a hot topic of
conversation... Unfortunately, not all of the conversation
is positive, because the vast majority of people who attempt
to utilize article marketing for the promotion of their
online business are absolutely clueless as to how to use
article marketing to its fullest potential...
All of Author's Articles on this site: Bill Platt Articles
Most Recent "Internet" Articles
Gaming Laptops - The Last Thing You Should Check Before You Buy One
Written by: Titus Hoskins |
Distributed: 2011-09-13 |
Word Count: 725 |
Page Views: 342
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 0.00
If you're considering buying a gaming laptop, there are
many features you must check out before you buy. But there
is no last thing you must check before buying. Find out
exactly what this is...
Why Have Online Fax Services Become So Popular?
Written by: Titus Hoskins |
Distributed: 2011-06-27 |
Word Count: 695 |
Page Views: 383
Why have Internet or online fax services become so popular
in the modern workplace? Here are five or six reasons which
not only explains its popularity, but also gives you some
good reasons why you or your company should be using online
fax.
Build a Six-Figure Affiliate Business - Starting Right Now!
Written by: Marcus Blalock |
Distributed: 2011-06-24 |
Word Count: 565 |
Page Views: 290
Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money by simply
repeating the same processes and work strategies. .
Internet Fax Services - Which One Is Right For You?
Written by: Titus Hoskins |
Distributed: 2010-02-11 |
Word Count: 878 |
Page Views: 715
Internet fax services are becoming very popular with
companies and home business owners. But which one is right
for you or your business? Read this informative article to
find out...
How The Internet Has Changed The World...
Written by: Braxton Heitz |
Distributed: 2009-11-10 |
Word Count: 1379 |
Page Views: 2101
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 2.27
As most of us sit down at our computers each day, we might
realize that we have begun to take this Information Age for
granted. What would we do if we did not have 24/7 Internet
connections to keep us connected to the world?
How Online Marketing Consultants Can Supercharge Your Sales
Written by: Paul Marshall |
Distributed: 2009-11-06 |
Word Count: 891 |
Page Views: 779
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 2.00
Starting an online business, we all need to spend our money
carefully, often doing the work ourselves. But getting the
help and advice of Online Marketing Consultants could
actually save us money, by avoiding costly mistakes and
becoming profitable much faster. We understand the reasons
people should buy what we are selling. But can we
successfully explain that to our website visitors in
convincing language they relate to, instead of jargon and
lingo related to our industry?
Don't Destroy Your Online Marketing Results with Bad Website Design
Written by: Paul Marshall |
Distributed: 2009-11-03 |
Word Count: 1111 |
Page Views: 704
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 4.00
Many online marketing consulting firms look at SEO and
search engine advertising in a vacuum. They don't consider
the big picture. The idea behind all search engine marketing
is increased revenue. That requires conversions, not just
more traffic. And certain website design problems can kill
your conversions!
A Simple Guide To Online Fax
Written by: Titus Hoskins |
Distributed: 2009-07-28 |
Word Count: 615 |
Page Views: 762
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 2.86
Online or Internet faxing has become extremely popular in
recent years. Here's a simple guide to this new way of
faxing...
Internet Telephone Calls: VoIP Basics
Written by: Nermine Shaker |
Distributed: 2009-07-08 |
Word Count: 944 |
Page Views: 1165
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 2.46
You've seen the commercials and read the news advertisements for
telephone service using your computer: very cheap monthly fees;
make all the calls you want; keep your telephone number forever;
and voice quality as good as a landline. You've heard the claims
and you've heard the term "VoIP." Here's the scoop.
12 Nifty Ways To Stream Internet Movies At Home
Written by: Titus Hoskins |
Distributed: 2009-07-07 |
Word Count: 1404 |
Page Views: 1278
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 2.00
Ever wonder what it would be like to combine your TV with your
computer and the Internet? Well, millions are already doing
exactly that... find out how you can too.
Most Viewed "Internet" Articles
Voip Is It Better Than Traditional 'Copper Wire' Telecommunications?
Written by: Gavin Lively |
Distributed: 2008-01-16 |
Word Count: 821 |
Page Views: 2669
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 0.71
VoIP still has a ways to go before it dominates the
telecommunications industry. When it is good, it is the best
thing available to subscribers. The problem is that it is not
always good when it is delivered via the public internet as it's
backbone (something Simply Bits of Tucson AZ has eliminated).
How Important Is Wikipedia In The Grand Scheme Of Things?
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2007-05-10 |
Word Count: 1613 |
Page Views: 2580
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 3.46
Wikipedia is the center of the online encyclopedia universe.
Millions of entries on every conceivable topic makes this website
an authority source that many young students and adults turn to
from all corners of the globe.
Ordering Flavored Tea Online
Written by: Marcus Stout |
Distributed: 2007-07-12 |
Word Count: 885 |
Page Views: 2135
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 2.67
If you love flavored teas, you've certainly realized that there
is an endless variety from which to choose. No matter what flavor
you like, there's a tea for you. If you'd like to try a wide
variety of flavored teas, you may find it difficult to find all
the flavors in your local tea shop. But, by shopping online, you
have access to nearly all the flavored teas in the world at the
touch of a button.
How The Internet Has Changed The World...
Written by: Braxton Heitz |
Distributed: 2009-11-10 |
Word Count: 1379 |
Page Views: 2101
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 2.27
As most of us sit down at our computers each day, we might
realize that we have begun to take this Information Age for
granted. What would we do if we did not have 24/7 Internet
connections to keep us connected to the world?
Make Your Site Sell: A Masterpiece by Ken Evoy
Written by: Steven Gerber |
Distributed: 2006-12-07 |
Word Count: 552 |
Page Views: 1980
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.38
In the world of internet marketing, making your website sell is
the key to success. A few years ago, Ken Evoy has started to
appear in the internet marketing world. During that time, he was
not really known to people active in the internet marketing
business. However, after only after a very short time, Ken Evoy
became one of the best known and also one of the most respected
internet marketers today.
Web Marketing 2.0
Written by: Kim Roach |
Distributed: 2006-10-10 |
Word Count: 1645 |
Page Views: 1950
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 3.00
If you're like me, then you are probably tired of hearing the
word Web 2.0 passed around the net like a buzz word on steroids.
Google alone currently shows 126,000,000 results for the search
term "web 2.0" at the time of this writing. However, although
this term may be overblown, it does have significant influence on
the current changes taking place on the Internet. Most
importantly, it has many implications for the online marketer.
Tea: Ordering Jasmine Tea Online
Written by: Jon M. Stout |
Distributed: 2007-06-13 |
Word Count: 854 |
Page Views: 1915
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.33
Most tea drinkers have tried some form of jasmine tea at one time
or another. And, most love at least one variety of jasmine tea.
However, there are so many different varieties of jasmine tea
that it may take you some time to try them all! Jasmine tea is
created by blending just bloomed jasmine petals with fine loose
tea. The result is an incredible fragrance and a sweet flavor.
Creating Your Own Online Radio Station
Written by: Kim Roach |
Distributed: 2006-11-27 |
Word Count: 1138 |
Page Views: 1868
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 2.25
Podcasting has leveled the playing field for people around the
world. With just a few tools, you can quickly and easily set up
your own talk show on the topic of your choice. All you need is a
computer, a microphone, and a passion to share your knowledge
with others.
Meeting a Girl Online
Written by: Arnold Kligermann |
Distributed: 2007-03-07 |
Word Count: 1109 |
Page Views: 1821
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 3.43
The first question you ask is Why would I want to meet a girl
online? Why try to meet girls online when you can spot a chick
you like, approach her, start talking - and actually get a date?
Join The Video Revolution - New and Distinctive Video Sales Tools Are Now Available!
Written by: Chuck Bauer |
Distributed: 2007-06-04 |
Word Count: 1619 |
Page Views: 1786
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 3.20
Waiting. And waiting. Yes, I have been waiting for a new
electronic sales tool to arrive and it has finally made its way
to the marketplace - video e-mailing, live video broadcasting and
video training blogs! Best yet, it all works off my laptop and I
can operate all functions, virtually!
Highest Ranked "Internet" Articles
The Web of Tomorrow
Written by: Jason OConnor |
Distributed: 2007-02-01 |
Word Count: 1885 |
Page Views: 1416
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 3.63
By looking at the trends of today we can begin to develop a image
of what the Web of the future will look like. I believe the Web
will improve and grow in a way that will dwarf its present
existence and will improve and enrich everyone's lives way
beyond what we can imagine today.
Becoming a Power Player with Online Game Sites
Written by: T.C. Gaity |
Distributed: 2008-04-17 |
Word Count: 1057 |
Page Views: 1049
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 3.50
By participating in various online game sites on the web today,
it is easy to build various skill sets, network with other online
gamers, and win some great prizes. Online game sites have evolved
from simple card games and picture contests to full-fledged
casino-style games, tournaments, and competitions. More and more
online game websites now feature interactive platforms for word
games, puzzles, unique prize drawings, and even company-sponsored
contests for terrific prizes.
How Important Is Wikipedia In The Grand Scheme Of Things?
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2007-05-10 |
Word Count: 1613 |
Page Views: 2580
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 3.46
Wikipedia is the center of the online encyclopedia universe.
Millions of entries on every conceivable topic makes this website
an authority source that many young students and adults turn to
from all corners of the globe.
Meeting a Girl Online
Written by: Arnold Kligermann |
Distributed: 2007-03-07 |
Word Count: 1109 |
Page Views: 1821
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 3.43
The first question you ask is Why would I want to meet a girl
online? Why try to meet girls online when you can spot a chick
you like, approach her, start talking - and actually get a date?
New Internet Marketing Tools
Written by: Titus Hoskins |
Distributed: 2008-04-01 |
Word Count: 1288 |
Page Views: 1208
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 3.40
New Internet marketing tools are coming online each and every
day. Are you taking advantage of these marketing tools or are you
losing your online competitiveness because you're not using
them? Read more....
Exploring Domain Expired Name Register To Find Best Domain Names
Written by: John Khu |
Distributed: 2007-11-29 |
Word Count: 511 |
Page Views: 1652
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 3.29
Before dealing with expired domains, you will need to learn and
understand how you can use a domain expired name register to find
the best and profitable domain names. A domain expired name
register is a powerful tool that helps you in searching for the
most meaningful expired domain names. It will also make the
process of finding such names easier and flexible.
Multiple Uses Of An Expired Domain Name
Written by: John Khu |
Distributed: 2007-12-13 |
Word Count: 521 |
Page Views: 1060
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 3.29
An expired domain name could be very precious and invaluable, as
it has had a considerable amount of time and effort spent on
advertising and promoting it over the web. The combined effect of
time and effort gives you a host of benefits and advantages, as
soon as you register a particular expired domain name.
Join The Video Revolution - New and Distinctive Video Sales Tools Are Now Available!
Written by: Chuck Bauer |
Distributed: 2007-06-04 |
Word Count: 1619 |
Page Views: 1786
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 3.20
Waiting. And waiting. Yes, I have been waiting for a new
electronic sales tool to arrive and it has finally made its way
to the marketplace - video e-mailing, live video broadcasting and
video training blogs! Best yet, it all works off my laptop and I
can operate all functions, virtually!
Email Marketing Formula, The Beginning - Get Your Emails Read
Written by: Kimberly Clay |
Distributed: 2008-03-19 |
Word Count: 766 |
Page Views: 1769
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 3.14
Is your email marketing campaign not as effective as you'd like?
Here's what I do for about 90 percent of the email messages I
receive: Delete, Delete, Delete... Some days it's so bad, I
think my finger's going to get jammed from pressing the
"Delete" button so much.
Web Marketing 2.0
Written by: Kim Roach |
Distributed: 2006-10-10 |
Word Count: 1645 |
Page Views: 1950
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 3.00
If you're like me, then you are probably tired of hearing the
word Web 2.0 passed around the net like a buzz word on steroids.
Google alone currently shows 126,000,000 results for the search
term "web 2.0" at the time of this writing. However, although
this term may be overblown, it does have significant influence on
the current changes taking place on the Internet. Most
importantly, it has many implications for the online marketer.
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|
This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
|
Home
for Writers
for Publishers
Article Directory
Article Search
Contact
Get RSS Feed
