大象传媒

1) Learn some of the basics of constructing clever searches.听 Search using 鈥減hrases鈥� rather than single words, but avoid common words like 鈥渁鈥� and 鈥渢he鈥� keeping things short but relevant.听 Search for words likely to be found on webpages, so go for headache cures rather than get rid of my sore head. You can put things in 鈥渜uotes鈥� to force Google to match the entire phrase, and you can filter out certain words using the 鈥渕inus鈥� sign 鈥� for example a search for ant -dec will search for pages containing the word 鈥渁nt鈥� but exclude pages containing 鈥渄ec鈥�.听 There鈥檚 more basic advice on constructing better searches at:

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2) Google is more than just basic Search!

Google might have started off as just one search engine, but it鈥檚 now actually a whole lot more.听 You can search for images via their 鈥渋mage search鈥�, places via 鈥淕oogle Maps鈥�, and price comparisons on their 鈥淪hopping鈥� search.听 All of these features you can access above the main search box on Google.听 You can also just ask Google certain things directly, rather than have to go to any website.听 Search for Glasgow Weather, or convert 30 cm to inches and have Google tell you the answer instantly!听 Try this one too 鈥� Bon Jovi Discography (substitute your own favourite band!) and you鈥檒l likely get the results right at the top without leaving Google.

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3) Don鈥檛 forget your social networks.

As powerful as Google is, sometimes asking other people gives you a better response!听 If you have a facebook profile or twitter account, then don鈥檛 forget about your social networks!听 Want to know what the song used at the end of X-Factor was yesterday?听 Then ask people!听 Chances are someone else remembered it too, and will gladly share that information with you.听 The collective knowledge of your friends and colleagues is a powerful thing!听 And remember you can also use the Twitter Search function to search more than just the people you follow - chances are someone else on Twitter has maybe asked the same question.听

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4) Other Digital Tools

Depending on 鈥渨hat鈥� you鈥檙e looking for, there鈥檚 likely a specialist digital tool to help.听 Wondering what a particular piece of music is?听 Then scan it with your smart phone using the 鈥淪hazam鈥� app!听 It will tell you the name, the artist, and links to buy it there and then!听 Wondering what a particular company logo is, or even who the actor is on the new show you鈥檝e just started watching on telly?听 Try out Google Goggles (part of their mobile app).听 Looking for a person?听 Maybe try out LinkedIn.com and see if they have a public profile with contact information.听

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5) Validate your findings!

Just because you read it on the internet, doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 true!听 Anyone with basic knowledge can create a webpage, or construct a social media profile, or alter a Wikipedia entry 鈥� so always try and validate the information you find to ensure it鈥檚 accurate.听 Google News (part of Google) can be a great source of official information from various places, and again don鈥檛 forget to ask your friends on Social Networks.听 There鈥檚 a lot of scams and false information out there, and especially when looking to buy online, always go with the old adage of 鈥渋f it looks too good to be true 鈥� it usually is鈥�.