There's no denying it. On any given day, information is tossed around and much of it requires you to synthesize and respond to it instantaneously. So what do you do if you don't understand any of it? Why, Google it of course!
While this may be the way that many in our industry of face-paced web marketers behave, Google isn't always the first line of defense for others. Yet, there is so much that can be learned from Googling, even if it means that you're doing it on Yahoo or Bing!
Searching online isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of curiosity. And being curious in today's web-o-sphere is currency. It's not just what you know, but rather the initiative you show about wanting to learn, that will make you a valuable asset for your company or cause.
Regardless of your industry, search engines can provide reliable and concise information that can help you throughout your day. From learning about social media or trying to find ways to clean your expresso machine you'd be surprised what you can find on Google and as a result, what information can be gained.
Using search engines effectively can take a little time. The more searches you do, the more you'll learn how to search and what words to use. Here are few tips to help search more effectively:
Start broad, then narrow in
If you don't exactly know what information you're trying to find, start big. Type in the general search term, scroll through some of your results. You may see a theme emerge. Go back to the search bar and add your additional search terms using the word "and" between them.
Ask a question
Don't be afraid to just type in exactly what you want to know. So ask away. Try to keep in concise and use active verbs, e.g., How to Tie a Bow; How to make a million dollars; Why is the Sun hot?
Don't Fear Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that differs from other encyclopedias in a significant way: along with reading the articles in Wikipedia, anyone can add or edit articles however they like. However, recent studies suggest that Wikipedia may be as accurate as Encyclopedia Britannica. Articles are often added quickly and, as a result, coverage of current events and new technology in particular is quite extensive. Users can look at the changes made to Wikipedia's entries as new information has come to light. this can be done by clicking the entry's "history" tab at the top of the page.
Other people's searches
Lots of people are searching for the same thing. You can use Google Trends, a database of Google searches shows too see how often they’ve been searched over time, how frequently topics have appeared in Google News stories, and in which geographic regions people have searched for them most. There are even search engines that lead you to things you didn't know you were looking for!
Even if you only use search engines to satisfy random queries for celebrities or news of the weird, it will most likely lead you to other information that will be relevant to your business or interests. So get curious and start searching.
