Have you ever needed a bit of information and turned to the internet only to be
forced to sift through the numerous pages of websites returned by a search engine
query or had to click through countless web page links only to discover that the
information you do find is either out of date or does not actually apply to your
initial needs? Well, you are not alone. Virtually all users of the internet
have faced this dilemma at one time or another and continue to be thwarted by
the enormous resources contained on the world wide wonderment.
Although there are numerous pitfalls inherent in any internet experience
navigating the World Wide Web does not have to be a stressful incident. Properly
utilizing the most popular search engines, recognizing the various types of web
sites, accessing user forums, quickly deciphering the content of web sites and
protecting users from unwanted popup windows, spyware and viruses can greatly
enhance the daily navigation of otherwise incomprehensible masses of data.
Search Engines
Search Engines are often the first place where internet users turn to in order to
get the quickest response to their information needs. The most popular search
engines currently on the internet include Google, Yahoo, MSN Search and AOL Search.
Although these search engines are a fantastic basic resource, they often return huge
lists of web pages containing reams of information, ranked by relevance. These
results returned are ultimately determined by how specific the initial query is.
Search engines thrive on specificity. For example if you type "Recipes" into the
Google search engine it will return 189,000,000 responses. However, typing "books
about quick cajun lamb and rice recipes in Canada" returns only 41,200 results and
those returned are much more likely to contain the information you are looking for.
The key behind search engines, therefore, is quite simple. That is, the more
specific you are, the better your results are likely to be.
There is one rather large drawback to virtually all search engines. Simply put,
they don’t actually give you the information you want. You still have to click on
the link representing the most likely results and then navigating through the
displayed website’s pages to find the actual information you are looking for. Most
often, if the search engine has not directed you specifically to the page within
the website you want or the web page is confusing or not well laid out it is often
advisable to return to the search page by clicking on the browser’s back button and
trying the next displayed link.
The key to navigating search engines lies with being as specific as you possibly can.
As well, the most popular search engines contain language recognition software so
typing your queries in the form of questions can often return better results.
Finally, if your query does not return any pages with the information you require
within the first 3 pages of results then either your query was not specific enough
or you may be missing the keyword that will return the right results. In both cases,
you simply need to reevaluate your query and try again. Remember that this is really
just the beginning of your search so try to be patient and as specific as possible.
Different Types of Websites
The internet, like any library, can be categorized into countless classes. For general
purposes there are really only a few styles of informational web sites including, but
not limited to, search engines as described above, portal sites, user forums,
instructional sites and community sites or web rings.
Portal sites are web sites that often only offer a bare bones resource on a specific
topic. Their main purpose is to provide a launch pad to other web sites that contain
more information or resources pertaining to the specific topic. Often discovered
through web searches this type of website is a great place to bookmark in your browser
rather than book marking each individual linked page but are not normally great sources
of information by themselves. In some cases portal sites can also contain other
features like user forums and chat pages where users can exchange information specific
to the portal site’s topic.
A great resource for exchanging information or requesting clarification on a topic,
issue or question is user forum sites. These sites are discussion boards and are very
often particular to a general topic of discussion like Visual Basic Programming (ie:
VB Forums), Household Cooking (ie: Cooking Cache.com) or Carpentry (ie: DoItYourself.com).
Some sites may require you to register with them but the better sites do not require any
personal or credit card information. Most of the better sites have human monitors that
make sure specific discussions are relevant to the forum and that the site rules are
enforced. Becoming a member of one or more of these sites can be a rewarding experience
and provide all the information and more that you may require pertinent to your specific
topic of interest.
The only drawback to user forum sites is that they are dependant on the number of
knowledgeable members and the frequency with which users reply to any given discussion.
Take your time when examining user forums. If you have a question often others have had
the same one. Search through the site for answers before posting your question or you
may upset the current members and the answers might not be quite what you are looking for.
Also, it often can take 1 or more days for a reply to your question. Most user forums
will send you an email to notify you of any activity on your question. Be patient and
be sure to answer other’s questions to get the most out of your user forum experience.
If you are looking for classes, tutorials or articles relating to a specific area you
might want to investigate any number of educational sites. The internet was pioneered
by an American University and many online educational institutions exist with the sole
purpose of providing you with the instruction you require. You can access many free
courses online and take proficiency tests for virtually any topic imaginable. Most
reputable colleges and universities have an educational portal through which you can
access their online courses for credit towards a diploma or degree. As well, many
universities and colleges only exist on the internet. These may require more
investigation to establish the validity of any diploma or degree they may award.
Article and tutorial sites are usually divided into specific topics and are often free of
charge. They may contain documents for general reading, beginning through advanced
topics and alternative information. Many of these sites provide an educational experience
that would be difficult to match through extensive research in a local public
library. You may even find that your experiences might be of interest to other visitors
and the best sites provide members with the opportunity to contribute articles and/or
tutorials of their own. The free exchange of information is a tenant on which the
internet was founded and you could benefit from this give and take nature.
Community web sites, or web rings, are in fact collections of related sites that build on
the collective expertise of each site in the community. These sites can provide an
internet surfing experience similar to shopping in a fashion mall but is unique to the
World Wide Web. The primary advantage of a web community is the rapid exchange and
dissemination of information through the ring. Often, general information on one site in
the community will link to more specific information in another site within the
community. In most cases, human monitors will ensure the pages on any given site are
current and available. There is also usually a main site, or hub, around which all the
other sites within the community gather forming a cohesive platform for the visitors to
the community. This provides a richer and fuller experience to the visitors of any site
within the ring. Once you have discovered a useful web community it would be a good idea
to bookmark the hub site for future reference.