Where Knowledge Rules

Writing:

Writing at Helium

Get a Widget for this title

Tips for improving your Internet research skills and writing

note which keyword phrases result in the most hits. If you find one that provides the highest yield, be sure to use this in your title, introduction, conclusion and a few times in your article; this will maximize SEO results for your published article.

Other tips:

* Use more keywords to get the most results.
* Fine tune your search, but don't leave out important terms.


* Simplify searches by placing quotes around the keyword phrase. This ensures that you get that specific keyword phrase and not every result from each individual word.
* Some search engines allow you to do this by using a + (plus) sign before each keyword you want to target.
* Some search engines permit browsers to place asterisks at the end of a word to allow other variations of that same word or phrase to come up. Eg. If you wrote space*, you'd also cull spaceman, space travel, space exploration, spaceship, etc.

Step 4: While large search engines can get you started, smaller, more specific sites may provide more concrete information.

Fine-tune your approach as you learn more about your topic. Look into consumer guides, newspapers, specialty magazine sites and blogs that may prove pertinent to your subject. Often you will find the most detailed information on these sites.
Many writers find Encarta, Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia a worthwhile starting point, to gain a wider understanding of a topic, but such broad sites should never be an end point. Reach deeply in the Web for knowledge nodes and niches, often discovered in less trafficked sites.

Step 5: Assess a site's reliability before assuming the information is trustworthy.

While one can find a seemingly infinite number of resources on the Web, judging the worthiness of the content is tricky. Ultimately individual researchers must use their own judgment and double-check what information they can. Here are some guidelines that may help:

* Check the URL suffix: .edu (educational institution), .gov (government agency), .com (commercial), .org (both professional non-professional organizations, often non-profits), -Name (personal website).
* Is the author named and/or the source of the content reliable? Anonymously published information is more suspect than authored material. Sites associated with recognizable information sources (Consumer Reports, NYTimes, government reports) are preferred to personal sites. Yet, an individual's credentials on a personal site may prove worthy too.
* Is the information backed up with evidence? Is the information up


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Tips for improving your Internet research skills and writing

  • 1 of 7

    by Barbara Whitlock

    Good writers do more than exhibit a flair for words; they practice good research techniques. Content is the key to quality

    read more

  • by Tricia Psarreas

    People often search for information on the Internet, but they do not frequently research the sources they use. The fact

    read more

  • 3 of 7

    by EMoore

    How can you be sure you are getting factual material when you research? Karen G. Schneider, in "Beyond Algorithms: A Librarian's

    read more

  • 4 of 7

    by Jane Beswick

    Too often do us keen-readers see many "clone-articles" giving us a single fact in the exact wording it was in when the "writer"

    read more

  • by Madison

    Have FUN with your writing and research! It is exciting to start a new project knowing that research will uncover a myriad

    read more

View All Articles on:
Tips for improving your Internet research skills and writing

Add your voice

Know something about Tips for improving your Internet research skills and writing?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Should you begin Helium articles by repeating the article's title?

Click for your side.

125667

Featured Partner

Life in the Bible Institute

The Life in the Bible Institute's mission is to educate the general public about the value and importance of reading ...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA