START YOUR SEARCH ENGINES! - Finding Information Online
Unless you know exactly the URL or address of the website you are looking for,
a search engine is your best friend online. Search engines are an Internet tool
which rely on matching your request to words found in documents contained in
their databases of websites. Unfortunately, this means the more common the word
is, the more difficult it can be to pin point the specific information you are
looking for. However, it is the best we can do for now and the technology is
getting smarter.
Some search engines, like Yahoo!, categorize their websites which makes it
easier to narrow your search.
Both Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator have built in search
engines which you can access by clicking the search button at the top of the
browser. A better choice is to use a larger database like the following search
engines:
www.yahoo.ca
www.infoseek.com
www.askjeeves.com
www.lycos.com
www.altavista.com
Each search engine has a spot for you to type in the information you are
looking for. Try to be as specific as possible. If you are looking for
information on diaper rash, ask for "diaper rash" and not
"baby".
As well, many large websites will have their own search engines, which will
search only their own web pages. Parents.com, sciencenorth.on.ca and Laurentian
University all have their own internal search engines.
ADDING YOUR OWN SITE TO A SEARCH ENGINE
Search engines add websites to their databases in two main ways. First, they
employ staff who get to surf and pick the best sites. Second they rely on
individuals to suggest sites. This process can be called
Register your site!, Suggest a Site! or Add an URL
. Some search engines ask for suggestions and others do not. Some accept all
suggestions while others check the site out for appropriate content first. Some
take no time to get your site added to their database while others take
forever!
If you want to add your site to a particular search engine, look for a link
called
Register your site!, Suggest a Site! or Add an URL
. and follow the instructions. Be prepared to choose a category for your
website, to provide its address, a description of the website, and an email
address where the search engine staff can contact you if they have questions.
Then, check back after the time they suggest by searching for your site using
their search engine. If you can't find it, try applying again.