Searching Beyond Google: Tools for more efficient research

SLA PartnerTalk

sponsored by

Mary Ellen Bates

January 28, 2014

Searching Beyond Google: Toolsfor more efficient research

Tweeting this?

Mary Ellen: @mebs

ProQuest Dialog: @DialogLLC

SLA: #slapartnertalk

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Info landscape, 2014

Google is good enough

All searchers are above average

Free is good

Too much info is bad

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HOW DO WE RESPOND?

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How do we respond?

Are you choosing the best tool?

Are you finding info or answers?

Can you get better answers?

Do you know when to bring in a pro?

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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

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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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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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Hydraulic frackingen.wikipedia.org fr.wikipedia.org

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Millionshort.com

Long-tail researchEliminates top 100 to 1 million sitesCatches less-SEO’d sites

See also MillionTall.com: only top sites

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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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Enabling better search results

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Open their eyes...

ID best search toolsOpen web: Google AND BingSocial media: Topsy AND TwitonomyOpen web sources: Wolfram Alpha

AND the premium search services

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How to communicate this?

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Google’s Media Tools

Great way to “package” tools

By how searchers use them

Can you do this?

google.com/get/mediatools

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Enable better outcomes

Find users’ pain pointsAsk them!Embed an info pro for a week“Ride circuit” once a month

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Enable better outcomes

Customize user experienceUse your admin powers!Pre-select databases to searchSet search defaultsSet search results defaults

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Enable better outcomes

Encourage more self-serviceCreate more access points, widgetsCreate, link to short help videosCreate, link to cheat-sheets

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Anticipate problems

Build search templatesPatent files and lit searchingLinks to internal resources

Monitor use by dept/groupID low/anomalous use

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When to call for help

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ID triggers for “Help!”

>15 minutes of searching

When a lot is at stake

Embed help in portals, search screens

Offer live chat / text-a-librarian

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www.dialog.com/proquestdialogcustomer@dialog.com+1 800 334 2564 (U.S. and Canada)+00 800 33 34 2564 (Outside North America)

For more infoor a demo of the new