How to Find Information?

When we decide to embark on a new journey, we can be on the hunt for knowledge. Finding relevant information can be challenging at times. To help others in finding information conveniently, I have decided to write this article.

Sources of Information

These should be your go-to sources and in the following order:

Official Websites

The first step is to go to official websites and try to find the information required from there. You can find official websites through Google.

Official Emails

If you do not find the information you need from the official website, you can go to their “contact us” section or other relevant sections to find their contact details and send your query to them. You may also call them. Most organizations are more welcoming to queries than we reailze.

Blogs

If you are still unsure, you can go through blogs and other useful links mentioned here. You should also check the comments’ section of the blog to see if others have shared your concerns and if these concerns have already been answered.

Search Facebook Groups

If you still feel unlucky, you can go to relevant Facebook groups and search for similar posts from others by using the “Search” option.

Post on Groups/Blogs

If you still feel lost, you can post your concerns on Facebook groups and on relevant blog posts.

Personal Messages

If all of the above has failed, you should feel free to inbox people who might possess the knowledge to be able to help you.

How to Write Personal Messages?

The objective should be to gather the information you need while causing the least possible disturbance to your helper.

1. Send an Inbox Message, Without Sending a Friend Request

Facebook’s new message request feature will alert the other person of your message even if you do not send them a friend request. Most people can be hesitant in accepting requests from people they are not familiar with.

2. Introduce Yourself

Mention your educational/professional circumstances and your current plans. This should be brief and to-the-point. The purpose of your introduction is to allow your helper to tailor the advice according to your situation.

3. Get Straight to the Point

Ask your question right away, so that when they check your message, they can answer your query in a single go. This will save time that an additional conversation would have taken.

4. Number Multiple Queries

If you have more than one question, it is best to organize your thoughts and send in your questions with proper numbering. This will allow your helper to get back to you in less time.

5. Keep Your Message Short

If you keep your message short, your probability of getting an earlier reply would be higher.

6. Organized Writing

Organizing your thoughts and writing clearly with grammatically correct structures and proper spellings can help the other person in processing the information shared in less time.

7. Thank You

Do not forget to say thank you once your message has been replied to.

Avoid the Following

Avoiding the following while sending personal messages can improve your chances of getting an earlier reply.

A) Avoid These Starters

Starting the conversation with messages like “Hi!”, “Hello!”, “I have a question for you.” and waiting for them to get back to you is not ideal. It can make your helper hesitant in replying back since you would not have shared your query.

B) Avoid Long Conversations

Please do not expect your helper to have a continuous chat with you. If you still have multiple questions after your initial query has been answered, again send in an organized message with numbered questions.

C) Avoid Audio Messages

Even if your helper sends audio messages, please avoid replying back with audio messages. It is easy to send audio messages, but it takes more time and concentration to listen to them and to reply to them. This can take longer for your helper to get back to you.

D) Avoid Informal and SMS language

This can cause two problems. One, it can cause problems in your message being perceived properly. Two, it can show your lack of seriousness about your query.

Summary

Remember that the goal is to get the information you need while causing the least disturbance to the other person. Therefore, it is best to send personal messages only after exhausting all other resources.