How to Improve Your Google Search Results

Whether you’re a seasoned Google user or new to the Googling game, it’s important to understand how to use the platform to your advantage.

Even if you don’t consider yourself web-savvy, you’ve probably done a Google search at some point! Checking the weather? Need to find pizza near you ASAP? Google is your info-finding BFF If you’re a business owner, you will also benefit from understanding how people use Google to search the web because it’s a major way that people may find your business.

Let’s talk about how to get the best, fastest results for all your Google search queries. 

Who should learn how to improve Google search results?

New Google Users 

Pre-Google generations, or regular users that are just beginning to use the platform benefit from understanding basic tips and strategies to improve their Google results page when searching for information or an answer to their question. 

Business Owners

Business owners can largely increase their organic reach by improving how their business shows up and ranks in users’ results pages. If you can think like a user while writing content, your website is much more likely to perform better on various search engine results pages.

Seasoned Users

Have you been using Google for years? Turns out there are a lot of features and shortcuts that the average user doesn’t know about or take advantage of. It never hurts to learn something new. 

Students

As a former English teacher, I’ve found that students need to learn how to use Google to research efficiently. Teachers might automatically assume that since students grow up with this technology, they know how to use it well. I know I did!

Unfortunately during research units, countless students would come up to me feeling lost because they couldn’t find sources. They thought they needed to change research topics, when in reality they just needed to make adjustments in HOW they search. 

Basic Google SERP Strategies

SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page. It’s the results page that comes up after you complete a search query on Google. Below are some common user errors and tips to enhance your Google SERP. 

You don’t need to include article words (most of the time)

Article words such as a/an and the don’t help the search engine because these words aren’t specific and they’re everywhere. When Google’s algorithm is combing through information, words like a/an are on virtually every page, so it doesn’t give you better results. 

Unless an article word is in the title of what you’re searching for, (like The Supremes music group) you don’t need to include it.

For example, the Google SERP is the same for both of these search phrases: supreme court and the supreme court.

It’s a minor change, but this tip can save you a lot of time and typing!

You don’t need to obsess over grammar and capitalization

Remember that “talking” to a computer algorithm is a lot different than communicating with actual people; Google is not judging your grammar when you type in a search query. In fact, the Google algorithm has learned a lot of common grammar and typing errors and takes them into consideration while you search.

You might’ve noticed Google accounting for errors when there is a bold blue message at the top of the SERP saying showing results for or did you mean with the correct spelling after it. Unless you completely butcher the spelling, Google can probably figure out what you mean. 

Capitalization does not disrupt your search at all. Unless it bugs you, don’t worry about having perfect capitalization for proper nouns when searching. Google search results are not case sensitive.

Switch up your search terms and phrases

Not finding what you’re looking for? Switch up your word choice. Essentially, Google gives the best results by finding the sites with the most commonly searched words and phrases (they also take other factors into account, but we’ll get into that at another point in time ). 

The website pages with the most commonly used keywords and phrases have a higher SEO rank, meaning these keywords and phrases rank on the first couple pages of Google, or even appear at the top of the page. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. If a website has good SEO, it ranks better in Google. We’ve even made an easy to follow SEO checklist for you if you’re writing web content for your business’ website!

Related: What is SEO? The Ultimate 2020 Guide to Search Engine Optimization →

Avoid using regional terms for search queries

Say you’re looking for a specific soda, but you’re from an area that calls it “pop.” You will struggle to find information if you’re using a specific regional term while searching for it. Try switching out the word to a term that most users would search. Google even has a tool to help you find this information, called Google Trends.

Avoid hyper-specific, long phrases

Sometimes you can hinder your own search experience with a phrase that is way too specific or long. Try to think in general terms and avoid too many adjectives and words. 

Over five words in your search query (also called a long-tail keyword) is pushing it. You’ll end up with a lot of information, but it won’t include all of the words in your search, (it may find pages that have 3 or 4 of them) so it won’t find noteworthy results. 

For example, searching purple fuzzy v-neck sweater with glitter and rainbows will not find that exact item for you. Your SERP page might find sites that include maybe 4 to 5 of those words. 

When you add more words to the search, you’re actually casting an even bigger net, not getting more specific results. Because it might find pages with a couple words out of the long phrase search query, it might start showing items like glitter rainbow toys or purple fuzzy pillows–neither is relevant. 

Instead of being so specific, look at the terms that aren’t showing up and pick a more generic word that might get you closer to what you’re searching for. For this example, I would search purple sweater with graphic to yield more realistic results to browse through. 

Add more description

Sometimes you might have the opposite issue happen, and have overwhelming, vague results. This is where adding a descriptor or two will help your Google SERP. Think of words that describe the item or information you’re looking for. Words that explain appearance, size, location, time period, etc. will narrow down your search. 

Think of synonyms and more descriptive words

Switching your word choice has a dramatic effect on the results page. Say you were shopping online for a new couch. Some word options to add or switch could be sectional, leather, or modern instead of just the generic search term new couch. These former terms would produce specific pages with these keywords that are more detailed and comprehensive, rather than a basic overview. 

How to search when you can’t think of what to type

Google has a handy autofill feature that guesses your search query based on the beginning words you type in. For example, when I type in how to, Google shows ten current popular searches beginning with those words below the search bar. If you have a topic you’re interested in but you’re not sure what else to add, this is another way to specify your search and see what other users are searching for.

Other ways to find information fast

With Google moving more toward zero-click searches, it’s easier than ever for you to find the information you’re looking for without having to sort through search results. Below are some basic quick search tips to help you find what you need.

Looking up the weather forecast ☀️

If your location setting is on, type weather for a full weekly forecast of your area. If you don’t have your location on, type weather, then your city, town, or zip code.

Dictionary

Type definition + any word (I sometimes just write def). Not only will Google give you the definition, but you can click the speaker for an audio pronunciation. There’s even a learn to pronounce feature that appears after you’ve listened to the pronunciation!

Unit conversions

Type in any conversion, such as 5 kilometers in miles and Google will convert it for you.

Sports

Enter the name of your team to see a schedule, scores, and more!

Action verb + whatever you’re looking for

Search queries like order Pizza Hut or register to vote will take you to a results page with an easy-to-find answer.

Want to avoid a specific website?

If you’ve been researching and a certain unhelpful site keeps coming up, put a minus sign, the website name, and another minus sign after the site name, along with your other search terms, for Google to take it off the SERP.

So if I wanted to avoid Wikipedia when researching The Beatles, I would type:

The Beatles -Wikipedia-

How to use Google for Research

Feeling overwhelmed conducting Google research? Whether you’re writing your own SEO blogs, writing a research paper, or searching for a service or product, using Google efficiently can prevent you from spending hours looking for source material. Instead, you can focus those hours on using the best information for your task. Below are some tips and tools to help you find the best sources using Google.

Use .gov, .edu , and .org domain name extensions to find credible sources

This is an easy trick when you’re looking for articles that are reliable and have enough information. A .com website isn’t necessarily unreliable, but other types of websites make it a little easier to tell if a source is credible or not. 

No matter your task at hand, having credible external links and/or citations is always preferred; but especially in writing SEO blogs. Type in your search term(s) plus .edu (or whatever type of website you want). These domain name extensions tend to have more authority than .com sites.

• Use .gov for official government websites.
• Use .edu for higher education websites.
• Use .org for organization websites. These are typically non-profit or educational organizations.

A word of caution, it’s always important to look for further details to determine a site’s credibility, such as an author name, a date of publication, a publisher, and other information.

Google Scholar

Whether you’re a current student or you just like learning, Google Scholar is a free tool for everyone to find and access academic journal articles and other publications. It’s a great way to weed out the “fluff” of regular internet content.

The main page takes you to a Google search homepage where you can choose the Articles or Case law tab. You can filter your results by date of publication or a custom date range, results with patents, and results with citations.

Google Scholar pulls from online books, scholarly journals, higher education publications, and more. Many of the sources are free and have open access, though some may require a login with a library subscription.

There is also a feature to star sources and build your own source library and a citation tool when you click the quotation mark symbol. The citation tool gives you citations in multiple styles, e.g. MLA, APA, and others. 

Advanced Search

Advanced Search for websites 

If you’re finding your Google SERP overloaded with content, the Advanced Search for websites is a great tool to refine your results. You can filter results by:

• Last update
• Site or domain
• Where search terms appear on the page
• File type 
• Usage rights

Advanced Image Search features

You can also do an Advanced Image Search. This kind of search will help you find the perfect image to feature in your work with usage rights. You can filter results by:

• Image size
• Aspect ratio
• Image colors
• File type
• Type of usage rights

Google Books

Another type of source for research is print. Because printed materials have to go through an extensive publishing process, they are one of the most reliable source types. 

Google Books has an archive of previews and fully scanned books and magazines. Publishers might upload books, while some are there because of the Library Project. Some books published before 1923 are automatically a part of the Public Domain and therefore available for free. 

How to use Google Books:

1. Search the book title, ISBN number, or keywords

2. You can search with filters using the Google Books Advanced Search tool

3. Find a title

4. From there you can download, cite, or even translate the book. *Not all full texts are available for free, some may just offer a preview (which can still be useful!).

You can even save books and create your own Google books library and create “shelves” for different categories.

Use Quotation Marks for Exact Phrases

One of the simplest ways to improve Google search results is to tell Google when you want an exact phrase, not just a loose combination of words. That is where the beauty of quotation marks comes in.

When you put quotation marks around a phrase, you are telling Google to look for those words in that exact order. This is especially helpful when you are searching for a song lyric, a quote, a book title, a product name, or a very specific phrase.

For example, if you search for:

best way to write website copy
Google will show results that include those words in different forms and combinations. But if you search:

“best way to write website copy”
Google will try to show pages that contain that exact phrase.

This can save you a lot of time if your regular searches keep returning broad or irrelevant results. It is also useful for research. If you are trying to verify whether a phrase appears in a source, quotation marks can help you track it down much faster.

That said, do not overuse them. If your exact phrase is too niche or too long, you may accidentally limit your results too much. Like most Google strategies, it works best when used intentionally.

Use Minus Signs to Remove Unhelpful Results

Sometimes the problem is not that Google gives you too little information. The problem is that it gives you way too much of the wrong kind.

If a certain word, brand, or website keeps cluttering your results, you can use a minus sign to exclude it. This is one of the fastest ways to improve Google search results when a search term has multiple meanings or when one source dominates the page.

Let’s say you are searching for apple nutrition, but you keep seeing results about Apple products. You could search:

apple nutrition -iPhone -mac

That tells Google you do not want pages related to those terms.

You can also use this when researching a topic and trying to avoid a site you don’t trust or one that keeps repeating the same low-value information. It’s a small trick, but it can make your results much cleaner.

If you feel like Google keeps misunderstanding your intent, exclusion terms are a great fix.

Search Within a Specific Website

There are times when you know a website probably has the information you need, but the site itself is hard to navigate. That’s where Google can help again.

Instead of using the website’s search bar, you can search within a specific domain by using:

site:website.com

For example:
site:nytimes.com digital marketing

or

site:.gov small business grants

This is especially useful for research, finding old articles, locating policy pages, or searching resource-heavy sites with messy navigation. It is also a great trick for business owners who want to study competitor content or see how another company structures its website pages.

You can even use this on your own website if you are trying to quickly locate blogs, service pages, or mentions of a certain topic.

Searching within a site helps improve Google search results because it removes the broader internet from the equation, focusing only on a source you already trust or want to explore.

Search by File Type

Not all information lives on standard web pages. Sometimes the best resource is a PDF, a slide deck, a spreadsheet, or a downloadable guide. If you only search general keywords, those useful file types might get buried.

To narrow your results, add:

filetype:pdf

or another file type such as ppt, doc, or xls.

For example:

marketing budget template filetype:xls

or

college enrollment statistics filetype:pdf

This can be especially helpful for students, researchers, business owners, and anyone looking for reports or original source material. PDFs often contain whitepapers, studies, government documents, manuals, and research publications that are much more detailed than the average blog post.

If you have ever felt like your Google results were too shallow, this is a smart way to find more substantial material.

Use the Tools Tab to Filter Results

A lot of people type a query into Google, glance at the first page, and either click something or give up. That works sometimes, but it ignores one of Google’s most useful features.

After you search, look for the Tools option. This lets you filter results by things like time. If you are researching a current event, a recent trend, or a product update, filtering by the past year or past month can dramatically improve Google search results.

For example, if you search:

best SEO practices

you might get a mix of old and new content. But if you filter by recent dates, you have a better shot at finding information that reflects how Google works now.
This is important because the internet moves fast. Advice from five years ago may still exist on page one, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best source.
Freshness is not always necessary, but when it is, filtering by date can save you from outdated advice and wasted time.

Pay Attention to the Search Results Page Itself

If you want to get better at using Google, do not just look at the links. Look at the whole search results page.

Google gives you clues about what it thinks your query means. The featured snippet, “People also ask” box, local map listings, shopping results, videos, image packs, and knowledge panels all tell you something about search intent.

If Google is showing mostly product pages, it probably thinks your search is transactional. If it’s showing guides and blog posts, it sees the query as informational. If it’s showing a map pack, it assumes you want something local.

This is key for two reasons.

First, it helps everyday users refine their searches. If Google is interpreting your query differently than you intended, you can change the wording and try again.

Second, it helps business owners think more strategically about content. If you understand what kind of results Google prefers for a topic, you can create content that aligns with that pattern.

In other words, the results page is not just where you find answers. It is also feedback.

Learn the Difference Between Broad and Targeted Searches

A common mistake people make is assuming that more words automatically create a better search. Sometimes they do—and sometimes they absolutely do not.

A broad search can be useful when you are just learning about a topic. For example:

digital marketing

That kind of search gives you a big-picture view and helps you understand the landscape.

A targeted search works better when you know more specifically what you need:

digital marketing for small law firms

or

how to improve Google search results for local businesses

The trick is knowing which kind of search to use and when. If your first search is too narrow and confusing, zoom out. If your first search is too broad and overwhelming, zoom in.

Think of Google searching like adjusting a camera lens. Sometimes you need the wide shot. Sometimes you need a close-up.

Use Google’s “People Also Ask” Section

If you are not sure how to refine your search, Google often gives you ideas for free.

The “People also ask” section is one of the most useful parts of the SERP because it shows related questions that real users commonly search. This is great for research because it helps you spot related angles, more precise phrasing, and follow-up questions you may not have considered.

For example, if you search a topic like:

how to improve Google search results

You might see related questions about search operators, filters, exact phrase searches, or research tips. Clicking on those can help you better understand the topic and guide your next search.

This is useful for content writers too. If you are writing a blog, the “People also ask” box can reveal what users genuinely want to know. That makes it easier to structure your content around real search behavior instead of guesswork.

Use Search Predictions to Your Advantage

Autocomplete is more than a convenience feature. It is a window into common search behavior.

When Google predicts what you might be typing, it is drawing from popular queries and patterns. That can help you discover better wording, related questions, and more specific versions of your original search.

This is especially helpful when you are stuck. Maybe you know the topic but not the best phrase. Start typing a few core words and see what Google suggests.

This can help with everything from shopping, and casual browsing to blog planning and keyword research. If several suggestions all use a certain phrase, that is a clue that people search that phrase often.

Business owners should pay attention to this too. If you are creating website content, Google’s own suggestions can reveal how real users are talking about your services.

Understand Search Intent

If you really want to improve Google search results, you need to understand intent.

Search intent is the reason behind a query. What is the person actually trying to do?

Generally, searches fall into a few categories:

Informational: the user wants to learn something

Navigational: the user wants to find a specific website or page

Transactional: the user is ready to buy, book, or sign up

Comparative: the user is weighing options before deciding

Let’s say someone searches for the best web design company. They may be comparing providers. If they search Lifted Logic contact, they are trying to navigate. If they search how much does web design cost, they are gathering information before making a decision.

Understanding this helps you search smarter because it helps you phrase your query better. It also helps businesses create better content because the pages need to match what users are actually looking for.

When your query matches your intent, your results get better.

How Business Owners Can Apply This to SEO

This is where everything starts to connect.

Google users want faster, better, more relevant answers—and Google tries to reward the pages that provide them. That means if you are a business owner, improving your own website content often starts with thinking like the person doing the search.

• What would they type?
  What exact problem are they trying to solve?
  What words would they use?
  What result would feel helpful to them?

This is why keyword implementation is key, so long as you can add them to your content naturally, and not in a robotic way. You aren’t just stuffing phrases into a page and hoping for the best. You’re learning how your audience searches, then creating content that meets them there.

A business that understands how to improve Google search results from the user’s side is often much better at improving its own visibility too.

Write for Humans First

Since we are talking about Google, this needs to be said.

You should absolutely understand keywords, SERPs, and SEO. But if your content sounds unnatural, cluttered, or repetitive, you are not helping anyone. Search engines have gotten much better at understanding context, quality, and usefulness.

So yes, use relevant keywords. But write like a person. Explain terms clearly, organize your content well, and answer questions directly. Use headings that help readers scan and keep your paragraphs readable. If your content serves the user well, you’ve built a strong starting point.

Google’s job is to connect people with useful content. Your job is to make sure your content is actually useful.

Watch Out for Misinformation and Low-Quality Content

Not every search result deserves your trust.

A polished layout does not automatically mean the information is accurate. That’s why part of learning how to improve Google search results is learning how to evaluate what you find.

Ask questions like:

• Who wrote this?
  When was it published or updated?
  Is the source reputable?
  Does the page cite evidence or credible references?
  Is the information clear, balanced, and specific?

This makes in differences in school, in business, and in daily life. Whether you are researching health, finances, education, or a major purchase, low-quality information can waste your time, at best, and intentionally mislead you, at worst.

Google can help you find information faster, but you still have to think critically about what you click.

Use Google for More Effective Local Searches

Google is not just for general information. It is also one of the main ways people find local businesses.

If you are searching for a place nearby, adding a city name, neighborhood, or “near me” can improve Google search results by making them more location-specific. If you turn on your location services, Google can do some of this automatically. Still, adding location details can help when you want more control.

For example:

coffee shops near me

is useful, but

locally owned coffee shops Overland Park

may return more relevant options if you want something specific.

This is also important for business owners because local intent should affect how you create content. People search for services by area all the time. If your site never references your location or service area clearly, you are making it harder for Google to match your business with local searches.

Use Google Images More Strategically

A regular web search is not always the best search.

If you are looking for visual inspiration, identifying an object, comparing design styles, or finding examples, switch to Google Images. You can still use all the same logic here. Add descriptors. Use exact phrases. Filter by size or usage rights if needed.

This is especially useful for designers, writers, marketers, students, and online shoppers. Sometimes seeing examples helps you narrow your terms much faster than reading through text-heavy results.

Image search is also helpful when you are trying to describe something you don’t know the name of yet. That one happens more than people admit.

When to Stop Searching and Start Refining

Sometimes the reason a search feels frustrating isn’t because Google is broken. It’s because your query hasn’t been refined enough yet.

If you have searched five or six versions of the same phrase and are still getting junk, pause. Look at the pattern. Are your keywords too broad? Too specific? Missing context? Pulling in the wrong meaning?

Try changing just one variable at a time:

• swap in a synonym
  remove unnecessary words
  add a location
  add a date
  exclude a word
  search within a domain
  use quotation marks

The best Google users are not always the fastest typers. They are the ones who know how to adjust.

Better Searches Save Time

At the end of the day, it all comes down to efficiency.

If you know how to improve Google search results, you save time. You find better sources faster. You spend less time clicking on pages that are not relevant, you reduce frustration, and you make better decisions because you are working with better information.

That’s important whether you are a student writing a paper, a business owner trying to grow online, or just a person looking for answers.

Google is a tool. A powerful one. But like any tool, it works better when you know how to use it well.

Why does Lifted Logic care about helping people use Google more efficiently?

To put it simply, we’re nerds in love with the web. 

But seriously, we believe that understanding how to navigate internet search engines, whether you’re an everyday person or a business, is super important. Think about it! 

People rely on searching the internet for stuff like:

• Deciding which college to attend
• Searching for a job
• Finding a place to live
• Growing a business

There are some serious life decisions that could potentially be determined by your ability to research on Google. You might as well learn the ins and outs so you don’t miss out on crucial information that could impact your life’s ~journey~. 

In summary, we’ve covered:

• Common Google user errors and search tips 
• SEO and SERP; what they are and why they’re important
• Google tools for research and how to use them

Have you been trying out an SEO campaign to grow the online presence of your business? Lifted Logic offers free SEO evaluation for your business so you can learn how to be even better. 

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