Select the Right File Type for your Search

In last weeks email I reviewed how to use the Filetype filter. This week we will take a closer look at the different file types that are available, and learn when you might want to search for each one.

Types of Filetypes:

PDF- Is usually a completed report. Great for taking a deep dive into a topic. ["New trends" "Social Media" filetype:pdf]

XLS- A spread sheet is great for figures, for example [US "auto sales" filetype:xls]

PPT- A presentation is helpful when you are looking for charts that you can use ["restaurant industry" filetype:ppt]

DOC- A document, of course, can be edited ["green technologies" filetype:doc]

Think about the results that you want to find, and then be go and find what you are looking for.

Next week, we will cover how Keyword Location can be combined with Filetype Search to find high value information.

Finding Documents Online and Off

Finding documents for research can take up a large amount of one's day. The IDC Reports that 22% of a knowledge workers day is spent looking for information.

To cut down on time spent looking for documents, useGoogle's filetype filter followed by the document extension that you are looking for.

Filetype Search:

Type [keywords filetype:pdf] to find keywords that are on aPDF.

[findability without complexityfiletype:pdf]

If you want to search through multiple filetypes at one time, combine them with Or Search.

[hybrid car sales filetype:xls ORfiletype:ppt]

This search skill can be used on Google.com, and on your intranet if it is powered by the Google Search Appliance.

Next week I'll review many of the different document types you can search by, and suggest which document type is most likely to have the information you are looking for.

Use Google to Searching within Twitter

For any person in a marketing or sales department, knowing what people are saying about your product, or about a potential client's product, is an essential piece of business information.

Using Site Search on Twitter's web site is an easy way to discover what people are saying about any product, and using Google's filters and operators gives you more search options than Twitter's search feature. We will take a look at Google's new cell phone, the Nexus One.

To Search with Twitter:

1. In the Google Search Bar, type [product name site:twitter.com]

2. For example: ["Nexus One" site:twitter.com]

See results of the site search search.

Limit Results to a Specific Time:

To see the most recent results of , select the "Show options" features on the top left of the page, then select "Latest."

See results of the Site Search with Latest.

Or, you can select the "Specific Date Range" option, then enter in dates of your choosing. In this example, I selected the day the Nexus One was released and the day after.

See results of Site Search with Specific Date Range

The content for this MicroLearning post is taken from the Boost eLearning Google Search Training Course. To learn more about Boost eLearning's interactive training on Google Search, please contact us.