7 ways to find information on Google
The Internet is full of wonders. Everything you might need to know is right there. But how to find the important stuff you need and not end up watching 10 hours of cute cat videos instead?
Here are 7 tips to help you google better
1. Use multiple keywords
If you only type in “au pair” then you end up with way too many results and most of them have nothing to do with what you're after. Some of them are probably just irrelevant adverts. Instead narrow your search down - “au pair agency in Germany” for example, or “find au pair positions in Berlin”. Think about neutral ways of being more specific in your searches, depending on what you're searching for.
2. Don't use full sentences
Saying please and thank you is very nice and important in real life. I hope your mama taught you that. But online you have to be a bit more tech-savvy. Instead of typing “where can I get good pizza near my place?” use “best pizza in …(wherever you are)” This gets you way more good quality search engine results! Promise!
3. Try several similar-meaning word combinations
Sometimes it's tricky to remember specific terms for things, especially if you are looking for information in a foreign language. It can also happen that using official terms only leads to difficult and hard-to-read government sites, where making sense of things is tricky. Then try and look up easier terms or words you`ve forgotten by trying different similar-meaning words instead. For example if you are looking for information about immigration, try something like “living in Germany for students” - that will lead you to a bunch of blog posts and articles by other foreigners with helpful tips on how to understand the official system and way of doing things. For language barrier use Google Translate but do not trust everything it translates!
4. Don`t just click on one search result
Finding information takes time! And it's sometimes hard and time consuming. If you want to find out everything you can about a topic (which you should if you want to live abroad without massive problems, you need to take time to do so. So do not just click on one link and call it a day. Not all information was created equal. Cross-reference things. And use more than one source of information.
5. Think about wording
Asking your friend “What was that burger place called I liked last week?” might give you an answer, but Google isn't able to. Yet. Think about how businesses upload their information and what kind of language they use. That way you will find what you`re looking for way faster.
6. Read, reread and then read again
Like we said earlier - you need to use several sources of information to get an accurate overview.
It also means before you email a university admissions office or a potential employer your questions about something, make extra sure this information is not listed on their website. It is in very poor taste emailing someone a question they can google an answer to in less than 3 minutes. Put in the effort to find things out for yourself first. That way your questions are more informed and you make a better first impression to whoever it is you`re contacting.
7. Use bookmarks and folders
To make sure you don`t lose your hard-found sources of information - save them for future reference. The best way to do it is bookmarking your searches. You can categorize them into different folders (like “application process”; “best flight searching sites” etc) to make sure you find them easier when you need them.
We hope these tips help you find better information starting today! For more tips check out this video or go read this article about how to make the most of Google search.