Google Searching

Using the proper Google syntax can be incredibly helpful when trying to find exactly what you need. Here are some examples of questions that can be answered easier by using proper syntax.

Using Google:

How would you search for an exact word or phrase?
Use double quotations to let google know that you are searching for an exact phrase.

< "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" >

How would you search for something on a specific site?
Enter your desired query followed by "site:_____" to find the query on that site only.

< seasonal depression site:cmha.ca >

How would you correctly search for a definition?
Type define: before the word that you are wanting to define.

< define: paranoid >

How would you search for a specific product available within a specific price range?
Place two periods between values to search a range of values in between.

< iphone 5s 600..700 >

How would you search for a specific filetype?
Enter the phrase filetype: followed directly by a 3 letter file type

< filetype:kml Lewis and Clarke expedition >

How would you include or ignore words in your search?
Using a minus sign will remove a word from the search and a plus sign will ensure that that specific word is included.

< savoury biscuits +bacon -cheese >

How would you find related pages?
Using related: before a URL will search for new website related to the content of the first.

< related:http://www.leonardoda-vinci.org >

How would you find a topic, searching all available synonyms of a word?
Using the tilde "~" symbol allows for the searching of all synonyms. Google discontinued this in January 2013.

< dubai ~excessive >

How would you find the time in another country?
Type time followed by a country and a list of times in that country will show.

< time australia >

How would you find out how many Egyptian pounds you get for $20 Canadian dollars?
Enter the initial currency amount followed by "in" and then the desired currency.

< 20 cad in Egyptian Pounds >

Netiquette

The increasing popularity of quick messaging, emoticons, and Internet slang has led rise to a generation of people who lack the necessary skills to correctly communicate online. The perceived disconnection between people has brought in the need for Internet etiquette, also known as netiquette, when using social media for both personal and corporate use.

Many people forget that the same types of social standards required for face-to-face communication also apply to communication on the Internet. It is easy to post a condemning article and then leave the keyboard with seemingly no consequence. Recent history has proven this false with the rise of cyber bullying and resulting teen suicide. Amanda Todd, a high school student in BC, posted a YouTube video chronicling her bullying preempted her suicide. The old adage, “do unto others as you would have done unto you”, still holds true in the digital age. It is important to remember that real life communication standards still apply that you are ultimately responsible for what you post online. As this is true in personal life, it also applies to public branding of a company or person.

For companies trying to reach a new digital generation it is becoming increasingly important to be aware of their online identity. Every post creates the perceived brand in the public’s mind. It is no longer enough to push a brand through advertising, they must appeal to the personal aspect of the Internet and bring themselves to an interactive level with the public.  Through videos, and multiple social platforms they need to create sincere efforts to reach their audience. This can be tricky and there have been many high profile failures.

The consequences of online activity can either be detrimental or positive. It is the responsibility of an individual or corporation to be responsible with their internet activity and use the proper netiquette to aid that.

http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html