Insurance and Risk Management Internet Searches

• Overall Objective:– On completion of the three course modules,

you should be able to obtain and evaluate insurance and risk management information more effectively and efficiently through the Internet.

Course Modules

• Module 1: Internet Searches for Risk Management and Insurance Information

• Module 2: Advanced Search Techniques• Module 3: Searching IRMI-Online

Why Take This Course?

Module One

Internet Searches for Risk

Management and Insurance Information• Why online information sources?• Types of information available on the Web• Basic terminology• Basic search tools• Basic Google search• Refining the basic search; searching within results• Myths • Noteworthy Web sites

Why Use Online Sources?

• You need information fast• You need extremely current information• You need dynamic information• More convenient than printed resources• Other reasons?

Types of InformationAvailable on the Web

• Static– Rarely or never changes

• Online textbook• Dynamic

– Content constantly changing• Ebay (Internet auction)• News• Weather• Airline schedules• Search results

• Frequently updated– Online reference material (e.g. IRMI-Online)

Basic Terminology

• Browser: Software that allows access to the Internet or World-Wide Web– Internet Explorer – Firefox

Basic Terminology

• URL: Uniform Resource Locator– The address where information resides– Example: http://www.irmi.com

• http: Hypertext Transfer Protocol– identifies the type of information transfer

• www: World Wide Web• irmi: Top-level domain name

– identifies the owner of the site (e.g., International Risk Management Institute)

Basic Terminology

• Example: http://www.irmi.com• Common Top-Level Domains:

– .com commercial– .edu U.S. educational– .org noncommercial/non-profit– .gov U.S. governmental (federal and other)

• State or Country Domains– .uk United Kingdom– .ca Canada– .ca.us California, United States

Basic Terminology

• Hyperlink– Example: www.irmi.com– Clicking on the highlighted link opens the

associated Web page– Often in color, underscored, or a “button”– Cursor changes to hand icon www.irmi.com

Hyperlink Examples

Types of Search Tools

• Search Engines (e.g. Google)• Directory (e.g. Google directory)• Query (e.g. ask.com)

Search Engine

Directory Approach

Directory Links

Query Approach

A basic Google Search:

• Go to www.google.com (type the address here, then <enter>)

• Type search word or phrase here

• Click on Google Search button, or <enter>

A Basic Google Search

Refining the Basic Search

Google Search Results:Page Titles

Google Search Results:Excerpt from Result PageQuery Terms in Bold Face

Google Search Results:URL of Search Result

Google Search Results:URL and Size of Search Result

Google Search Results:Cached, Similar Pages

Google Search Results:Number of Hits

Search Tips

• Use quotation marks for phrases– Search [ “mobile equipment” ]

or [ “mobile equipment” insurance ]

or (better) [ insurance “mobile equipment” ]– NOT [ mobile equipment ]

• Start narrow: enter 6 to 8 keywords or phrases, then eliminate some if you don’t get enough hits.

Search Tips (continued)

• Size doesn’t matter.– Most search engines are case insensitive.

• Use nouns or objects.– Conjunctions (and, or), modifiers (adjectives,

adverbs), and verbs are often ignored or useless.

• Always place main or unique subject first (insurance).

Narrowing the Search

Searching Within Results

• Use “Edit/Find” for .html documents.• Use Reader’s “Search” for .pdf

documents.• Use Web site’s “Search” function to find

information within a Web site.• Use Site map to find information within a

Web site.

Using Browser’s Edit/Find

Reader (PDF) Search Function

Use Web Site’s Search Function

Use Site Map

Typical Site Map

Internet Myths

• Everything is on the Internet.• Everything on the Internet is available free.• Search engines find everything on the

Internet.• Search engines produce unbiased results.

Insurance/Risk Management Search Engine: askrims.org

Specialized Directory:www.UltimateInsuranceLinks.com

Preview of Modules 2 and 3

• Module 2: Advanced Search Techniques• Module 3: Searching IRMI-Online