JERI DANSKY professionalorganizer

Internet Research

Do you want to use the internet to find organizing products, organizing tips, places to donate products, etc? Here are seven things I recommend you know.

 

1. Know what search engines are available and might best meet your needs.

 

Google is my home page, and I use it more than anything else. But one search engine sometimes isn't enough!

Here are the "big four" as of October 2006:

 

A study done in 2005 shows just how little overlap there is in the results returned by these different search engines.

 

You might also want to use a meta search engine - one that combines the results from multiple search engines. Some of these are

  • Dogpile (not one of my personal favorites - I just don't care for the display)
  • Jux2
  • Mamma

 

There are also specialized search engines for shopping; these are good for product searches, since you can see pictures of the items. Some of the shopping sites are

 

There are also specialized search engines for photos, audio files, video files, blogs, medical information, and much more.

 

 

2. Know how to word a search query in your favorite search engines.

 

Know the proper syntax for your search queries. Dig around and find the "search help" information. (Or use the "advanced search" option, if your search engine has one.)

 

Not all search engines work the same, but here are some basics to consider.

 

  • And vs. Or: Most search engines default to "and"; they will only find results that include all the terms you list. But you can enter the word OR to change that behavior. Example: desk walnut OR cherry
     
  • Excluding words: Most search engines let you exlude a word by putting a minus sign in front of the word. (For MSN, use the word NOT instead of the minus sign.) For example, if I'm already familiar with the products of a given vendor and only want to see other ones, I can do a search like this: desk -sauder.
     
  • Exact phrase: To search for an exact phrase, put that phrase in quotation marks.
     
  • Word variations: Know if your search engine will take a word like filing and also look for file, and if a search for the singular (file) will also find the plural (files).

 

Also, think about how best to phrase a search query. For example, say I am searching for information on how to pick a file cabinet. I'm not going to search on just "file cabinet" - that will get me huge product listings. Instead, I'll want to add words (separated by OR) such as selecting, choosing, guide, and criteria.

 

 

3. Know your vocabulary

 

It's hard to phrase a good search query if you don't have the right words. For example, as I've done searches for furniture that could be used for storage, I've learrned the words

  • étagère
  • chimney cabinet/cupboard
  • commode (as a nightstand)
  • jelly cabinet/cupboard
  • pie safe
  • taboret
  • hall tree
  • jewelry armoire (armoire I knew - but jewelry armoire was a new one)

 

Similarly, I like a certain kind of file folder - and it helps to know it's called a straight cut tab. It's also good to know that the reinforced tab might also be called a two-ply tab.

 

 

4. Know how to evaluate and respond to the search results you get.

 

First of all, consider the quality of the source. Is it authoratative - or the opinion of one person you never heard of? Is it up to date? (I've seen lists of thrift stores in the San Francisco Bay Area that are very outdated.)

Then, consider what you can learn about tweaking your search query based on the results you see. Often you'll see words to add to your query, or words to exclude. Multiple iterations are a key to successful searching.

 

 

5. Know the alternatives to search.

 

Sometimes a search engine isn't the best tool to use. Consider also using

 

  • Human-compiled directories, providing the best of the web for a particular subject.
     
  • Authoratative databases. For example, many cities and counties in the San Francisco Bay Area have on-line databases telling you where a whole host of items can be reused or recycled.
     
  • Vendor web sites. I often begin a search for organizing products with one of the sites that I know sells a wide range of products, such as The Container Store.
     
  • People. Sometimes posing a question to people on a Yahoo group or other such list can be the best way to find an answer, especially for things like referrals to good local service providers.

 

 

6. Know what's out there, more or less.

 

This is the most amorphous advice I can give - and maybe the most important. Be curious. Look around. Follow links. Read (books, magazines, newsletters, web sites) so you get a feel for the territory. I have hundreds of bookmarks/favorites for interesting resources I've found along the way. One time I was able to find the perfect product for someone - she posed the question in a chat group - because I'd just seen the product in an on-line newsletter I'd read just 10 minutes previously!

 

 

7. Know your resources for learning more about search.

 

I read the free newsletter SearchCap put out by Search Engine Land.

 

There are also books, such as Web Search Garage.

 

And there are a number of helpful web sites, such as:

 

And finally: If you need to do some search work and don't have the time or inclination, you can hire me to do the work for you!