The hard part about search engines is finding the keyword or words that are just right to unlock the door to the vault of information. It is every bit as important to think in terms of the word or words you have chosen to use in the search as the words that you have excluded. When you develop a keyword strategy, think about what you don't want to find. In a search for information on pythons, you may not want to have results that include information on Monty Python and Company.

Search engines like Yahoo (www.yahoo.com) allow you to exclude a term by using a minus sign in front of a word. Your search might look like: (Python -Monty). This would give you results having to do with a computer programming language and snakes instead of British comedy.

The keywords that you choose will be compared with zillions of keywords in the search engine database and pay dirt will depend on your thinking like the folks whose sites make up the database. If they chose words differently than you do, no cigar. Start with a little brainstorming. Think of the different ways that something can be said. Create a list of synonyms. When you want information on kids thirteen and over, you might use the words "youth," "teen," "teenager," or "adolescent." The question is: What does the Net culture use? Sometimes it pays to go fishing. Many search engines like Yahoo and Excite make use of forms to help you search more intelligently. Yahoo provides a simple set of switches on the page you link to from the main page by clicking on the word (Advanced) next to the search button.