Because search engines are the "librarians" of the Web, they're great for finding topics. But they can't "think" like their human counterparts. For example, search engines might not be able to accurately interpret:

Complete sentences
Concepts, notions or thoughts
Misspelled words
Mixed or complex searches
Questions

Consequently, it's best to check spelling and keep searches simple, by searching only for core words called keywords. Keywords are what search engines target when "crawling" through Web pages to list them.

Most search engines ignore prepositions when searching, such as the words with, of, to, for and the. So, you may omit them.

Below are examples. The links within lead to relevant articles here at EmployeeIssues.com.

Inquiry: How many paid holidays am I entitled to?
Good Keywords: holiday pay
Better Keywords: paid holidays

Inquiry: Does my employer have to pay me through my resignation notice period?
Good Keywords: resignation notice period pay
Better Keywords: resignation notice pay or just resignation pay

Inquiry: minimum work age for children
Good Keywords: child labor
Better Keywords: child labor minimum age

There is no single perfect way to search each and every time. Consequently, searches often require trial and error. But, typing keywords in one of the following ways often returns the best results.

The most important first
In a logical order
In the way that they are commonly expressed

For example, if you're trying to find out if it's discriminatory for your employer to deny you a promotion solely because you're an aging worker, the keywords age discrimination promotion will likely return better results than promotion discrimination age.

That's because there is no "promotion discrimination" law per se. But there is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, a Federal law that prohibits age discrimination against workers over age 40 in any aspect of employment, including promotion.

So, it follows that age discrimination is the way the keywords are commonly expressed. In turn, that makes age discrimination promotion a more logical order in which to arrange the keywords, to search for age discrimination with a specific mention of promotion.

Next Page > Search Tips - Part 2 of 2



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