Craig -
QUESTION 3 :-
One search engine I regularly use is http://vivisimo.com/. It displays results and then groups them into categories which contain the same combinations of keywords. Some of the groupings are obviously NOT the ones you need to check. It doesn't always work, but regularly shortens the amount of chaff you must sift through to find the set of pages relevant to you.
As for techniques, I think other posters wewre trying to show - using your example - how they would modify the search terms (add more relevance/delete common words) to get a better "HIT" rate (e.g. Never include "the" as it appears in almost every webpage written in English). BUT most search engines allow you to input a string of words as a phrase. In that case, the search engine will treat "Words in Quote marks" as a single entity for which to search - try typing "the the" without quote marks and you will get a different set of results than if you type WITH quote marks. The second option finds references to Matt Johnson's band "The The" - the first option doesn't, because it isn't selective.
Using the above strategies, you can get relevant results. Trying "Personnel Manager" in quotes gives a better hit rate for job adverts for that position. It also pulls up books and courses for personnel managers.

QUESTION 2 :-
The search techniques used in QUEASTION 3 are valid for finding special interest groups and forums. Type GARDENING MESSAGE BOARD into your search engine and you will get a lot of discussion sites. GEEK FAQ will hit specialist sites on computing (try it - it works - you get UNIX, Networking, Hacking Windows NT, Perl etc.)

QUESTION 1 :-
Are you asking a general question, or is it a specific website you want to attract attention to? If it is a specific one, put a BLICKY here and we'll have a look. Th Mudcat is full of people who will make imaginitive suggestions - some of them might even be useful!
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.