Google Search Tricks – Part 1: The Useful Stuff 0 (0)

Useful Google Search Tools
Google Search Tricks
Use Search Bar Terms

Use Search Bar Terms
Include search modifiers in your search term to instruct the search engine what to include, exclude, or match. Terms like "filetype:", "related:", and "site:" refine results to more specific parameters.

Choose When The Results Were Published

Choose When The Results Were Published
When looking for the most recent information about a topic, set the publish time to reflect the results you receive. This is helpful if there is an issue with a website or tool that may be new, or if you’re getting old results and want the most recent information on something.

Set a Google Alert

Set a Google Alert
Google Alerts instruct Google to email you when a webpage that includes a particular search term is indexed. For example, setting a Google Alert for your business name will let you know any time your business is mentioned on a newly indexed page.

Do Math

Do Math
No need to pull out your phone calculator. Google has a built-in scientific calculator that can be summoned easily through the search bar by either searching for "calculator" or typing your equation directly into the search bar.

Convert Currency, Measurement, and Time Zones

Convert Currency, Measurement, and Time Zones
Easily convert currency by typing it into the search bar. This same functionality can be used for units of measurement - including cooking measurements - and matching up time zones.

Track Packages

Track Packages
Find the status of your UPS, USPS, or FedEx package by searching for the tracking number in the search bar. This will give you the same information that is provided by the shipping company with fewer steps.

Track Flights

Track Flights
See if your flight is on-time by entering the airline and flight number into the search bar. It will return flight status, terminal and gate information, and any alerts from the airline. You can even use the airline abbreviation, like "aa 4267".

Find Out What Time It Is

Find Out What Time It Is
What time is it in Lisbon, Portugal? Find out by searching for "Lisbon, Portugal time". Google will display the local time and time zone.

See The Sunrise and Sunset Time

See The Sunrise and Sunset Time
In addition to the time, find the sunrise and sunset of any location by searching for the location, along with "sunrise sunset". How else would you know that the sunrise in Fiji was at 6:35 am today?

Check The Weather

Check The Weather
Get a quick look at the weather by searching for a location along with "weather". The feature is powered by weather.com, so know you are getting accurate results.

See Live Stock Quotes

See Live Stock Quotes
Get detailed stock quotes by searching for a company’s ticker symbol along with "stock price". The quotes are up to the minute, so you can keep up on your investments in real-time.

Spell Out Numbers

Spell Out Numbers
Sometimes you need to know how to spell four hundred sixty-one million six hundred sixteen thousand eight hundred forty-six in a hurry. Just search for "461,616,846=english" on Google.

Virtual Tools: Metronome

Virtual Tools: Metronome
Play to the beat of a virtual metronome by simply searching for "metronome" and choosing a tempo speed.

Virtual Tools: Timer or Stopwatch

Virtual Tools: Timer or Stopwatch
Search for "timer" to set a timer or use a virtual stopwatch.

Virtual Tools: Bubble Level

Virtual Tools: Bubble Level
On your mobile device, search Google for "bubble level "to find a functional level for building or fixing objects. Just tap “Touch to activate” and set your phone on the element you need to be level in order to use.

Get Random Numbers: Flip a Coin

Get Random Numbers: Flip a Coin
Search "flip a coin" to flip a virtual coin.

Get Random Numbers: Roll a Die

Get Random Numbers: Roll a Die
Search "roll a die" to roll either a 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, or 20-sided die.

Get Random Numbers: Spinner

Get Random Numbers: Spinner
Search "spinner" to spin a wheel with between 2 and 20 numbers. This feature also includes the option to spin a virtual fidget spinner, which is arguably less useful.

Get Random Numbers: Random Number Generator

Get Random Numbers: Random Number Generator
If you don’t want to roll a die or spin a wheel and just want a random number, search for "random number generator". You can set the minimum and maximum numbers.

Breathing Exercise

Breathing Exercise
Most health advice on Google is found on sites like WebMD or Healthline, but an easy breathing exercise is available by searching for "breathing exercise". This tool displays a pulsating circle to guide you through a brief breathing exercise to calm your mind and body on stressful days.

Google Image Search: Reverse Image Search

Google Image Search: Reverse Image Search
Searching for images is common, but you can also do a reverse image search that finds similar images based on an existing image. Click on the camera icon on the right side of the Images search bar and either upload an image or enter an image URL.

Google Image Search: Advanced Image Search

Google Image Search: Advanced Image Search
For specific search parameters when looking for an image, use the advanced image search function. You can search for images by keyword, size, file type, and colors, among many other options.

Google Image Search: Save Image To A Collection

Google Image Search: Save Images To A Collection
After you find the images you need, save them to a Collection. Image Collections replace the need for bookmarking pages or saving images to your computer.

previous arrow
next arrow
Useful Google Search Tools
Use Search Bar Terms
Choose When The Results Were Published
Set a Google Alert
Do Math
Convert Currency, Measurement, and Time Zones
Track Packages
Track Flights
Find Out What Time It Is
See The Sunrise and Sunset Time
Check The Weather
See Live Stock Quotes
Spell Out Numbers
Virtual Tools: Metronome
Virtual Tools: Timer or Stopwatch
Virtual Tools: Bubble Level
Get Random Numbers: Flip a Coin
Get Random Numbers: Roll a Die
Get Random Numbers: Spinner
Get Random Numbers: Random Number Generator
Breathing Exercise
Google Image Search: Reverse Image Search
Google Image Search: Advanced Image Search
Google Image Search: Save Image To A Collection
tools
previous arrow
next arrow
Continue reading “Google Search Tricks – Part 1: The Useful Stuff 0 (0)

Optimizing for Bing: Is It Worth It? 0 (0)

Optimizing for Bing: Is It Worth It?

We see it regularly: a website is placing well on a variety of keyword phrases on Google. The same keywords on Bing? 3rd page. 4th page. Nowhere to be found. 🤦 While it would make sense that if a keyword is well optimized, it would place well on all of the search engines, more often than not this isn’t the case. And while SEO’s typically put most of their eggs in the Google basket, we have to ask, should we be doing anything special to optimize for Bing? And if so, what?

Continue reading “Optimizing for Bing: Is It Worth It? 0 (0)

Avoiding Online Scams That Target Senior Citizens 0 (0)

older man hands typing on a laptop computer

In Indianapolis, IN, a 71-year-old man began what he thought was a meaningful relationship with a German woman who he met online. The two spoke often and over the course of nine months, he sent the woman numerous messages – and about $80,000. The man, who declined to give his name in news reports, had fallen victim to what is known as a “romance scam”. It is one of many scams that target the uninformed, lonely, or generous, who often end up being senior citizens.

Even the smartest people can fall prey to online scams. It is estimated that 1 in 10 senior citizens who live independently will become victims of financial abuse. This means that roughly 2 to 3 million people are being scammed out of about $2.9 billion each year.

Continue reading “Avoiding Online Scams That Target Senior Citizens 0 (0)

4 Reasons to Use Short URLs 0 (0)

4 reasons to use short urls

There are hundreds of factors that decide where websites show up on search engine results pages (SERPs). High placement and great content keep visitors coming back. Many require an investment of time and effort, so factors that can be addressed quickly are invaluable. Read on to find out why short URLs are an easy win for SEO.

Continue reading “4 Reasons to Use Short URLs 0 (0)

Schema: Your Website’s Secret Weapon 0 (0)

The internet of things

If you use Google as often as we do, you’ll notice that sometimes the information on your results page is… scarily accurate. The hours of a new restaurant in town or recent posts from your favorite news source seem to be magically pulled from the website and onto the top of the results page. Is Google reading your mind? No, they are just using Schema.

Continue reading “Schema: Your Website’s Secret Weapon 0 (0)