How to get search results that are actually useful

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View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 11.23.21 Nod softly at your phone or computer if this sounds familiar: Something comes to mind—a celebrity, a product, an article, whatever—and you type a few words into Google hoping it will provide a quick, easy conclusion to your newfound quest. Instead, the results page is packed with advertisements, video and shopping recommendations, and links from websites that are great at search engine optimization but not so helpful when it comes to answering your question. To get good results out of Google these days, you need to go beyond simply punching in a few keywords and hoping for the best. The search portal isn't in danger of being dethroned as the go-to choice for most people anytime soon, but the site is definitely more hit and miss than it used to be. To help you adapt, we've compiled some strategies that should make finding what you're after easier and faster. Read our guide to getting useful Google search results, plus a few other tips and tricks, below. If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.     How to Get Google Search Results That Are Actually Useful Here's how to cut through the sponsored listings and ads—and get back to the good stuff. 9 Browser Extensions to Help You Search the Web Better Search results can be cluttered with ads and other less-useful information. These add-ons strip out the junk to help you find what you're looking for. How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online From Net Nanny to parental blocks to, you know, actually talking to your kids about their online behavior. How to Schedule Emails and Texts to Send Anytime You Want Your messages don't have to go out right away. Be strategic about when your recipient gets them. How to Make Your Day Better With Google Home Routines The whole point of a smart speaker is to make your life easier. Here's how to take yours to the next level. GET WIRED Cyber Week Pre-Sale: Get WIRED for just $10 $5. Get the print edition and exclusive subscriber-only content. You can't see into the future, but you can subscribe to WIRED. Subscribe now.       When you buy something using the retail links in this email, we earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.   This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or manage your newsletter subscriptions