How to Find People on the Internet
As the global population continues to increase, locating people has become more challenging. However, the proliferation of Internet resources has paved the way to sites that better facilitate the search process. From low-level techniques like search engines and online phone directories to high-level searches at social networking sites and company web sites, a myriad of sources either hold the desired contact information or will lead the user to it. To effectively scour the pages of the web to search for somebody, these suggestions should serve as a guide for how to find people on the Internet.
Search Engines:
This method should often be the first step towards locating somebody via the Internet. Knowing both the first and last name is essential. Many of today’s search engines have a smart feature enabled by default which attempts to bring up possible search terms based upon the popular searches of previous users. Therefore, the name of the person could possibly appear, which saves time for long names.
Unique names help shorten this stage of the search. Common first names and last names will reveal search results nationwide or globally. Providing search criteria like the following can mean spending less time with the search engine and more time visiting the sites listed on the pages of results:
- First and last name
- Any middle names or initials
- Maiden name
- Geographic location
- School attended
- Employer
- Club and organization affiliations
With multiple search engines available on the Internet, a recommended practice is perform the same search terms with a few of them. Google, Yahoo, Bing, and several others should provide similar search results. However, they could appear in a different order from one search engine than what another might provide. After a properly executed search, other sites can be utilized effectively to obtain contact information.
Online White Pages:
Most listed telephone numbers and addresses are available online. This service is provided by the telephone company. Printed directories have limited scope and the local libraries are likely to only carry a handful of the phone directories. Online white pages show all listed phone numbers and corresponding addresses. The online directory is free of charge and is accessible wherever an Internet connection can be established.
This method works best if the person of interest has been known to live in a specific area. Knowing the last name is requisite. Starting with the state of likely residence and narrowing down to a city or town will refine the search. A downside to this type of search is that initials are common to list in lieu of the first name. Depending upon on the population of the vicinity, several search results may return. This may involve dialing several phone numbers to arrive at the final result. For this reason, this search method is still considered low-level. Other online methods can provide this information plus an email address.
Personal Sites:
The search results from the more popular search engines may reveal sites that have been created by the user. Such a site could conclude the search almost instantly, provided that the contact information is still current. An email address is common on these sites, along with photos and methods of contact. Be sure to check the last date the site was updated, as this may provide a clue for how current the contact information might be.
Company and Organization Sites:
How to find People on the Internet
Whether already known or discovered as a possibility through a search engine, sites for many companies and organizations may provide vital contact information. Some of the larger organizations even offer a search feature to navigate the site with greater ease. The search results might even reveal a page for a specific person.
If the person is a sales manager or a professor, he or she will likely have a personal page on that organization’s web site. A current photo and email address are common. Other means for reaching that individual are also likely to be listed.
Alumni and Reunion Sites:
Whether friends from school or buddies from the military who have long since moved to another city, finding people has become less of a laborious task with the advent of the Internet. The same medium that has made search engines, websites, and online directories possible has also facilitated the creation of alumni directories. High schools, colleges, and the respective branches of the military are likely to have common online meeting places to reconnect.
Searching for high school classmates is common, and this task is now less cumbersome with sites like Classmates.com. This site mentioned requires paid membership to contact other members, but there are others that provide a similar service for free. Senior class presidents of more recent graduating classes are likely to initiate reunion pages to collect recent contact information from fellow alumni.
Alumni associations are common for practically every college and university. The larger institutions are likely to have chapters interspersed nationwide. Each alumni chapter should be able to contact other chapters to help find someone. This method usually requires membership to gain access to the search and contact capabilities, and those privileges are usually reserved for alums of that institution.
Those who have served in the military are aware of the close bonds that often form. Whether enlisted or commissioned, sites like Military.com and MilitaryConnections.com provide a means for regaining and retaining contact with military buddies. And much like the high school and college alumni directories, these sites provide information about upcoming reunions along with any current contact information. Plus, as a courtesy to those who have honorably served, these information services are provided free of charge.
Social Networking Sites:
The rising popularity of social networking sites translates to another potential method to find people on the Internet. MySpace and Facebook are the most ubiquitous of this category. Personal pages on these sites often provide photos and biographical information that may prove instrumental for locating somebody online and verifying the correct person has been located.
Pages from these sites might appear in the results from a web search. When attempting to visit these pages MySpace will allow the user to view somebody’s profile without registration. Facebook, however, requires registration and creation of a profile to view other user profiles and make contact. Either site of this category will likely provide the user with a current email address along with links to Twitter accounts, external web sites, and blogs.
A Combination of Multiple Sources:
Assimilating the low-level search results with any combination of those at the high levels can help verify the right person has been found. Starting with search engine results and narrowing down possibilities at company websites or at alumni directories saves time and reduces the possibility of embarrassment. The efforts prove worthwhile when the person is finally reached.
Locating somebody online is easier with the plethora of available resources. Through a well-orchestrated search, a culmination of resources can ensure the right person has been found. With time, this process will become faster. All of the methods aforementioned should serve as a guide for successful online people search attempts. The best practices for how to find people on the Internet are learned through practice and patience.