How to Research Like a Pro on the Internet

Life Hacks | Did You Know

How to Research Like a Pro on the Internet

Online sites have become our go-to place for any information we need on any subject. This has created convenience like never before. However, it can also get frustrating when you are searching for something, but you cannot get the results you want. For example, the query for "essay help" will give you many different results, and you need to be more specific to find the best one. Below, we discuss ways to refine your search, allowing you to get results without taking too much time.

Be Specific with Your Keywords

The terms you type to find information are what are referred to as keywords. You need to make sure your keywords are as specific as possible to help the search engine find the information you want. For instance, say you have read a topic on how 62% of personal bankruptcies in the US are due to medical expenses, and you want to find out more on that topic. Your keywords here can be "personal bankruptcies" and "medical expenses". Here you are likely to find various websites explaining why medical costs are causing Americans to go bankrupt. Also, being specific about your location is essential, especially if you are looking for a product or service near you.

Try Different Search Engines

Different search engines will give you different results. No search engine is the same, and each has varying blind spots. One of the most common search engines is Google. According to Internet Live Stats, it processes about 3.5 billion searches in a day. However, at times it may also not give you the results you want. Therefore, why not try other search engines like Yahoo and Bing? This gives you a variety of results and offers you a better chance of getting what you are looking for.

Simplify the Terms You Search

Most engines include stop words like prepositions, conjunctions, and articles. Meaning, when you search for something you are likely to end up with more pages than you want. Therefore, try and eliminate or minimize stop words. Unless, of course, you are looking for something specific like the title of a movie or a book, the name of a place, etc. Also, try and use the simplest form of whatever you are searching for by avoiding plurals. For instance, you are likely to get quality results if you search for a word like "service" instead of "services" or "finance" instead of "financing".

Search Around What You Want

It is not always that you will find what you want in the first search. When this happens, try searching for words closely related to what you want. By searching for related concepts, people, and keywords, you will find what you are looking for. On Google, when you search for something, you will see related pages. This is a great resource that will help you find what you want or give you additional information on what you are looking for.

Stay Away From Search Pitfalls

Did you know that, nowadays, a lot of companies have hired experts whose main task is enhancing their visibility online? These people are often adjusting their websites' wording to match keywords that are used commonly. A process referred to as Search Engine Optimization (SEO). That means websites listed on top of your search results may have great SEO, but that does not necessarily mean their content is the best. For instance, say you are interested in common roofing problems faced by homeowners. While the site listed at the top may mention the issues only, a good site will go as far as informing you why that is the case. For instance, about 23% of homeowners, almost the same as one in every four, admit to never inspecting their roof or only doing it when there is an issue. Meaning, rich content is not always at the top. Explore various sites and dig for useful content.

Whether you are searching for a product, content for school, or anything else, you no longer have to be frustrated with your searches. Combining these tips and some creativity, you are about to have an easy time searching for content online.

Head of Content, reality TV watcher and lover of cookies.