Searching the InterNet is really much simplier than most of us try to make it.  In fact, I bet we complicate our search attempts to such an extent that we defeat our best efforts. What, exactly, is an "internet search?"  Who (or what) is doing the actual searching? Briefly, Search Engines are computers and software connected to the InterNet that serve like a "bridal registry" to collect information about InterNet-based pages and their contents. Most of us are aware of such search engines as Google , Yahoo , AOL Search , MSN Search , Netscape Search , AskJeeves , and the list goes on.  Pages (web pages, websites) are files created by web designers and "published" to some location on the internet. Typically, once a website has been poublished, the creator(s) usually submit information to the various search engines such as the page (or site) URL, its contents, the author's email or contact informaiton, and the like. Sometimes these authros embed "key words" so that a search engine can target the page location and content. (Similar to how books are organized in a library or in a large book store.  One goes to the "Cooking" section for recipies and to the "Sciences" section for topics like anatomy and molecular biology.)

These engines function in different ways.  Some are actually human-powered. (Click here for an explanation of How Search Engines Work.) Some are programmed to scour the InterNet searching for each and every web page that is out there.

A fairly comprehensive 37 page Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document by the Canadian company,  Global Millenia Marketing , can be found at this link. http://www.gmmmarketing.com/search_engines_explained.PDF


SEARCH STRATEGIES




SEARCH ENGINES