In This Chapter

• Setting your Google preferences

• Choosing keywords and searching the Web

• Interpreting and using the search results page

• Understanding advanced searching

• Discovering the convenience and power of search operators

• Searching for images

This is where we get down to business. Searching for sites, finding files, wrangling with results, and generally raiding Google for all it’s worth. You might be thinking, “I know how to search Google. You type a few words, press Enter, blink rapidly, and view the results.” I won’t comment on disturbing facial tics, but that process is essentially correct. And if you’re impatient to explore more esoteric stuff, feel free to skip this chapter. I won’t be hurt, bitter, or resentful. (And if I am hurt, bitter, or resentful, you’ll never know it, so don’t trouble yourself over my misery.)

Now. For those of you remaining, I’m going to send you each a million dollars. Which pales beside the wealth of useful information that follows in these pages. I get the basics out of the way quickly, leading straight to the finer points of the search results page, advanced searching, narrowing your search results in various ways, and other life-altering techniques.

So read on. Your check is in the mail.