What does it mean to make your search count? I am often heard saying this when referring to search engines and how to get the most out of them. In yesterday’s blog, I talked about how detailing your search will bring better results. Today, I want to share some of the common search engine shortcuts for Google that will help you get better and faster results.

Below are Google search engine shortcuts along with an example on how to use them:

Explicit phrase: Let's say you want to actually research the subject "Google shortcuts". If you typed the words Google shortcuts into the search query, you would get about 7,980,000 results. On the other hand, if you use the "quotes" shortcuts by putting quotes around the term Google shortcuts, you will get 42,800 results, which are much more targeted results for the subject you're searching.

"Google Shortcuts" returns better search results than Google Shortcuts

Similar Terms: If you are researching auto loans, try putting the ~ sign in front of your search term. By adding this sign in front of the word auto, the search will return auto loan results as well as its synonyms.

~auto loans – This will return results which include auto loans, car loans, automobile loans etc.

Excluding Terms: If you want information on marketing but not Internet marketing, use the – (minus) sign in front of the term internet so that Google excludes that from your search results.

marketing–internet   - This removes the word internet from the results. Make sure there is no space between the minus sign and the word to be omitted

Movie Times: If you are like me and love going to the movies, there is an easy way to get show times for all the movies playing in your local area by adding your zip code.

Movies:89103

Word Definition: simply type in define: followed by the word you want to define

define: algorithm

Calculator: You never have to bring up the calculator on your computer again– simply type in your equation and Google will calculate your results.

Addition +: 32+24
Subtraction -: 32-24
Multiplication *: 32*24
Division /: 32/24
Percentage % of: 32% of 24
Power of ^: 2^4 (2 to the 4th power)

Search Only One Website: You can find specific information from a certain website. For instance, you can find information about tuition from the MIT website.

Tuition site:www.mit.edu (add the term "site:" without the quotes in front of the site you want to search.

Linked Pages: find pages that link to a specific website

Link:www.mit.edu – This will return the incoming links to MIT that Google is recognizing.

Related Pages: find websites that relate to one another

Related:www.mit.edu.com will bring up competing universities such as Harvard, Boston University. (Of course if you are going to MIT, no one really competes with you; no bias here).

These are just some of the many shortcuts you can use when searching in Google. For more information on search engine shortcuts, try using the examples above to find more information that you can use. Why search several times for what you are looking for, when you can Make Your Search Count.