I recently learned a much quicker way to use my web browser for comparative research activities. It should be no surprise that I learned this “better way of browsing” from my 20-something office intern (they always seem to know the coolest computer tricks – it is probably worth having them around just to stay computer “trendy”.)

Here’s what happened: my intern and I were doing some comparison shopping for a new printer for the office, and she was pulling up multiple browser pages with comparative data on several different printers. I noticed that instead of just doing the standard “left click” on the web page links to the information on specific printers, she was instead right clicking on the links, which gave her a whole set of possible options for what she might want to do with that link. Those options included “Open Link” (the same as standard “left clicking”), “Open Link in New Window” (extremely useful — more on that soon), “Save Target As” (helpful when downloading executables like small audio or video files, or new software programs), and “Copy Shortcut” (great if you want to copy a web page URL into an e-mail or document).

Using the “Open Link in New Window” is a real time saver. When you are doing any kind of comparative research (like researching different flight options on different airlines, or possibly buying a new office printer!), you can very quickly open up two or three browser windows, and thus quickly tab back and forth to compare the different options. If you’ve got one of the new large TFT screens, you can easily go three windows wide, and most definitely save time in cross comparisons. You won’t need to use the “back” and “forward” buttons on your browser nearly as much, since the page you just linked from will still be open and on your desktop.

“Copy Shortcut” is very useful also, especially if you are creating a document with activated links. Just go to the web and find the link you want to add to your document, “right click” on it, select “Copy Shortcut”, and then go back to your original text or spreadsheet document, and use the “Paste” command. Your new link – including the full URL address – will now be in your document.

I tried the “right clicking” option in both Internet Explorer and Netscape — the options in each browser when right clicking were somewhat different, but the most useful options seemed to be embedded within both browsers. I would bet similar options are available if you are using other popular browser programs for your Internet surfing (Firefox for example). And I’m sure this same useful strategy can be used in other clever ways when browsing — I strongly recommend you try “right clicking” your links the next time you do some Internet-based research or link sharing.

Randy Dean (http://www.randalldean.com) is the “Totally Obsessed” Time Management/PDA Guy and E-mail Sanity Expert. A very popular speaker and trainer, Randy has led programs all around the United States on better time management and e-mail sanity. The author of the book, Major Satisfactors = Major Success, and developer of the popular speaking/training program, “Taming the E-mail Beast: Managing the Mess of E-mail and Information Overload”, Randy is working on a new book and related DVD program on how to better manage your productivity and sanity related to e-mail and info overload.

Randy also has popular speaking programs for conferences and association meetings, including his “Finding an Extra Hour Every Day” program, “The PDA Power Program”, and “(RE)Awakening the Passion and Energy in Your Work and Life”, as well as highly rated training programs, including his highlight full-day “Time Management for Busy Managers, Leaders, and Professionals” course. You can learn much more about Randy and his upcoming courses and programs at http://www.randalldean.com

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