How To Use Google Search Like a Pro: Tips, Tricks, and Hidden Features You Didn’t Know Existed

You use Google every day, but are you getting the best results?

Most people think they know how to search. Type a few words, hit enter, click the first result. Job done, right? Not exactly. Google Search is packed with advanced features, shortcuts, and filters that can seriously level up the way you find information. Whether you’re researching a business idea, tracking down a forgotten song lyric, or just trying to get better results, learning how to use Google properly makes a massive difference.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to use Google Search like an expert, from the basics to the hidden gems. If you’ve ever wanted to get better results faster, this one’s for you.

Use Specific Keywords (and Ditch the Fluff)

The number one rule? Google isn’t a person. It doesn’t need full sentences. You’ll get better results by using specific keywords rather than vague phrases or full questions.

For example, instead of typing "What’s the best way to cook pasta?", try "best pasta cooking method" or even just "cook pasta al dente". Google’s algorithm is trained to understand intent, but your job is to make that intent as clear as possible. Broad terms bring broad results, while precise keywords help narrow it down fast.

Keep in mind:

• Use location-based keywords if needed (e.g. best pizza restaurant York)

• Use product names or model numbers if searching for something specific

• Add a verb to clarify the action (e.g. compare prices, buy, how to fix)

Being deliberate with your words cuts through irrelevant results and brings the useful stuff to the top.

Use Quotation Marks for Exact Matches

If you want to find an exact phrase or sentence, putting it in quotation marks can make a big difference. Google will only show results that contain that exact wording, in that exact order.

This is great for finding song lyrics, quotes, or checking if content has been copied online. For example, searching "to be or not to be" with quotation marks will show you pages that include that exact quote. Without them, Google might show results for anything related to Shakespeare, even if that line isn’t used word-for-word.

A few great uses for quotation marks:

• Finding an exact product title or article headline

• Checking if your content has been scraped or plagiarised

• Tracking down a specific quote from a book, movie or podcast

It’s a small trick, but it gives you a much tighter, more accurate search result.

Use the Minus Sign to Exclude Results

This one’s a game changer. If you're seeing results that you don’t want, simply add a minus sign before the keyword you want to exclude. For example, searching jaguar -car tells Google you want results about jaguars the animal, not the luxury vehicle.

It’s perfect when a keyword has multiple meanings and you're only interested in one.

Examples:

• apple -fruit to find results about the tech company, not the fruit

• bears -Chicago to avoid sports content

• Java -coffee to get programming help, not a morning brew

This trick is brilliant for cleaning up your results, especially when Google's getting confused between different meanings of the same word.

Master Site-Specific Searches

Want to find something on a specific website? You can use site: followed by the website address to limit your results. For instance, site:bbc.co.uk climate change will show only results about climate change from the BBC.

It’s a fantastic way to search large news sites, blogs, forums or online stores when the site’s internal search tool isn’t great.

Use it when:

• Searching for older blog posts or articles

• Looking for reviews or case studies from a trusted source

• Finding documentation on platforms like site:developer.mozilla.org

This technique gives you laser-focused results within websites that matter to you.

Use the Asterisk (*) as a Wildcard

The asterisk symbol acts like a fill-in-the-blank for Google. It tells the search engine to treat that part of the phrase as a wildcard, allowing it to match any word or phrase in that spot.

Try typing something like "the best * for beginners" and Google will return variations such as the best camera for beginners, the best software for beginners, or the best books for beginners. It’s handy when you don’t know the exact word you're looking for, or want to explore a wide range of suggestions.

Practical uses:

• Finding missing song lyrics or quotes

• Exploring content ideas (e.g. how to start * blog)

• Letting Google help you complete common phrases

This tool is surprisingly powerful for keyword research, content planning, and even debugging search issues.

Search Within a Time Range

Sometimes you don’t want the latest article. Or maybe you want something published within a certain time frame. Google lets you filter by date, but even better, you can manually set a custom range.

Here’s how:

1. Do your search as normal

2. Click on Tools underneath the search bar

3. Select the time filter and choose your range

This is especially helpful when:

• Researching old events or historical data

• Avoiding recent news noise for evergreen topics

• Tracking how a topic has evolved over time

If you're researching trends or comparing how something was written about in 2014 vs 2024, this is your go-to move.

Use Google’s Built-In Tools (They’re Better Than You Think)

Google has dozens of built-in tools that show up right inside the search results — no need to click through to another site. These tools are accurate, fast, and often overlooked.

A few favourites:

• Weather York shows you local forecasts instantly

• 5 USD in GBP converts currency

• Timer 10 minutes sets a countdown

• Define:serendipity gives you dictionary definitions

• Flight BA142 gives live flight info

If you want quick answers without leaving the page, these tools save time. They also work well on mobile, where every click counts.

Find Related Websites With “Related:”

If you’ve found a great website and want more like it, type related: followed by the website URL. For example, related:asos.com will show you sites similar to ASOS — like Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, and other fashion retailers.

This trick is underused but great for:

• Discovering competitor websites

• Finding new blogs or publishers in your niche

• Exploring similar tools or platforms

It’s a brilliant way to expand your go-to list of sources, especially in research-heavy work.

Final Tips for Smarter Searching

Knowing how to use Google Search properly means less scrolling and better results. These tricks and tips may seem small, but together they massively improve the way you interact with the web.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Use clear, specific keywords

• Quotation marks lock down exact matches

• Minus signs clean up the noise

• Site searches dig deep into individual websites

• Wildcards open up creative results

• Date filters find exactly what you want, when you want it

• Built-in tools are fast and accurate

• Related sites help you discover more

Next time you need to search, try using just one of these techniques. Once you see the difference, you’ll wonder how you ever Googled without them.