How To Become A Google Ninja

Googling Like a Ninja

As we all know, Google is a search engine with a wealth of information and unlimited resources. Unfortunately, sometimes it can be intimidating to find relevant information to a desired topic.  Wouldn't it be nice to better understand how to communicate with Google?   All of the information that we could possibly want and need is at our fingertips.  Do we know how we can we access it?  This blog post will introduce how to better communicate and utilize Google's resources.  Over the course of this post, we will learn how to use search operators, utilize Google tools, and narrow our searches. Let's learn how to Google like a ninja!

First, let's get comfortable with some awesome Google goodies. Need a timer? A metronome? A calculator? A translation? Type those key words in Google and there you have it! Do you ever wonder about time zones? Simply type "what time is it in ______." Want to know metric conversions? Have no fear, type "how many _____ in a  _____" or "____ is how many in _____." Do you wonder how much money you would have in another country? Type "currency conversion" or "how many _____ in a _____."  Do you appreciate brain games? Try challenging yourself with solving a Google A Day Google by typing A Google A Day in the search browser.  Google can also do many other tricks such as, define words, flip a coin, roll a die, make animal sounds, provide images, and much more! Visit google-search-cards.html  for all of these tips and more.

Second, let's narrow our search even more! To the right are some shortcuts to finding the best information we can. Simply utilize those tricks and you will be on your way to searching like a Google ninja! You can also visit how-to-google-like-a-ninja-1-638.jpg to enlarge the image.

Third, we must understand that Google thinks like a computer, not a human.  This means that we must learn how to simplify our verbiage (take out all of the unnecessary information).  Google does not need entries in question format.

• Think more about writing a statement. For example, say I have the following question: "Who are the members of Greenwood County's South Carolina Senate Delegation?" Omit the part of this that makes it a question.  Try typing Greenwood SC Senate Delegation. Doing this narrows the search to more relevant information. 

Next, you can use Google search tools to filter your searches. After typing a search, press the pinwheel button and narrow your search even more! There are numerous filter options depending on the searched topic. An awesome website to visit is the Google Support Page. 

Google also has a few fun tricks. These tricks are referred to as Easter Eggs. Just for fun type: 

• Do a barrel roll
• Askew
• Super Mario Brothers
• Zerg rush
• Google in 1998
• Google pacman
• Search any actor's name bacon number

Google has many neat abilities to offer. To be able to better understand how to capitalize on those abilities can really save a lot of time and misinformation. I hope this blog was helpful. 

Never stop learning,

Ms. Elder