If you’ve read our other articles, you’re aware that search engines can be very effective for locating people. You’re probably also aware that a quick search doesn’t always provide the results you are seeking. As an example, a search for Tom Smith on Google returns 35,000,000 results. You’d be very lucky if you found who you were after in the first 10, 20, or even 100 results. Rather than head off to try other avenues, why not get specific with your search?

Tip #1

Try enclosing your search within quotation marks (i.e. "Tom Smith"). Rather than 35,000,000 results, you have narrowed it down to 279,000.

Tip #2

Include the area with your searches (i.e. "Tom Smith" "New York"). By using both the location and quotes, this search has now narrowed to 40,200 results.

There are many effective searching tools provided by each search engine apart from the simple search box. Try clicking the advanced search, or search tips links provided, and you’ll start to get a better foundation of what you can really do. A few of the more common include the + symbol. Placed before a word or quoted phrase, the plus symbol enforces that the results will return only pages that have that exact word or quote on them. The - symbol does the exact opposite. If you’re returning too many results of a specific nature, and it isn’t what you’re looking for, take them out of the results with the negative symbol.

By learning to use the search engines effectively, you’re more likely to find the person you are seeking, and you’ll save yourself a heap of time in the process.

Other Searches

All of the advanced usage tips on search engines can be applied to many online people searches. If you’re not returning the results you are after, try moving up to the more advanced search where available. Yahoo! People Search for example has an advanced email search page. Rather than your simple first name, last name, and region search, you can also narrow things down by organization type, organization name, or even throw in an old email address.

Make the most of what’s available, and use all the information you have at hand. Free people searches can be very effective, but they are even more effective when you use them well.

Search engines such as Google collect pages from across the web allowing us to search the content of those pages. This is great if we are searching for a person and their name can be found on a static web page. Unfortunately, standard search engines are unable to tap into the vast quantities of information on people located in online databases. For example, you won’t find White Pages listings using a Google Search. All this information untapped by search engines makes up the Deep Web.

White pages sites, electoral roll sites, and other well known databases make up an important part of the deep web for those of us looking for someone, and most of us can dig up a white pages site to search. The deep web however goes much further, and can be used to great effect in your people search.

For example, if you are looking for someone you went to school with, and know they went on to University to study medicine, it makes a lot of sense to try searching an online database of medical practitioners.

The deep web often makes uses of smaller more targeted information, and allows you to narrow searches quickly. For example, you are looker for a female by the name of Jane Doe. You have tried standard searches and white pages but had no luck. You assume she may have been married and hence changed her name.. so what can you do quickly online? If you have further information such as the University attended, chosen profession or occupation, or other interests, why not delve right into the deep web and try your search. Many deep web databases have advanced searches where a first name only search is possible. As the searchable data is usually smaller and often accompanied by additional information, you can sift through the results fairly quickly and often know whether you’ve hit a match or not.

Finding deep web sites is also fairly straight forward. To start with, you’ll find many categorised deep web people search sources through our online directory. Failing that, try a standard search on a search engine using your chosen topic (i.e. doctor) and add terms such as “database” “registry” “register” etc. You’d be surprised at just how many deep web databases there are out there in the UK containing people names and information.

Keep us in mind also when you come across a new deep web source. Let us know, so that we can add it to our directory and share it with others looking for someone.

Foot Note: In the not to distant future, we may be fortunate enough to not have to visit each site to run our deep web searches. New search technologies such as PIPL are attempting to do this automatically for us. Whilst it is in Beta at present, and only available for the USA and Canada, this sort of technology may make it easier to find people in the future.

There are many sites offering online electoral roll searches, but are they really worth it? Unfortunately there is no cut and dry answer for this, as each individual has different needs and differing situations. We will however try to help you determine if it’s right for you.

Firstly, there are 2 different versions of the electoral roll in the UK, the public version, and the restricted version. The restricted version has the details of each and every person registered to vote; the public one does not. Unless you are in law enforcement or similar, you can rule out accessing the restricted one. The public version is what you’ll find online.

Now the public version may be useful, but it has its restrictions. Anyone can opt out of the public roll, and this is an important point. As the public electoral roll is available to marketing companies and the like, there are many who are choosing to opt out. Anyone not looking to be found is almost certain to opt out.

The electoral roll is also available for viewing free at council electoral offices and also at many libraries, however certain services such as a confirmation letter may attract a fee. You will also find  historical versions available in many areas.

Why then would anyone want to search the electoral roll online? Convenience, pure and simple. If you’re in a rush, or don’t want to make the effort to visit somewhere to conduct a search, simply pay for it online get a result.

Tip: The online searches offer a free search that will return peoples names on the roll. Why not run a quick check online first of all, then if you’re a skinflint and don’t feel like paying, drop into a library or electoral office and have a look at the full details there. At least you know your trip out won’t be wasted searching for someone who isn’t even on the electoral roll.

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