Using Your Resources: How to Find What You Need Online

Resourcefulness.

If you have it, you’ll go far.

If you don’t…you’re gonna need it. Like, yesterday.

The ability to use the resources that are readily available to you and find what you need is an incredibly valuable skill. Even today, when all the information in the world is in our pockets and at our fingertips, people tend to feel lost. They feel the info overwhelm. There’s too many places to look, so it’s easier to just…not look.

When you’re researching a topic for school or work, or when you’re diving deep into your passion and learning all that you can, you need to know where and how to find what you need. Here are some tips for being resourceful online!

Be Specific

Be specific with the words you use when you’re searching for something. What can you do to describe the thing you’re looking for? Maybe you’re researching fashion — inspired by who? From what time period? Womenswear or mens? Think about the details of what you need and plug them into your search.

Join a Community

The Internet is home to every kind of community you can imagine. If you’re looking for more info about a certain topic, start searching for some online groups! Sites like Reddit or Patreon that are geared towards community building will feature a selection of different interests and topics. Not only will you find the information you need, you’ll find like-minded people that want to help you explore your interests!

Read the Comments

Next time you’re watching a video on YouTube or reading somebody’s blog, scroll down and peruse the comment section. While the comments are often overlooked, they can be a treasure trove of information. This is where people go to ask and answer questions, debate their opinions, and maybe even recommend similar content. Do some searching and see what people are talking about — you may learn something!

Search for Experts

Chances are, someone out there is interested in the same thing you are. And chances are, they’ve figured out a thing or two. Look for influencers and thought leaders that have dedicated their careers to learning and sharing information. Find a digital mentor in your niche — maybe they wrote a book or have a website you can learn from!

Get Outside the Box

If heading straight to Google isn’t cutting it for you, where else can you look? Searching for terms in Instagram hashtags or Twitter can open doors to all kinds of content you never would’ve considered searching for otherwise.

Wanna learn more about how to be resourceful?

---

QOTD: What have you found to be helpful when searching for info online?