Most Portuguese who use search engines on the web do not know the tricks to search online effectively, according to a study by Google.
100% of users surveyed in Portugal use these tools daily to search for information: 33% at a frequency of 1 to 5 times a day and 33% more of 11 times a day. But do they do it in the most effective way?
It was with the aim of answering this question that Google developed a study in Portugal, about how
and why
*)And what tricks for searching online are we talking about? These are search operators and other tools that are available when we use Google Search, or any other search engine, but that not all users are aware of. The study shows that most users who claim to know some tricks to optimize the search, more than three quarters (72%) usually search by categories (images, videos, news, everything…) and 20% uses quotation marks (“) to filter the results. However, and giving a few examples, just 20% uses the hyphen (-) to eliminate words that are not relevant in the search or 4% searches for synonyms (putting the “~”).
“Our mission to organize information and make it universally accessible and useful is central to Google Search. More than 20 years of our search engine in Portugal, and with recent advances in artificial intelligence, we have made a lot of progress so that search can always be the most useful for everyone: whether to find something quickly with simpler tricks, or to help users on their journey by searching and exploring more information”, stresses Bernardo Correia, Google Country Manager in Portugal.
Younger people are more agile in research
Another of the study’s conclusions is that there are generations that are more comfortable with online research than others. Baby Boomers are the generation that is most unaware of these optimization tips (61%), followed by Generation X (60%), while Generation Z and Millennials are the only age groups to show more knowledge than ignorance of these tricks: 58% and 57% reveal that they know how to optimize their search, respectively.
On the other hand, with regard to devices used to search the Internet, most respondents prefer the computer (59%) to mobile (11%). Once again, there are differences between the various generations – and also between the sexes. 58% of Generation Z and Millennials prefer to search on mobile , while 61% of Baby Boomers search the computer more – a percentage that low for the 48% in the case of Generation X. What if most women use mobile more (53%), most men (61%) uses the computer more for the same effect.
Portuguese people want current and usefulness
The same study also analyzes the different uses that users make of search engines. And concludes: most Portuguese (60%) use search engines to access the media to read relevant news about current events; 43% for have information about products and services before shopping; and 39 % to find useful information for everyday tasks (tutorials, recipes, locations, weather…).
If Baby Boomers are the generation that researches the most about leisure activities (restaurants, stays, trips…), Generation Z is looking for more information for entertainment (movies, music, humor…). In terms of professional performance, Generation X and Millennials are the most interested in this topic.
On the other hand, female users resort more to research to facilitate their daily tasks. -day and make purchasing decisions about products or services, while men search more online to find useful information for their professional performance and entertainment.
About the Google study
This study had 500 respondents, who identified themselves as 59% female and 46% male. All regions of Portugal are represented (except for the islands), as well as different generations (from Baby Boomers to Generation Z).
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