SOURCES FOR EDUCATION

The Internet is loaded with information. It literally is reason for its existence. Therefore, it is completely possible for anyone to find education they are looking for on any topic.

However, sometimes Internet can seem so big that it's hard to locate what you want. Below are a few direct methods for finding what you are looking for.

SEARCH ENGINES

Not my favorite, but often obvious place to start. However, they are best used to locate topics in general, get to a related web site, and then work forward from there.

EZINES

There's an ezine on everything. Plus, unlike web sites that often stay same for months, ezines contain new information in each issue as well as refer you to relevant sites and other related ezines. If you subscribe to several ezines covering same topic, you'll get a range of opinions and views that can help you develop your own ideas over time.

It's ok to subscribe to quite a few ezines and let them compete. Determine ones that continually bring you what you want and stay with them. Root out a few of best on your chosen topic and let rest go.

After you read an ezine, and you like information presented, visit ezine's web site and look at their archived issues as well. This can be a quick way to surmise what kind of information and interests ezine will cover.

A great place to start your search for ezines is an ezine directory. You can search by category and read brief descriptions of what ezines contain. My favorite directory is Ezine Locator run by Jeff Wilson. http://www.ezinelocater.com To me it's more easily navigable and makes better sense than many others.

WRITER'S SITES

Another worthwhile endeavor is visiting sites of people who actually author articles that you enjoy. Some ezines run original articles, but many just pick up articles from freelance writers. Determine actual author of good articles and see what their site has to offer or watch for more of their works. Most articles contain a resource box at end identifying author and providing a link to his or her site.

ESTABLISH CONTACT

You can read articles and sites all you want, and you can learn a great deal. However, sometimes you just plain need personal contact from someone who can answer your specific questions.

Not everyone on Internet is easily approachable, but those in business of selling information usually are happy to make personal contact. When you do write to someone with questions there are certain steps you can take that will increase your odds of getting a response.

1. Call them by name. 2. Name article or site where you read their words. 3. Be courteous. 4. Be specific.

LEARN BY PASSING IT ON

Have you ever had a teacher at end of a course make following statement?

"I hope you have learned as much from me as I have learned from you."

Why would a teacher say something like this? Is it just modesty? No. It's because teachers know that having students pushes them to learn more themselves.

Why is this? Because students ask questions. If you are answering questions asked of you by others, it makes you think, and it keeps you sharp. Often, just listening to a different view offered by another makes you more fully understand your own opinions. As you explain yourself to others, you have to go through your own thoughts in greater detail. This not only ends up being beneficial to those you speak to, but to you.

At times, someone may ask you something that you don't know as well. So, in order to answer question, you do some research. This both makes you learn, and makes you find additional resources to further your own education.

In helping others, you'll also be forced to look ahead. You'll discover other things that you want to learn more about. You'll also start to see trends as to what others want to know, and you'll be able to anticipate their needs. If your goal is to sell information online, this is critical to developing new products that fill a need and will sell.