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Google 101:Google 101:Stop Searching and Start Stop Searching and Start
FINDINGFINDINGa presentation bya presentation by
Patrick Douglas CrispenPatrick Douglas Crispen
Our goals today ...Our goals today ...
• Discover the biggest mistakes made by Discover the biggest mistakes made by most Internet users: most Internet users: – Typing URLs in the wrong box.Typing URLs in the wrong box.– Using the wrong tool at the wrong time.Using the wrong tool at the wrong time.
• Talk about the differences between Talk about the differences between directories and search engines (and directories and search engines (and when to use each.)when to use each.)
• Learn some basic Google searching Learn some basic Google searching techniques.techniques.
• DO ALL OF THIS IN ENGLISH!DO ALL OF THIS IN ENGLISH!
The Biggest MistakeThe Biggest Mistake
Typing URLs in the wrong boxTyping URLs in the wrong box
The Second Biggest The Second Biggest MistakeMistake
Using the wrong tool at the Using the wrong tool at the wrong timewrong time
Three questionsThree questions
• Where would you find the telephone Where would you find the telephone number or address of the Bama Six number or address of the Bama Six theatre?theatre?
• Where you would find the definition of Where you would find the definition of the word “pestilence?”the word “pestilence?”
• Where would you find the name of the Where would you find the name of the war that the Treaty of Westphalia war that the Treaty of Westphalia ended?ended?
What would happen if you What would happen if you tried to look up the tried to look up the
definition of the word definition of the word “pestilence” in the “pestilence” in the telephone book?telephone book?
YAHOO ISN’T A YAHOO ISN’T A SEARCH ENGINE!SEARCH ENGINE!
... it is a directory.... it is a directory.
DirectoriesDirectories
• Usually human-Usually human-compiled guides to compiled guides to the web, where sites the web, where sites are organized by are organized by categorycategory
• Major directories:Major directories:– MSNMSN– YahooYahoo
What directories are good What directories are good forfor
• ““What is the Web page address for What is the Web page address for some company, organization, or some company, organization, or entity?” (or “who makes product X?”)entity?” (or “who makes product X?”)
• ““Where can I find a list of Web pages Where can I find a list of Web pages that focus on a particular, ‘universal’ that focus on a particular, ‘universal’ topic?”topic?”
• In other words, directories are In other words, directories are GREATGREAT for “telephone book” searches.for “telephone book” searches.
What directories AREN’T good forWhat directories AREN’T good for
• Directories are Directories are horriblehorrible for for “encyclopedia” or “dictionary” “encyclopedia” or “dictionary” searches.searches.
• The only exception is if the topic is The only exception is if the topic is so universal that the directories so universal that the directories have no choice but to link to a have no choice but to link to a page or two that discuss that topic page or two that discuss that topic (and even then the selection will (and even then the selection will be slim.)be slim.)
The three parts of a search The three parts of a search engine: the spiderengine: the spider
1.1. A spider (also A spider (also called a "crawler" called a "crawler" or a "bot") that or a "bot") that goes to every page goes to every page or representative or representative pages on every pages on every Web site that wants Web site that wants to be searchable to be searchable and reads it, using and reads it, using hypertext links on hypertext links on each page to each page to discover and read a discover and read a site's other pages.site's other pages.
The three parts of a search The three parts of a search engine: the catalogengine: the catalog
2.2. A program that A program that creates a huge creates a huge index index (sometimes (sometimes called a called a "catalog") from "catalog") from the pages that the pages that have been read. have been read.
The three parts of a search The three parts of a search engine: the front endengine: the front end
3.3. A program that A program that receives your receives your search request, search request, compares it to compares it to the entries in the entries in the index, and the index, and returns results returns results to you. to you.
-- Courtesy searchenginewatch.com
Directories v Search Directories v Search EnginesEngines
• Directories are human-compiled Directories are human-compiled and have a small number of pages and have a small number of pages in their databases (usually in the in their databases (usually in the low millions)low millions)
• Search engines are machine-Search engines are machine-compiled and have a compiled and have a HUGEHUGE number of pages in their number of pages in their databases (more than 25 billion)databases (more than 25 billion)
The Second Biggest The Second Biggest Mistake -- RestatedMistake -- Restated
Using a directory as if it was a Using a directory as if it was a search engine ... and then not search engine ... and then not understanding why you can’t understanding why you can’t
find anything!find anything!
Why do people Why do people predominantly use predominantly use
directories when search directories when search engines have more stuff?engines have more stuff?
Because no one ever Because no one ever takes the time to teach us takes the time to teach us
how to use a search how to use a search engine!engine!
The Third Biggest MistakeThe Third Biggest Mistake
Not knowing how to use Not knowing how to use directories or search engines directories or search engines
to actually to actually FINDFIND stuff stuff
Search engine rule #1Search engine rule #1
Be specific ... Be specific ... because if you aren’t because if you aren’t specific, you’ll end up specific, you’ll end up
with a bunch of with a bunch of garbage!garbage!
Search engine rule #2Search engine rule #2
Use quotes to search Use quotes to search for phrases.for phrases.
““patrick crispen”patrick crispen”
Search engine rule #3Search engine rule #3
Use the + sign toUse the + sign torequire.require.
““patrick crispen” +tourbuspatrick crispen” +tourbus
Search engine rule #4Search engine rule #4
Use the - sign toUse the - sign toexclude.exclude.
““patrick crispen” -tourbuspatrick crispen” -tourbus
Search engine rule #5Search engine rule #5
Combine symbols as often as Combine symbols as often as possible possible
(see rule #1).(see rule #1).
””patrick crispen” –tourbus +pepperdinepatrick crispen” –tourbus +pepperdine
The five rulesThe five rules
1.1. Be specific ... because if you aren’t Be specific ... because if you aren’t specific, you’ll end up with a bunch of specific, you’ll end up with a bunch of garbage!garbage!
2.2. Use quotes to search for phrases.Use quotes to search for phrases.
3.3. Use the + sign to require.Use the + sign to require.
4.4. Use the - sign to exclude.Use the - sign to exclude.
5.5. Combine symbols as often as possible Combine symbols as often as possible (see rule #1).(see rule #1).
Advanced Google Advanced Google Searching Made EasySearching Made Easy
It’s easy as long as you It’s easy as long as you remember a few, simple remember a few, simple
commands.commands.
Hiding in Plain SightHiding in Plain Sight
To the right of the To the right of the search box are search box are three links three links practically no one practically no one has never has never noticed:noticed:– Advanced SearchAdvanced Search– PreferencesPreferences– Language ToolsLanguage Tools
Google Advanced SearchGoogle Advanced Search
Google Advanced Search
Cite Your Sources!Cite Your Sources!
Citation MachineCitation Machine