As you know, search engines provide a starting point and there are a number of them on the web. Some of the most popular are listed below.

• Google—A favorite because it bases its returns on the number of links to sites which meet the search criteria
• Yahoo!— Originally started as a directory site, Yahoo! has now expanded into a full-fledged search engine
• AlltheWeb—Quickly moving up into the favorites category, offers "all the web, all the time."

How do you pick a search engine? What makes a search engine "good"? The answers depend on a number of factors, some technical and others personal.

On the technical side, it can be argued that a search engine is good if it is current, has a large database, and returns relevant results. However, personal perceptions often influence the decision. Searchers generally favor one engine over another because it is easy to use and returns relevant results. In the end, the best search engine is the one that works for you.

There are ways to make your web searches more effective:

• Choose an engine you like and learn to use it well
• If a search term doesn't work, try a related term
• If you get too many results, use additional words to narrow your search
• If you don't get good results after a few searches, move on to another search engine
• Learn to use one or two other engines as a backup

Directories, sometimes called subject directories or subject indexes:

• Are collections of web pages gathered for a specific purpose or audience
• Use subject categories to structure searches
• Are built by human editors
• Examples include:
  • Yahoo! Directory
  • InfoMine
  • Librarian's Index to the Internet