10 Handy Tricks to Search Google Like An Expert

If you are reading this, chances are, you are probably a fan of Google search. However, unless you are a tech geek, your typical search activity would probably involve entering a few words and changing them until you find what you are looking for.

While Google is getting better at finding the right information for you, there are a couple of tricks you could use to make your search more effective.

The following are 10 simple tricks that I’ve found useful in helping me find the right information quickly.

1. Display Current Local Time Anywhere

   To find the local time of a major city anywhere in the world, enter “time in city name ”

   Example: “time in kuala lumpur”

   

   This is particularly useful when your website is targeted towards users from a different time zone. Use this query to check the time in any city to ensure that the important information on your site is published at an appropriate hour.

    

2. Currency Converter

   Use the built-in currency converter to find the current exchange rates.

   Examples:
   8.99 USD in GBP
   currency of china in russian money

    

3. Find Documents of the Specified Type

   You can search up to 12 file formats including files in Microsoft Office, Lotus 1-2-3, PDF, PostSCript and others. To confine your search results to a specific file type, just enter filetype:[extension]

   Example: adsense secrets filetype:pdf

   Unwitting ebook publishers who have no idea how to use robots.txt to prevent indexing sometimes end up getting their paid ebooks listed under those query.

    

4. Site Specific Search

   This query is useful when you want to search a site and it doesn’t have a built-in search engine. To search “adsense secrets” at Sabahan.com, enter

   Example: adsense secrets site:sabahan.com

   You can combine this with the previous trick to search pdf documents from a particular site.

   Eg: adsense secrets filetype:pdf site:sitesell.com

    

5. 4 Days Weather Forecast

   Search for the weather forecast in any area

   Examples:
   weather 90210
   weather Tokyo

   

    

6. Numeric Ranges

   Confine your search within a range of numbers

   Example: The Transformers 1984..1990

    

7. Show a Definition For a Word or Phrase

   To see a list of definitions definition for a word or phrase, enter define: word

   Example: define: enchilada

    

8. Use Google to Calculator and Units Conversion

   Google has a built-in calculator function to solve basic or more complicated math problems.

   Example: 5%*280^2

   In addition, you can use the built-in unit conversion function to convert a unit to another.

   Example: 3ft+12ft+6ft in meter

    

9. Phrases Searches

   Often you only want to see results that include an exact phrase. To do so simply include quotation marks around your search terms.

   Example: transformer "The Machine Wars"

    

10. Stock Search

    Enter a valid sticker symbol to view the stock and mutual fund quotes. Clicking on the chart or Google Finance link will take you to the relevant information from Google Finance. To search APPLE stock information

    Example: aapl

    

     

If you find these tricks useful, I suggest you bookmark this article. It’ll come handy next time you want to located specialized info quickly. If you have you own favorite search tips, please share them in the comments.