Mary Ellen BatesBatesInfo.com
12 Sept 2014
Out-Googling Google
Info landscape, 2014
Google is good enoughAll searchers are above averageFree is goodToo much info is bad
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How do we respond?
“Are you choosing the best tool?”“Are you finding answers or just info?”“Can you get better answers?”“Do you know when to bring in a pro?”
Talk about Google AND...
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Google AND…
Search enginesFree, fast, easyIrrelevant results, too much info
BEST FOR:Quick answers, pointer to a specific site
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Google AND…
Wikipedia, other ref sourcesFree, broad coverage, semi-curatedLimited coverage of complex topics
BEST FOR:Initial research, background info
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Google AND…
Social mediaFinger-on-the-pulse, current opinionWeak search tools, must verify sources
BEST FOR:Point of view, links, thought leaders,breaking news
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Google AND…
Key open-web sites (govt, assn sites)Free, semi-authoritative, good for dataInfo not current, no aggregated search
BEST FOR:Background material, stats
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Google AND…
Premium online servicesDeep coverage, reliable content,powerful searchingCan take time to learn, fee-based
BEST FOR:In-depth info, trade press, analysis
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When to call for help
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Can we walk the talk?
Do we use all these resources?Are we the info / research experts?Do we have cred?
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Cheap tricks that work
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Google Search Tools
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Do you Google-Dork?
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Do you Google-Dork?
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Use tools such as the GoogleHacking Database, found atwww.exploit-db.com/google-dorks,to run pre-made dork queries to finddiscoverable proprietary info andwebsite vulnerabilities.
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For example....
For an org’s email directory:filetype:xls inurl:"email.xls"
To see what info you’re leaking:site:[your org] "internaldistribution only"
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Change order of search words
ocean fishing acidification
vsacidification fishing ocean
Even different number of results!
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Google: ocean fishingacidification
Google: fishingacidification ocean
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Bing: oceanacidification fishing
What would the answer look like?
Use alternative words / phrasesforecast OR trends OR outlookOR statistics
customer OR client OR consumerOR user
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Moving beyond Google
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Hydraulic fracking -en.wikipedia.org
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Hydraulic fracking –fr.wikipedia.org (translated)
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Data-mine Academic Search
Use search result countsKey authors, conferences, journals, orgs,keywords
academic.research.microsoft.com
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Mining social media
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#ebola NEAR:londonWITHIN:20km
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Finding the next source
Look for tweets with linksTopsy, IceRocket have “Links” filtersTwitter search: keywords filter:links
Look for LinkedIn GroupsALLALaw Librarians
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LinkedIn’s Advanced People search
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ID info pros to consult
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Find LinkedIn “hidden” updates
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Google+
No limit to length of post = morecontent to search
Can embed videos, photosCan use Google syntax
"multiple sclerosis" (alternative ORcomplementary)
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Use as info pro resource
Check out its Communities: Libraries and Librarians Advanced Power Searching with Google Legal Technology
plus.google.com/communities
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Reluctant-entrepreneur.com
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You can reach me at
+1 303 772 7095BatesInfo.com, Reluctant-Entrepreneur.com
Twitter: @mebs
LinkedIn: maryellenbates
Facebook: maryellenbates
Google +: +maryellenbates38
