The problem with Google is that it does not seem to advertise all of its tools, or for that matter, all the functions within its tools. For instance, did you know that you could search for Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) with Google as "see the auto history"?
Google: The Missing Manual provides an essential source that brings together all the tools and hidden functions in the tools and puts it into an easy-to-read volume. The book is separated into four main components: searches with Google, general Google tools, Google tools specific to webmasters, and Gmail.
Google searching is the best-known tool that Google offers. It is the most popular web search on the Internet also. However, many of its functions are not as widely known as they ought to be. This book goes through all the different items besides web pages that can be searched for (phone numbers, UPC codes, tracking numbers, and so on) and then goes into the search syntax. It presents search tools individually in easy-to-digest chunks to make it accessible to even the novice user.
The general Google tools include some of the newest introductions, such as Google Maps, Google Desktop and Google Print. The book goes through these point-by-point to give the reader a solid grasp on the latest tools available. It even includes a chapter on how to shop with Google and integrating Google with your web browser.
There are two tools that have been to some measure controversial: Google Desktop and Google Search History. Google Desktop allows you to Google search the files on your computer for words and phrases. Google Desktop has to be explicitly installed and set up, but Google makes it clear (and the book re-emphasizes) that no data from your PC is sent to Google.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!
2 - Brad Henry
There is a bit of exclusivity to Google. It's what fuels the uniqueness of Google. It stems from the company culture and is expressed in their invitational email, Google Analytics account limits, to the dozens of programs they have for release in beta. It's wise to use the freedom of your tools to profit by traffic advertising versus trying to make revenue directly from the visitors. You can clearly see what happens in the opposite spectrum by looking at what happened to AOL.
Thanks,
Brad
SEO Consultant