Google Zeitgeist is your insight to the most popular searches and queries on Google. Here are some interesting tidbits about Google searches in the U.S. from August 2003.
| Top 5 news queries | Unusual queries | Popular fictional characters |
| india | duodenum | harry potter |
| mars | nova scotia furnished rental | pokemon |
| blaster worm | learning to dribble in soccer | barbie |
| schwarzenegger | prednisolone | hello kitty |
| kobe bryant | wheel casters | winnie the pooh |
Google is a powerful search engine. Yet a lot of people don't know how powerful it is. Here are a few features you might not know about:
I'm Feeling Lucky
When you log on to www.google.com, you see two buttons below the text box. One
says Google Search. The other says I'm Feeling Lucky. You're probably familiar
with the first button. Press it and you'll see a list of search results. But
what does the second button do? The I'm Feeling Lucky button takes you directly
to the first Web page Google returns for your query. For instance, if you typed
CustomGuide into the search field and hit the I'm Feeling Lucky button, you'd be
instantly transported to the official CustomGuide Web site. How lucky is that?
Try it with your own company or your alma mater.
Maps
Forget MapQuest. Just type a complete address. For example, type 1502 Nicollet
Minneapolis MN 55403 (no commas are necessary). Now hit the I'm Feeling Lucky
button. Great, now you have a map to CustomGuide world headquarters.
Calculator
Google also doubles as a calculator. Type 2 + 2 and hit enter. Google calculates
the results. You can also use the cacluator to convert units. Type "5
kilometers in miles" and hit enter. Google displays the answer in miles.
Stock quotes
Just type a ticker symbol and hit enter. For instance, type DIS for The Walt
Disney Company. The first result you see should be a link to a quality financial
information provider.
See who links to your site
Type the work link: followed by your Web site. This will display a list of all
the Web sites that point to your Web site. For example, type
link:www.customguide.com.
Search by file type
You can search for a specific type of file, like a PDF. Simply type the search
term followed by the words filetype:pdf. For example, type form 1040
filetype:pdf and hit enter. This will call up a link to the IRS Web site, where
you can access form 1040 directly.
Search within a specific site
Lastly, you can search within a specific site. Use
the following syntax: search term site:www.anydomain.com. For example, type free
site:www.customguide.com. Enjoy our free downloads.