A recent article in Newsweek mentioned that by using 'Google'  I could
learn many things about an individual.  Apparently, I do not know how
to use this tool.  My name is 'Roy W. Reitsma'.  If I enter my name
exactly as shown, I get nothing about myself.  What am I doing wrong? 
 Thank you.

Hi Roy,

You are doing nothing wrong - there is simply nothing about you to be
found. Articles regarding the "Googling" of people's names can be very
misleading. The most common scenarios for finding details about anyone
online are if they:

- are famous
- have their own web site or home page
- volunteer their details to an online directory
- have been mentioned in a news item
- have posted a Usenet message
- left a comment in a guestbook
- are an author or artist 
- are profiled by the corporation they work for
- appear in sports results
- are mentioned on a web site belonging to a school or club they are
members of

Articles like the one you read are using fear to sell their story.
While it is possible to "get the dirt" on many folk using Google, for
the majority of regular citizens a Google search for their name will
turn up nothing.

If you have a listed phone number, you might appear in Google if you
enter your name and state in a regular Google search. If you lived in
Texas, try

Roy Reitsma, TX


Search strategy: personal experience

Best wishes, 
robertskelton-ga