10 Free Ways to Find Someone Online

If you're looking for someone, and you're not sure where to start, the Web can be an incredibly useful resource. This list of ten different search tools can get you pointed in the right direction. All of these tools are free at the time of writing, and can be used to build up a more complete picture of who or what you are looking for. 

As one of the world's most popular search engines, Google is a natural choice to find pretty much anything you might be looking for. Google is able to uncover an astonishing amount of information and is one of the best tools you can have in your people-finding arsenal. Look up addresses, business information, phone numbers, satellite photos, published books, and a whole lot more using advanced Google search techniques.

As we become more connected and socially aware on the Web, more personal information than ever before is being shared, which in turn creates more personal information that is able to be searched for. These niche search engines focus on picking out only information that is specifically related to the people you're looking for, whether that be social networking updates, background information, or comments on a Web site. Use several of these search engines to find information that might not have otherwise been picked up in a typical search. 

Phone directories, business directories, and obituary indexes can all be useful resources when looking up information on someone. Specialized directories can help you find almost any phone number, business indexes can find an astonishing amount of corporate information, and there are a wealth of sites that can aid you in finding death notices, obituaries, or interment information. 

Many people look back with pride on their military service days and want to relive those experiences with their fellow soldiers. There are free sites and search resources that can help you do just that, anything from connecting with veterans on social networking sites to job directories specifically tailored to those who have served in the armed services.

Whether you want to find a phone number, verify one you already have, or figure out who's calling you, the Web can help you do that. Even unlisted phone numbers can (most of the time) be found online using a few smart Web research tricks.

Public records are one of the hottest searches on the Web. Not all public records are publicly accessible, and some aren't posted online. However, there's a surprising amount of information that can be accessed on the Web or used to jump-start your search for public information on the Web.

When you're looking for someone, don't forget to check for relevant images and photos. Many times searches for someone using image search engines or image options can turn up a surprising amount of information that wouldn't be found otherwise.

Traditional newspapers are printed on paper, but most local, state and national papers have some kind of presence online that you can utilize to find all kinds of information.

One of the largest and most popular social networking sites online is Facebook, which boasts memberships in the hundreds of millions. Using just an email address, you can track someone's Facebook profile, find out what companies, schools, or organizations they're affiliated with, and see recent status updates.