Search Like a Professional
Simple tips to find exactly what you are looking for online.
Start the guide
Start with the first step, try it on your own device, and use the next-step section at the end if you want a clear follow-on guide.
Guide details and who this is for
Guide details
- Published
- January 1, 2025
- Country scope
- Global
Who this is for
Best for everyday online tasks where you want a calm step-by-step path.
Good to know
Try one step at a time on your own device. If something does not look right, stop there and ask for help before guessing.
Before you begin
What this guide helps you do
This guide breaks the task into practical steps so you can finish it without needing technical knowledge.
Best time to use it
Use it when you need to complete an online task, service, app, or admin job with less stress.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not skip the review step before you submit, send, or install something.
Helpful tech words
Open a plain-English term first if you need it
Finding Things Online
A search engine is a tool that helps you find information on the internet. Google is the most popular, but Bing and DuckDuckGo also work well.
Step 1: Use plain, simple words
- Go to www.google.com in your browser.
- Type a simple question or a few words that describe what you need.
- You do not need to type full sentences — short phrases work best.
Example: Instead of typing “I would like to know what time the post office near Tampines opens”, just type: “SingPost Tampines opening hours”
Step 2: Look at the results
- You will see a list of links to websites.
- The most helpful results are usually near the top.
- Official government services websites end in .the official government domain in your country — these are trustworthy.
- Click a link to visit that website.
Step 3: Refine your search if needed
- If you did not find what you wanted, try different words.
- Add “your area” to find local results, for example: “flu vaccine your area 2025”.
- Add your area to find nearby services, for example: “clinic your area” or “library your area”.
Step 4: Check if a website is trustworthy
- Look at the website address — does it end in .the official government domain in your country, .official education domain, or a well-known name like health-service.gov or official-service.gov?
- Check if the information matches other websites you find.
- If something seems wrong or too good to be true, check an official scam awareness site or call 1800 722 6688.
Tip: For health questions, search on your official health portal — your area’s official health information website — before checking other sites.
You finished this guide
What do you want to do next?
Move to the next recommended guide if you want a clear progression, or ask a real person if you would rather check before trying something new.