Google is the most popular search engine on the web. Most of us rely on Google search for finding information. Sometimes it can be difficult to find just the right information we are actually looking for out of the hundreds or thousands of results returned in Google’s search. Despite using Google every day, we still use it in its simplest form. But Google has a plenty of tricks up its sleeves that can help us perform more quick, efficient and effective searches on Google.

Towards this end, in July 2012 Google created an online course called Power Searching with Google. This course showcases many of their advanced search techniques and how to use them to solve real, everyday problems. You will learn tips and tricks to be able to use Google search to its full potential and become a fast and effective fact-finder.

This Google Power Searching course is still available online for free. There is no sign up requirement and literally anyone can take this course and discover new ways to handle google search.

The course is structured as a series of 6 modules, each of which comprises of 5-6 short video lessons. Every video lecture is followed by an Activity that is intended to allow participants to answer a couple of questions to test their understanding and also allow them to exercise and practice whatever was discussed in the lesson. Although these activities are completely optional, they help to cement the knowledge gained in the video lessons.

The instructor of the course is Daniel M. Russell, a senior research scientist at Google. Here’s Dan’s introduction video to the course to give you a sense of what the course entails, how it is organized and overall subject matter.

This Power Searching course introduces participants to the idea of search, how Google works, and gives them the methods, strategies and tactics to find what they need to find. In addition to learning key methods to improve search skills, participants understand what it means to search on Google and other Google products and what kinds of things one can find. The course covers the following topics:

Using color filtering within image search

Choosing effective keywords for your search

How word order and punctuation matters in the search

Finding text on a web page

Utilizing information in Knowledge Graph panels, Instant results, Suggestions, and Related Searches when they appear

Recognizing when search results are offering information that suggests a better/additional search

Using ‘define’ to identify the meaning of words

How to use dictionary mode to define words that do not appear in traditional dictionaries

Understanding options for different media

Refining results by using different media types like videos and news

How to identify an image with search by image

Interpreting a search engine results page (SERP)

How to use the site: operator to restrict results to a domain, website, or directory

Finding different kinds of content efficiently across a variety of sources

Describe how various search operators filter results

How to use the site: operator within images and news results

Using a word you expect to appear on the target page to refine results

How to use the filetype: operator to find and download different kinds of documents

Combining operators to refine searches

Removing invasive results from the search

Using quotes to search for a phrase

Using OR to include more than one way of expressing an idea

How to use the intext: operator to ensure the word you want is actually on the page you find

Using the Advanced Search user interface when appropriate

Finding facts quickly with Shortcuts or Google search features that include weather, time, flight numbers, earthquakes, world capitals, sunrise/sunset times, movies, stock quotes, sports scores, package tracking numbers, medical conditions, and medications

Calculating math expressions and conversions from the search box

Time and Date Filers to limit results to sources published during a specific time period

Translating words, sentences, and pages

Searching in foreign languages using English

Verifying the credibility of information you find on the web

How to avoid confirmation bias when conducting searches

Using books to verify a quote

How to find out information about a web site, a company, or almost anything

Distinguishing between the Google products that indicate credibility and those that do not

Combining operators for stronger searches

Combining methods and approaches to find information efficiently

Using tools that are not traditionally used for research, like Maps and Streetview

This course is free, open for all and self-paced, so everyone can learn at their own pace without being locked in a schedule.

Go to Power Searching with Google Course

You can benefit immensely from this course material and begin using Google search like a pro upon completing this course. But you will not receive any certificate of completion. If you really want to receive a certificate to showcase your Google search skills, you may consider taking a paid course on the subject of Google Search on Udemy. Here are three popular courses you might consider: