Hopefully you're already familiar with Google, the internet's most popular search engine. You might have even used Google to find this very article. But, do you really know how to use it effectively? Learning how to use Google effectively can help you find exactly what you're looking for and save time while doing it.
Choosing Search Terms
Choosing the right search terms is the most important thing you can do to improve your search results with Google. If you're looking for affiliate marketing books for example, use the keywords "affiliate marketing books." Unfortunately these are going to give too many results. You need to narrow down your results. Are you looking for a particular book? Let's run through a list of keywords to find information on a particular affiliate marketing book, "Affiliate Project X."
affiliate -- 429,000,000 results
affiliate marketing -- 47,500,000 results
affiliate marketing book -- 3,840,000 results
affiliate marketing book project -- 2,790,000 results
affiliate marketing book project x -- 2,140,000 results
Something important is happening here. Notice each time you add another keyword to search for, you receive less results. This is because Google, by default, searches for only those pages that include all of the keywords you are searching for. Using multiple keywords allows you to narrow down on a subject very quickly. Remember though, if you miss the first time, try another keyword in place of one that you have already used. In my example, searching for "guide" instead of "book" could very well garner completely different results.
Within the top 10 results of Google for the "affiliate marketing book project x" search (without quotes) are many sites dedicated to the "Affiliate Project X" eBook. In this case, there were enough keywords to find exactly what I was looking for, even with 2,140,000 total results.
Capitalization, Common Words and Negative Terms
If you love to type in CAPITAL LETTERS, please don't do so when communicating with other people. Fortunately, Google doesn't care. Searching for "project x" is the same as "PROJECT X" or "Project X" to Google. Capitalization doesn't matter in your Google searches.
Common words are ignored. Google will tell you when it ignores a word on the results page below the search box. If you think an ignored word should be included in your search, add a "+" before the word ("+where").
Some searches will result in keywords that you don't want included. Have you ever searched for something that was obviously being monopolized? Block them out! If you are searching for chocolate candy and want nothing to do with the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" movie, just add "-movie" to your search keywords. This will block out all mentions of the "movie" keyword; be careful.
Phrase Searches
If you're looking for an exact phrase, such as a book title, use a phrase search. A phrase search is performed by enclosing your key phrase in quotes.
Phrase searches are particularly helpful for solving computer errors. Have you ever received cryptic error messages from a computer program? Type the error message into Google, enclose the phrase in quotes and be prepared for targeted results that pertain exactly to what you're looking for! I have solved countless computer problems this way and you can too.
In Summary
Google is a powerful tool. The more you know how to use it, the better your search results will be. Use a combination of adding desired keywords and filtering unwanted keywords to obtain the best of targeted results. Choosing the right search terms can be difficult. If one doesn't work, substitute another in it's place. Remember: Google doesn't mind working for you. Try, try, and try again.
Have fun in your Google adventures!
About the Author
Erik Nitsu is a software developer constantly improving his knowledge of software tools to get the job done. He has recently been studying informational products and is providing honest reviews of what and what not to read at DealOrDud.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erik_Nitsu
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Monday, 3 August 2009
HOME::Internet-and-Businesses-Online/Affiliate-Revenue X
When Google launched their referral buttons, Darren over at Problogger.net raised a pretty interesting point. He speculated on whether Google’s link-up with Firefox marked the start of a range of affiliate products for publishers that Google were planning to roll out.
Now that the buttons have been around for a while, I have to say that I’d be pretty surprised if Google decided to try out any more.
I’m not aware of anyone making any serious money out of them. The ad units are great. The link units can do pretty well. The image ads not so much. And the referral buttons might buy someone a small coffee once a month... provided they have an audience which has never heard of Firefox.
The real problem with the referral buttons we were offered was that they just weren’t very competitive. There’s a whole range of different affiliate programs that we can sign up to online and the payment terms that Google was offering just didn’t beat what was out there -- a dollar for a download? One hundred dollars when someone you’ve signed up for AdSense breaks a century? You’ll probably do better sending people to some dating site or pushing books at Amazon.
The buttons don’t do any harm. But I don’t think anyone really expects them to do a great deal of good either.
The fact that we haven’t seen any additions to these programs suggests that Google has picked up the message that affiliate programs just aren’t their strong points. In fact, I don’t think AdSense has produced anything yet that beats the basic ad unit. That was a killer idea... and no one’s beaten it yet. We’ve had a few false starts when companies have brought out some attractive new products but the bottom line is that it’s still the good old AdSense ad unit that’s keeping those fat checks coming in.
That doesn’t mean that Google shouldn’t be looking for new ways to make us all a little richer. But they need to be original if they’re going to make it work, and do something that no one else has done.
Or they can just focus on rolling out new formats and adjusting the Smart Pricing so that my prices go up. I’d be happier if they just did that than offer more affiliate buttons.
Joel Comm is The Internet Revenue Expert. Online for over 20 years, Joel teaches people how to make money in the digital age. The recognized authority on Google AdSense, Joel teaches how to multiply your AdSense income at The AdSense Code. To ask Joel Comm a question about making money online, visit http://www.AskJoelComm.com Joel invites you to download a free copy of The Internet Money Tree at http://www.internetmoneytree.net
Now that the buttons have been around for a while, I have to say that I’d be pretty surprised if Google decided to try out any more.
I’m not aware of anyone making any serious money out of them. The ad units are great. The link units can do pretty well. The image ads not so much. And the referral buttons might buy someone a small coffee once a month... provided they have an audience which has never heard of Firefox.
The real problem with the referral buttons we were offered was that they just weren’t very competitive. There’s a whole range of different affiliate programs that we can sign up to online and the payment terms that Google was offering just didn’t beat what was out there -- a dollar for a download? One hundred dollars when someone you’ve signed up for AdSense breaks a century? You’ll probably do better sending people to some dating site or pushing books at Amazon.
The buttons don’t do any harm. But I don’t think anyone really expects them to do a great deal of good either.
The fact that we haven’t seen any additions to these programs suggests that Google has picked up the message that affiliate programs just aren’t their strong points. In fact, I don’t think AdSense has produced anything yet that beats the basic ad unit. That was a killer idea... and no one’s beaten it yet. We’ve had a few false starts when companies have brought out some attractive new products but the bottom line is that it’s still the good old AdSense ad unit that’s keeping those fat checks coming in.
That doesn’t mean that Google shouldn’t be looking for new ways to make us all a little richer. But they need to be original if they’re going to make it work, and do something that no one else has done.
Or they can just focus on rolling out new formats and adjusting the Smart Pricing so that my prices go up. I’d be happier if they just did that than offer more affiliate buttons.
Joel Comm is The Internet Revenue Expert. Online for over 20 years, Joel teaches people how to make money in the digital age. The recognized authority on Google AdSense, Joel teaches how to multiply your AdSense income at The AdSense Code. To ask Joel Comm a question about making money online, visit http://www.AskJoelComm.com Joel invites you to download a free copy of The Internet Money Tree at http://www.internetmoneytree.net
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