Keyword Searching - Myths
and Realities
Myth: When you search the net for a term
- you get all related information
Reality: When you search the net
for a term - you get all pages that have the term
Illustration: Suppose
you are a Radiologist, and want some information on the "string of beads
sign". Try a Google Search for this.
Some of the items retrieved:
1. Page title: Struggling with String
URL:
http://jewelrymaking.about.com/library/blstring.htm
Partial page content:
One of the most often asked questions I receive
from beginning beaders is what type of cord or string they should use to string
their beads onto. Of course, it would be nice to be able to tell them to use string
"X."...
2. Page title: About Making Rosaries
URL: http://www.landofodds.com/store/rosarymk.htm
Partial
page content
A Rosary is a string of beads with a crucifix. A short
string of four beads...
Get it? Only the words "string of beads"
appear; these pages do NOT give you information ABOUT the "string of beads
sign".
So what does one do?
When searching a generic search
engine like Google:
a) Put in something specific like this search in quotes
"String of beads sign". This makes the engine look for this exact phrase b)
Sometimes it helps search for a more specific term - for example - search for
"myocardial infarction" and not "heart attack". c)
Use different synonyms if applicable.
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