subject: Google People Search Tips [print this page] Collect and write down all the information you have about the person you are looking for: the name, where is that person from (any information concerning present location or past locations), information about education and working places even pet's name can be helpful.
First of all - try a straight search with person's name and last name. Sure, in case the name of the person you are looking for is "John Smith" it's obviously not the way that would help you. Try to make specific searches, combining all your knowledge about the person within a search query:
"John Smith" +Maryland +college - (in case you know that your John Smith have graduated there)
That kind of search may result in some college pages with a list of graduated students and even pictures. You may also make a list of collages in Maryland and search local sites for the person, but it may be a time consumer.
"John Smith" +labrador +Ronny - (in case you know your lost person has a dog labrador named "Ronny")
Try to find Maryland local labrador clubs - who knows, that "Ronny" may be a well known champion and medalist and you'll find your John Smith just at the club's honor page with champion's pictures.
If you met during your Caribbean vacation, try to find pictures via Google Image search "John Smith" +Caribbean +2009. There may be tons of pictures, so be so specific as you can: "John Smith" +Caribbean +2009 +august +storm - in case you remember that there was a storm and you all were making pictures of it. Using that kind of searches you may find your John Smith blog or Picasa, mobile.me, twitpic of Flickr account. Or, it may happen that you'll find another person that been there within that time. It's OK to ask that person about your "John Smith" - he/she may have e-mail or be in friends in Twitter/ Facebook, etc. with a person you are looking for.
Just in case you were together on vacation and you know the name of the hotel - try to connect the hotel and ask for address of the person you ere looking for. There are little chance that they'll give you postal address, but you may ask them to e-mail your "John Smith" a message that the person he met there during summer vacation named ... is looking for him, and give you e-mail and phone number.
Try google people search free tips and tricks that allow to find person's phone number by address or make a reverse phone lookup. Use as much information about the person as you have and try different searching abilities of Google - within Google Groups you may find a group that your "John Smith" may be a participant or Google Buzz, Twitter topics that he may be subscribed for. It doesn't mean you should spam everywhere, try to find the person you need with no messages first.
In case nothing help - you may use paid people finder sources.
