The hidden deep Web

Whenever you need an answer to a simple question, you type in a keyword and Google immediately gets you the right website where you can find it – or maybe NOT. Don’t be fooled by it! Google’s algorithm is good, but it barely scratches the surface of the tip of the iceberg.

If you need more specialized data, use a dedicated database or library – these are the hidden gems of the Internet.

For example, you want to know the density of a certain type of steel – use Google and compare it to a dedicated materials database like MatWeb where you can search according to material type, manufacturer name, trade name, physical properties, alloy composition and many others! Do you realize the wealth of highly-focused answers you can get this way?

Let’s pick a second example – finding out when flight GY456 finished its destination at New York – unless Google has a partnership with airport websites, you are much better off typing the airport’s website and doing the search in their own database!

This approach to research answers to your questions is like seeing an arrythmologist for your atrial fibrillation instead of your know-it-all neighbour when you want focused information on whether you need a higher dose of Digoxin or not to control your symptoms or whether you are still allowed the occasional wine drink.

If the topic you want to address is obscure, aka highly specialized, and you don’t know any such hidden database, use these keywords to find one on Google:

-database

-directory

-library

-specialized search engine

-vertical portals or vortals

-metadata search engine

A great introductory book in this art is The Invisible Web by Chris Sherman, Gary Price and Danny Sullivan.

Another good book is The Web Library by Nicholas Tomaiuolo – the difference is that here you’ll find out about the major databases and specialized libraries whether you’re searching for books, software, pictures or music related to your niche topic.

If this article proved useful to you, bookmark it for future reference. Don’t forget to comment on any useful niche database you know!