Chart Out Those Searches

You will not remember what names and variants you query in what database. Keep track of the website or database you are using and the names that you have searched for at that website or in that database.

A table or spreadsheet will allow you to track the searches. The columns can be those search terms you actually used–not necessarily every search box on the site.

Tracking searches is especially important if you cannot find the name easily in a quick search. I will be honest:

I don’t make a chart for every person I search for–but I do make one when I cannot easily find a person. Failing to do so is asking to go in circles.

Without tracking what you have done, you cannot effectively determine what to do next.