As a search marketing expert, you probably get asked all the time about what the secrets are to be a power searcher. I know I do. And I never had a very good answer. Yes, I know a slew of tips to pass along, but that makes for an uncomfortably long conversation. Now I have found the book that I want to recommend to every searcher who asks me that question.
It’s called Google Power, written by well-known search expert Chris Sherman. The book explains all things Google, even touching on Gmail and other labs projects, but search is where it shines. The book starts with a thorough background of how search engines work and how to use each of the special features Google provides, from special operators to Advanced Search.
But this book goes far deeper than just the basics. The author correctly notes that different kinds of searches call for different techniques, devoting special chapters to explaining how to search for people, health information, news, products, travel information, business intelligence, and technical support. It’s hard to imagine how any searcher could not be helped by several of these chapters, which provide hours of time-saving tips.
But my favorite chapter covers special tools designed to turbocharge your research. Although I am allegedly an expert, I learned about several tools that I plan to check out. If you don’t know what a Web Research Manager is, or never heard of a Web Site Monitor, you owe it to yourself to find out. Any serious searcher needs to check out these shortcuts for organizing the results of your searches, as well as these tools that can alert you whenever a Web page (or sometimes even an entire site) changes.
Despite the title, one of the best things about Google Power is that Sherman never shies away from discussing other search engines and tools when they outshine Google. Google is a great search engine, but some kinds of specialized searches are best done by other facilities and the author lets you know when that is true.
Whether you are a search novice or already a power searcher, Google Power will teach you something. When you think about all the time we spend using Google, it is crazy not to invest a couple of hours in improving our skills. Read Google Power and you will get that time back tenfold before you know it.
