Day 8- How To Do Search
 

 

 
A Skill To Last A Lifetime.
 
The first important skill that you must have to do Internet marketing successfully is how to do search (or research) quickly and effectively.
 
Once you mastered this skill, you would save a lot your valuable time, effort and money to find information on the Internet that could improve your Internet business.

This lesson covers only the basics of how to do search to retrieve information easily and quickly on the Internet.
 
As you grow your business you would need to learn more sophisticated ways to find specific pieces of information that you want to enrich your business.

Searching for specific information on the World Wide Web is not as difficult as most people think even though there is a huge amount of information that is available.
 
There are search tools available to help you look for a particular piece of information easily and quickly.
 
 
Basically there are 3 main search tools - search engines, search directories and search agents.
 
    1. Search Engines
 
Search engines use programs that scan the entire web and produce indexes of      websites and keep them in their databases e.g. Google, Yahoo!, MSN and AltaVista. 
 
    2. Search Directories
 
Search directories use people to scan the web and select the best sites and file them under categories and sub-categories. eg. Yahoo

    3. Search Agents

Search agents do not build their own databases but use other databases instead. They give you information on which search engines have your particular information in their databases. Some examples are:

    AsiaDragons.com

    VirtualFreeSites and

     Ask.com
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
Doing a search on search engines is easy.
 
Simply type one or more search terms or keywords (the words or phrase that best describe the information you want to find) into the search box and hit the 'Enter' key or click on the Search button.
 
Try out some of the search tools you like and are most relevant to your business.
 
Learn to use them effectively. Put them in your favorites or bookmarks.
 
You will need different search tools for different tasks.
 
Google and Yahoo offer very good help and support and basic to advanced training guides.
Their training lessons on how to search are excellent.
 
FREE "How To Search" Training
 
Why spent your hard-earned money on the many Web programs and e-books that promise to teach you great techniques to improve your business while you can get all for FREE at Google and Yahoo!
 
Some Tips Before You Search...

Sit back and think about what you want to find and tell the search tool what you're looking for.
 
Simply type one or more search terms or keywords (the words or phrase that best describe the information you want to find) into the search box and hit the 'Enter' key or click on the Search button.

If you use general search terms like "advertising", you'll get a hugh list of sites to pick from to retrieve your information.
 
You need to be more specific. Try narrow the search to "free classifieds" and you will have a better chance to get what you want.

We have used the adjective or modifier "free" and that is a quick and easy way to make a search more specific.
 
Other examples are "cheap classifieds", "best classifieds", "easy classifieds", etc.

Sometimes you may have to use different words to describe the things that you want.
 
For example, the word "classified" is an adjective. "Classifieds" is a noun which means "classified advertisements". Also be aware that UK English uses "advertizements".
 
Other words with similar meanings for "advertisements" are ads, adverts, announcements, notices, publicity, promotions.
 
There are many good free dictionaries and thesauri on the internet such as Merriam Webster Online (www.m-w.com) and Thesaurus.com (www.thesaurus.com).
 
You should also try to think laterally and consider all angles of the what you are looking for.

Try different search tools. They all give different results.
 
We searched for "internet marketing" and the different search engines gave the following results:

    Google - 113,000,000
    Yahoo! - 723,000,000
    MSN    - 274,000,000
    AltaVista - 720,000,000
    Ask Jeeves - 2,444,000


 Where to Get More Ideas for Search Content

Type your keywords into Google and Yahoo and see what sites and pages come up on the first or second page of results. Check out a few sites and you will have a good idea of some of the content that search engines like. More specifically, take a look at:

    * Competitor sites
    * Industry portal sites
    * Industry magazine sites
    * Resource sites

See what types of content they provide. You might want to use some of these keywords later on
 
Final Note
 
Google is our favorite - it's uncluttered and quick and has vast databases.
   
Yahoo! has very wide coverage. It also has country-specific site options which allows you to limit your search to sites from that country.

   
AltaVista offers a directory and can find images and other kinds of media.

   
Ask Jeeves is useful when you only want to quickly get a general list of sites to browse through. Sometimes you get unusual sites that are helpful in your search.
 
Google Advanced Search 
 
You can use Google Advanced Search for a more focused search. It's a wonderful tool and we are sure you will agree with us. 

Google Adwords Keyword Tool
 
You can also use Adwords Keyword Tool to get more keywords and new ideas for your search. This service is FREE.

Type your keyword into the Keyword Variation box, and make sure that "Use Synonyms" is checked, then hit "Get Keyword Ideas". A huge list of alternatives, organized by relevance to the terms or keyword that you entered, will appeared with many of the keywords you may not have heard of. Choose the ones that are commonly searched and use that to do more research. Remember to check out Keyword Tool Tips for more information. Check out this free Google Adwords Keyword Tool by following the links on the right.
 
Go to Google and Yahoo Training by clicking on this button.... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Go to Google training center Search Guides HERE. 
 
 
Go to Yahoo! training center Search Help
HERE.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Go to Google Adwords Keyword Tool (Google Account) HERE
 
 
Go to Google Adwords Keyword Tool (without Google Account)