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Step 1
Type in your friend's name in the search box of the search engine and enter it; the database will pull up results with your friend's name. Click on the links that are most likely to be about your friend to get more information.
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Step 2
Place quotation marks at the beginning and end of your friend's name for a more narrowed search result.
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Step 3
Use a "boolean" search; this is when you type in your friends name or name and location. For example, if you are searching for Sarah Johnson, it is a common name. However, if you know Sarah Johnson last lived in Harrisburg, you would type "Sarah Johnson and Harrisburg". "And" is the boolean, which tells the search engine to search for both items.
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Step 4
Type in a specific town or location, even an event to search for your family or friends online. If you are specific with your search, you can narrow the results.
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Step 1
Look at well-known databases. The White Pages has a listing for all USA phone numbers that are listed, you can search even if you do not know the city or state. The Yellow Pages will do a similar search for businesses. You can also do a "reverse" lookup and find email addresses in the White Pages.
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Step 2
Search the online version of the Better Business Bureau if your family or friend owns a business.
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Step 3
Use a "names" database search; the names database carries a list of all submitters. A names database may charge to join to gather further information about your family or friend.
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Step 4
Go to the official website of the state your family or friend was last living in. There you will find links to official departments of the state and can search through license records and property ownership records.
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Step 1
Search through specialty websites like Classmates.com or Reunions.com that specialize in reuniting people.
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Step 2
Log on to your old hometown newspaper and do a search for your friends name. Check to see if the newspaper has links to your high school reunion information.
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Step 3
Go to military reunion websites, the VFW website and your unit website where you will find reunion information.
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Step 4
Check family search organizations and genealogy websites; some have current information on family members, not just ancestors.
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Step 5
Post your information on message boards, post your first name and last initial, your email address and the first name and last initial of the person you are looking for. Add something significant about the object of your search. For example, enter "looking for Sarah J. from Harrisburg, who is a dancing fool," and only Sarah J. would understand the message.
