Ty's Tech Blog

Did you know that there are over 300 MILLION searches performed PER DAY on GOOGLE alone?

The amount of traffic search engines receive is absolutely mind boggling.  I know that I personally perform anywhere between 20-30 searches per day.  It is a tool that I rely on for me to be productive.  So it is important for me to know how to best utilize my tool in order to be as efficient as possible.

So here are my best tips for finding information quickly on the web via search engines.

1. Use the search box at the top of your web browser.  If you haven’t downloaded Internet Explorer 8 or the latest version of FireFox, or any other browser you may be using, do so.  Browsers now have integrated search boxes located very close to where you enter in website addresses.  By using this box, you don’t have to navigate to another website and wait for it to load before you start your search.

2. If you are looking for something specific, enter in as many details as you can as to what you are looking for.  The more general you are the more likely you are to get results that have nothing to do with what you are looking for.   So start small, and work your way out.  Pretend you are starting with a microscope and gradually step back to see more information.

3. Phrases will help you find what you’re looking for.  If you are looking for a particular article regarding the First Time Home Buyer Credit, enter it in with quotations at each end.  That way the search will look for results with those words in that exact order.  (ie. “First Time Home Buyer Credit”)

4. Use the search engine like a calculator.  If you need to do a quick calculation, enter it into the search engine.  Most search engines can do addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and even return percentage results (ie. 45% of 39)

5.  Use search engines to find images.  I constantly find myself looking for images online.  In Google, type in what you are looking for and then click on the “Images” link at the top.  From here you can sort through the images to find what you are looking for.  To fine tune your search, click on the “Advanced Image Search” link to specify the file type and size you are looking for among other options.

Now, I know there are some people who don’t like Google for one reason or another.  If that is the case, I strongly recommend the new Microsoft “Bing” search engine.  If you haven’t seen it or heard of it, go to www.bing.com and play around with it.  It is a very slick search engine that is poised to give Google a run for its money.

Don’t like all of the extras in Facebook.com? Try the new “Lite” version!

Facebook Lite brings a simplified, faster-loading experience in comparison to the traditional site. Part of the new Facebook Lite design, the news feed includes a simple top toolbar and buttons for posting status updates and media uploads.

The profile page on Facebook Lite removes many of the bells and whistles from the traditional version and keeps only the basics: your wall, info, friends, and photos and videos. The status and sharing interface is unchanged.

For those of you that don’t want to be bombarded by many of the applications and extras, this version is for you.

Also, if you are not already on Facebook or if you are new to the service, you could call this the “training wheels” version of the site. Check it out.

Facebook Lite can be accessed by visiting http://www.lite.facebook.com.

It seems like just about everyone today is carrying a smart phone.  For those of you who don’t know what a smart phone is, it is basically a phone that can perform numerous tasks other than just making and receiving phone calls.  Smart phones can now manage your contact list, calendar, notes, surf the web, download e-mails and display most attachments and much more.  They are the ultimate tool for the road warrior REALTOR. 

The most popular smart phones right now are the BlackBerry and the iPhone.  I personally recommend the BlackBerry since it works on all mobile networks, is very intuitive and has numerous capabilities due to competition like the iPhone and Google Andriod operating system.  Supra has also now released a product that integrates with both the BlackBerry AND lockboxes.  For more information, visit http://bit.ly/Jp8jV (or if this link doesn’t work, just do a search for “Supra+BlackBerry”)

Here are some of the tips/tricks that I have found through using my BlackBerry that should help other BlackBerry users get around a little easier.

- When needing to dial a number that has a word in it (ie.  1-800-BIG-SIGN), or when you get into a voice automated system that asks you to input words instead of numbers (ie. “please enter in your mother’s maiden name”) use the ALT key and press the corresponding letter on the phone keypad.  The phone will send the corresponding digit.  That way you don’t have to remember that 1=A,B,C, 2=D,E,F, and so on.

- Set up browsing bookmarks.  You can set up bookmarks on your phone’s browser just like you can on your computer.  And most popular websites now have mobile specific webpages so it is easy to read the content.  My suggestions for bookmarks?  FlexMLS – wireless.flexmls.com | Google Reader – m.google.com/reader | AZCentral.com – azcentral.com.  Most websites will automatically take you to their “mobile enhanced” pages when you enter them into your browser.  Try it out, you’ll be surprised how many of your favorite sites can be easily viewed right on your phone!

- Download social networking applications.  If you have a FaceBook or Twitter account, having their applications are a MUST.  Now if you don’t have social networking accounts, please, keep reading.  I will get to you in a second.  When you find yourself waiting around, updating your FaceBook page can be a great way to 1. Kill some time 2. Put out a good message about yourself and/or your business.  Social networking is the wave of the future when it comes to communication.  There are people out there that communicate only by Social Networking sites.  I hear a lot of  people say they don’t have time to be on FaceBook or Twitter.  Well, if you download thier FREE applications, I guarantee you will find times where you will be able to and maybe even bored enough to interact with these services.  I can’t tell you how many times I have been in line at the store and I will update my FaceBook page.  For the FaceBook application, visit www.blackberry.com/facebook.  For the Twitter application “TwitterBerry” (there are a few applications available, but this is the one I use and like the most), visit http://orangatame.com/ota/twitterberry/ 

- Use the Google Maps application.  It is as close to a GPS unit as you will get without having to pay big bucks for another piece of equipment.  It is fairly accurate depending on where you are and is certainly better than guessing your way to your destination.  You can download it by going to (on your phone’s browser) m.google.com/maps

- Use a FREE directory service.  Program the following number into your phone.  1-800-GOOG-411.  This is a FREE directory service from Google.  It is incredibly easy to use since it is voice activated.  Just talk slowly and you’ll find the person or the place you are looking for.  (Yeah, this isn’t really a smart phone only tip, but it is a good one.  I use it all the time.)

- Use it as a flashlight.  You may not think your screen is that bright but have you ever been in a movie theater and noticed when someone checks their phone?  That sucker is BRIGHT!  If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need a little extra light, just turn on your phone.  The BlackBerry screen (and the screen of most phones) emit enough light to illuminate small areas (think, the receipt in a poorly lit restaurant)

If you have a BlackBerry, I hope these tips have helped.  If you use any smart phone, you can still benefit from some of these tips.  And if you don’t have a smart phone, hopefully these tips will help convince you that now is the time to upgrade and let a little piece of equipment simplify your life.