- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 1
- 3
-
Sparkle (0)
Check out my blog at:
Searching on Google goes way beyond typing in a few key words. And getting skill-savvy is actually easy. Here are some dazzling, easy ways to step up your game. These tips took me beyond my comfort zone to be more jazzed about online research. I hope this post will inspire you too.
So get ready for an exciting tour. Our guide is Sean Carlson, Google's manager of news industry relations.
His job is to teach time-pressured, deadline-driven journalists to use Google more effectively and efficiently. Sean recently spent 90 minutes with my New School class. Highlights from his visit are below.
Since there's a lot here, I set up the post to be a treasure trove of Google-y goodies. Like any decent stash of jewels, you can rummage in this space at your leisure. Pick up whatever sparkles for you in the moment. Maybe you'll bookmark this post; come back to it whenever you need more resources and ideas.
As for Google basics:
- Google prefers that you search a few words or a phrase. This narrows the search.
- Google doesn't care if you type in upper or lower case letters.
- Googles tries to anticipate what you want. It will serve up options even while you're still typing. If it guesses right, then click on that option.
Okay. Now let's dive in...
"Help Google understand your intent," Sean advised us. This means that if you type in a search for t-u-r-k-e-y, Google is wondering if you want info on the country or the bird. If you want the nation of Turkey, then tell Google to filter out references to recipes and the Thanksgiving gobbler. So refine your search by typing in: "turkey -food." Now Google knows you want turkey, but minus the food links.
****The search section lets you set time parameters****
"Being able to refine your search by time can be really important, especially for journalists," Sean said. On the left side of your screen is Google's logo. Under it is a vertical column of options that function as a search-related tool belt.
Selecting a time period for your search is especially useful in tracking breaking news events. You can google for the "latest" news or results from the "past week." If you simply want general info, then choose "anytime."
****A "Realtime" search serves up live tweets and hot links****
If you're not into Twitter or don't feel like leaving Google to check out Twitter news, just go to "Realtime." You'll get a live stream from Twitter and other sources about your search topic.
In the upper right corner of your screen is a chart showing Twitter traffic volume at specific times. Directly under it is useful non-Twitter info: "Top Update." Here, you'll find a running list of the most cited web links at that particular moment. For a "Realtime" search, go to "google real time" > then type in your search word(s).
Watching Google scroll in live time can get hypnotic.
****"Site Search" plucks info out of a specific website****
As Sean said, "'Site Search,' at its core, is a most basic and awesome tactic." I totally agree! What if I want to find all references to Stephen Colbert on "The Daily Show" website? The neanderthal approach to this mission is to go to thedailyshow.com and type in "Stephen Colbert," like this:
The result? Thedailyshow.com gives me are links to a bunch of Stephen Colbert videos clips from past shows. But thanks to Sean, I am now smart enough to go to Google and type in: "Stephen Colbert site:TheDailyShow.com."
Go to: "google site search" > type in your key words > leave a space > type in the word "site:" > then without making a space, type in the website that you want to search.
Guess what -- all the videos are delivered in the very first link!
But then, the search serves up much more useful info. There's Colbert's bio, threads to various dailyshow.com chat forums that mention him, plus
