7. “ Use hyphens” Narrow search by specifying terms - term Remove results by using a minus site: Specify site that you want to search filetype: PDF, PPT, DOC etc. location: The origin of the webpage related: Results relating to a specific site Tools.
The web is not linear so your searches shouldn't be either. Contextual links within articles, related links, blog roll links - if they look interesting make sure you click on them even if you've still got stuff to read on the page. Two ways to do this and not lose your place...
Right click - Open in new tab. Then as you're tabs grow you can work across them right to left. Can get very cluttered, but if you start your session on a fresh, clean browser, you know all the tabs are there for a reason.
Consume things quickly. Scan for their relevance and if it's what you're looking for copy the link in to notepad. Then go back with a long list and start to extract what you need If you approach every site like a textbook when you're writing an essay, you will take forever and miss the gems more time might allow you to find.
http:// scholar.google.co.uk /
delicious.com/ And then add tages e.g. http:// delicious.com/tag/iphone+statistics+usage
http:// www.wolframalpha.com /
http:// www.blinkx.com /
http:// www.compfight.com /
Occasionally you can strike gold, and find a robust stat online. However, if you carve out two hours and head to the Royal Mail Media centre you're guaranteed high quality, robust data http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=20900328&mediaId=21000354
All available at the Royal Mail www.datamonitor.com / www.mintel.com / http:// www.tgisurveys.com /
Office of National Statistics http:// www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/index.html E-Consultancy http:// econsultancy.com / Emarketer www.emarketer.com / Gartner http:// www.gartner.com/technology/home.jsp Forrester http:// www.forrester.com/rb/research
All Facebook http:// www.allfacebook.com / Adnomics http:// adonomics.com /
Google trends http:// www.google.com /trends
Blog Pulse http:// www.blogpulse.com / Tehnorati technorati.com /
http:// www.google.com /alerts
http:// tweetbeep.com /
http:// www.yotify.com / http:// notify.me /
http://www.google.co.uk/reader
I am not very good at filing this accurately so there’s not a consistency. E.g. advertising, strategy, inspiration all get kind of muddled. But it helps a bit. Hear are a few of the folders and all of the links…