Search Engine Play

Search engine play is a quick way to gather information, but it has become so useful that it deserves consideration as it's own technique. It can be work if you have a telephone modem for your internet connection, of course. With high-speed internet, though, it really can be relaxing, just "playing around."

To "google it," means to look for information on something using the Google search engine. Use other search engines too, of course. MSN will display quite a few different results than Google.

For an example of how to play with Google to find new solutions, we'll start with the problem of expensive medical care. How do we spend less? I just typed "cheap medical care" into Google.

First Browse For Ideas

The first result was an article, "Westerners Seek Cheap Medical Care in Asia." It reminds me that dental care is 70% cheaper in Mexico, less than two hours from where we live. In a larger context, it makes me want to see why it is so cheap. Maybe there is something to be learned there.

Another result is for a medical supply company. I recall selling some crutches at a rummage sale once, and wonder where things like wheelchairs can be bought used. That could be a real money saver. An ad for low cost insurance plans makes me wonder how many ways there are to save on medical insurance.

Then Dig Deeper

After you get a few ideas, dig deeper. When I actually click through to the article on medical care in Asia, I find that it's about a retired Oregon apple farmer who doesn't have insurance. He was told it would be $35,000 and a six- month wait for surgery on his torn knee ligaments. Instead, he had it done in India for a third of that, including airfare to Bombay.

Now that's a solution! Save over $20,000 and have it done sooner. Right away, I start to think of a business based on charter flights to the best surgical centers of India. Would you like a seat on the heart surgery express? Half price for heart surgery!

Use the search engines for information on how others have solved your problem, and for new ideas.
After the initial search, I clicked through to the article, but I also could have explored "insurance." The ad for prescriptions and supplements had me thinking about how much I could save if I ate well and never needed medical care.

Use search engines as personal brainstorming tools. Get new ideas with search engine play.