Kickstart Your Search
Search is often the first place people go to start looking for more information around a topic. But with so many different ways to kickstart a search, we asked a few subject matter experts to share tips on how to broaden your searches around various popular topics to more effectively find the information you are looking for.
- Sustainable Living
- Exploring Australia
- Sorting out your finances
- Be your own boss
- Building & renovating a home
- Improving health & fitness
- Finding your family roots
- Writing a book
- Plan and find the perfect date
- Ramping up your I.T. knowledge
Sustainable Living
The Dunleys have a unique approach to sustainable living. They've dramatically reduced their impact on the environment, and done so on a limited budget. They knew all the information was out there - it was just a matter of learning how to find it.
The Dunleys' search suggestions:
The Dunley family
"As a family we're on a journey that makes us question the choices that we make. We make these choices to shape our future generations and for the future of this beautiful earth."
Exploring Australia
Birgit Bradtke moved to the Kimberley in 1998 to begin a new life. She set up a blog that documents her experience and helps fellow travellers. Birgit knows the outback like the back of her hand, because she's done the research.
Birgit's search suggestions:
Birgit Bradtke
"The Australian outback is more beautiful than you can imagine. It offers a freedom you never thought possible. All you need to experience it is a sense of adventure and the right information."
Sorting out your finances
Carolyn Creswell began her business edcuation at home, balancing weekly shopping budgets and setting up savings plans. Today, the self-taught entrepreneur manages a multi-million dollar fine food business. Carolyn shows that planning and research are key to managing your finances.
Carolyn's search suggestions:
Carolyn Creswell
"Invest the time initially in setting up direct debits to pay your household bills and credit card, so you don’t ever have to pay interest."
Be your own boss
With just $24 to his name, Jim Penman opened a part-time mowing business. Today, that same mowing business has more than 2,800 franchisees worldwide. Jim learned that, being your own boss, it's vital to know every aspect of running a business inside out.
Jim's search suggestions:
Jim Penman
"I mowed lawns as a student job while taking a PhD in history. Lacking prospects for employment, I went into it full time and built from there. My advice on business is to be passionate about customers and try every day to do better than yesterday."
Building & renovating a home
Mandy and Sean Manners decided on a 'green' renovation of their 1950s weatherboard home. This meant they've had to learn about everything from non-toxic paints to interactive solar energy, which is why searching online is so important to them.
Mandy and Sean's search suggestions:
Mandy and Sean Manners
"We are in the middle of a sustainable, green renovation in Tasmania. Our tips for a succesful renovation are: planning, research, more research, take your time before you start, lateral thinking, recycled materials, natural-based products, and flexibility."
Improving health & fitness
Dr. John Tickell's mission is to help everyone lead a healthier life. During his years of research, Dr. John has found that the most powerful way to take control of your health and fitness is to get as much relevant information as possible.
Dr. Tickell's search suggestions:
Dr John Tickell
"If you can’t put a little time aside now for some recreation and exercise, you'll have to put aside a lot of time later for illness."
Finding your family roots
When Neil Mallet began researching his family tree all he had was the name of a distant relative. Starting with a general internet search he was soon able to uncover more information, along with relatives he didn't even know he had. The more he searched, the more he found.
Neil's search suggestions:
Neil Mallet
"We found the name of a man we believed to be my great, great, great, great grandfather in some notes my grandmother had left. By searching on the internet I was able to track down copies of his will, written in 1795. This discovery opened up whole new areas of research."
Writing a book
Nick Place is the author of three children's novels, and he's also written for newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and the internet. No matter where his imagination takes him, Nick always does his research. That's because the more he knows about a subject, the more fun he can have writing about it.
Nick's search suggestions:
Nick Place
"When I create, I don't hold back. I like my books to be full of ghosts, martians and super heroes. Writing has to be fun and I like to let my imagination go crazy."
Plan and find the perfect date
Samantha Brett knows the dating game inside out. As an author and founder of Australia's first dating blog, she knows that the internet is a key part of the dating game. Finding the right information though, is as important as finding 'the one'.
Samantha's search suggestions:
Samantha Brett
"We all know dating sucks. Most of the time you feel like you're under a microscope at a heinous job interview, but there's a way to get around it. You just need to be a little creative, inspired and think outside the box."
Ramping up your I.T. knowledge
After building a career in the I.T. industry, Peter Norton felt it was time for him to help build the knowledge of others. Due to the sheer size of the internet, Peter knows it's crucial they learn how to quickly identify the information they need.
Peter Norton's search suggestions:
Peter Norton
"IT has changed quite significantly over the last 15 years, and it's important for people to keep up to speed and understand how to use IT to help improve their lives and stay connected."
15 sec. Search Tips
Keen to brush up your search skills? Watch our top search tips here.
Spread the word
Share your ideas for other topics or tips at kickstart@google.com