This link-mail tutorial is the first one in a series of hands-on tutorials and explains what kind of search strategies should be implemented to archive the best search results when using search engines.

It do not explain how search engines should be used. For this information, please visit our link-mail page Search Engines, Browsers and Bots and request the extensive link-mail letter with many links to information covering this subject.

If you want to know more about the link-mail letters, you might like to read our FAQ which covers all related questions.

Performing a search effectively,a search strategy should be implemented. Without it, this search would likely not create the expected results and can be in fact a waste of time.

Knowing this, you need first to know which keywords are important for your search. A hint of possible useful ones at any given topic can be gathered for free at the Goto website. Keep in mind however, that very seldom one keyword alone brings the qualified visitors Phrases provide more useful results, so they should be used whenever possible. After you have prepared for this, you have to select the search engines you want to use for your search.

A very useful approach is to use a meta-search engine for your search. They connect to up to 15 different search engines at once and this will save you a lot of time. The results from them are the same as if you visit each single search engine by yourself, so do not bother to do this and to use them whenever possible.

I highly recommend to use the high performance SurfWax meta-search engine for your initial search. Up to 300 result pages can be returned with a high probability. It's one of the best meta-search engines around. However, if you still don't find what you need or if you need more links try using the meta-search engine IxQuick. This search engine is equally good as SurfWax, but the way the information are displayed and the way search engines are selected are different, so it will be very likely that you find different and more information using both meta-search engines instead of only one.

The third step is to select search engines not covered by both search engines. Directhit comes first to my mind. Information on this important search engine are displayed on relevancy and you might find interesting links not covered by the previous search engines.

If the approach outlined do not get you the links you need, the information might not be on the Net and isn't registered and indexed with the search engines. It could also be that the information is to specific, you might consider a specialized search engine in your category.

Our link-mail letter Search Engines, Bots and Bots has listed many of them. Request this letter and follow the links.

Another possible approach with often very good results is to use a product called Search Agent. These are software solutions to be installed on your PC. Similar to meta-search engines, they collect the information you need from the net. But in opposite to most meta-search engines, they spider many of the Nets directories as well. They also provide a highly flexible handling on how data should be searched or displayed. They allow automatically to check for valid links and they provide customized reports. In addition, your link queries/results can be saved for later use.

Two of the more wellknown agents are BullsEye and Copernic2000. The standard versions are free, supported by small ads and usual fewer search categories. The pro versions are available for a small fee but cover besides the major search engines hundreds of the more specialized directories on the Net, with information difficult to find on any search engine alone. Nevertheless, BullsEye covers over 800 sources from the Net, Copernic2000 about 80 (7 categories) and Copernic200 Plus/Pro about 600 sources in 55 categories. Try BullsEye first, you'll get more for free.

Download and install these agents from the links above and the door will opened to additional useful information otherwise not available to you.

One important aspect of searching on the net is speed. Searching can be substantially improved by installing selected software utilities. Our next Link-Mail Tutorial & Tips #2 explains to you which one you should use. Once installed, we believe you cannot stay without them...##

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