Getting The Best Info – First!
One of the great things the Internet offers is the ability to share information almost instantaneously. If you have an RSS (Rich Site Summary / Real Simple Syndication) reader you can get web site updates as soon as they’re published. You can educate yourself quicker and faster, provided the information is legitimate. The topic of online legitimacy was covered in a previous post: How Accurate Is Online Information? One of the largest online information hurdles is determining what information is good and which should be ignored.
Anyone Can Become an Expert
Today anyone can buy a domain and have a web site up and running within a few minutes. This allows people to publish worldwide at little or no cost. Online information can be used to control and create either positive or negative outcomes. There have been presidential elections impacted by what a person posted on their Blog. In the last US presidential election a Blogger challenged the traditional media when it came to President Bush’s military records. How many times have you received an email or been given a link to an article that’s supposedly legitimate? A few minutes later someone is trumpeting around the office with the “shocking news” they received. Unfortunately all the junk floating around dilutes the credibility of the legitimate information.
It’s Online First
Provided the information you find can be legitimized there is some great info to be found online. Top experts write some of the most up to date information on their Blogs before any information gets published in traditional mediums. If you’re reading it in a book, chances are the information is at least 6 months to a year old. Some of the best information I get is directly from Blogs I believe to be highly credible.
There are reasonable steps anyone can take to make sure the information they’re getting is legitimate. This allows you to be at the forefront of new and helpful information.
Ask yourself the following questions in regards to the information you find online:
- How long has the web site been operating?
- What are the author’s credentials and experience?
- Is the author of the web site or Blog published elsewhere?
- Is the web site updated on a regular basis?
- Does the information come from a .gov or .edu extension?
- Has the author been featured as a keynote speaker?
- Does the web site provide good contact details?
- Is the information presented in a balanced and objective manner?
- With what organizations is the author or web site affiliated?
Be vigilant in making sure you’re getting the best information possible. Below is a short list of Blogs that I trust and visit on a regular basis:
Want to get more great info? Check out the articles below:
- Paying and Learning to Be Successful Online
- There Is No Perfect Web Strategy
- Are You Listening To Your Users?
- Ego: How to Destroy Your Business Web Site
- The Classic Marketeers
- The Event Promotion System
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