In order to be successful in your Internet search, it is necessary to identify the main concepts of your topic and know how to use the various search tools available. It is a good idea to spend some time before your search to analyze what it is you are looking for. Use nouns in your queries--the who/what, when, where, how and why. The information professionals at the University of California (Berkeley) recommend the following approach to Web searching.
 
1. Learn how to analyze your topic and formulate your query.
 
2. As a first pass, use a metasearcher (multi-search engine) using phrases and a relatively simple query formulation.
 
3. As a second pass, pick the specific search engine with the specific features that best support your current query.
 
4. As a third pass, consider directories that might contain references to comprehensive sites in your specific topic area.
 
5. Finally, use major search engines with full-Boolean logic.
 

Search engines acquire and organize information in different ways. Most search engines gather their information by using programs called robots, worms, web crawlers, or spiders that go out in the middle of the night and visit websites and other Internet resources (sometimes a site developer submits a web address). The programs index (record by word) each word within all or parts of documents. When a query goes to a search engine, it matches the query words against the records it has in its databases (it does not actually go on to the Internet). It then presents a list of possible documents meeting your request. If the query appears frequently in the web page or is part of the titile, the search engine ranks that page as more relevant to the search.
 
The other way to conduct a search is by using a directory -- a list of web sites that have been organized by professional information searchers into a hierarchical, subject-based structure. There are two types of directories: academic and professional directories, and commercial portals. The former are created by librarians and subject specialists that are usually associated with libraries and academic institutions (e.g. university or college). The collections are created to help find high quality sites and enhance academic research. The web pages are carefully selected and the resources are usually annotated. They do not usually have any advertising and are created for the institution's community. The commercial portals (Yahoo) are created to generate revenue through advertisements and serve the general public. They link to a wide range of topics such as entertainment, sports, commerce, travel and hobbies.

When should I use?
  
Search Engine   

    * need information quick
    * narrow or obscure topic or idea
    * looking for a specific site
    * search for particular types of documents (images, file types, etc.

Multi-Search Engine    

    * narrow or obscure topic or idea
    * looking for a specific site
    * search for particular types of documents (images, file types, etc.)
    * search the full text of millions of pages
    * retrieve a large number of document

Subject Directory    

    * broad topic or idea (academic)
    * recommended and annotated lists
    * relevancy to topic important
    * need to brow

New search engines and directories are created all the time, just as others are being acquired or folding. While search engines deal in millions of web sites, directories deal in thousands. It is important to choose the correct search engine and to keep up with the dynamic nature of the Internet to be successful with your adventures on the it. If you are not successful using a particular search engine, try another!!
 
Uncovering the Hidden Web, Part I: Finding What the Search Engines Don't
Uncovering the Hidden Web, Part II: Resources for Your Classroom