How to Become an Internet Researcher and Which Certifications and Courses are the Most Reputable?

Companies require the most recent business statistics on various businesses and markets they have a stake in. They must be aware of the competition and manage their businesses better. The only thing they lack is time and resources to complete the task themselves.

As an Internet researcher, you will be the one who digs out information for the companies in question. You also convert this data into a report that the company can use.

Career Information Involving Internet Research

There's a lot more to it than you might think when it comes to being an online researcher. For example, did you know that web researchers make an average of $26.49 per hour? ZipRecruiter's equates to $55,104 per year!

Between 2018 and 2028, internet research career is expected to grow by 20%, resulting in 139,200 job openings across the United States. According to Zippia.com

Internet research is becoming a daily task for many people. Some careers require it more than others. Below are great career options for people who like doing online research and want to do it full-time.

Source: *the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor.com and Indeed.com

The average hourly pay for a Freelance Researcher in the United States is $32.06 per hour as of August 3, 2021.

In North America, the average salary for a freelance Internet researcher is $62,000. However, it varies widely depending on the firm, region, sector, expertise, and benefits. According to SimplyHired.com, this compensation was computed using the average salary for all positions having the keyword "internet research specialist" somewhere in the job description. This pay is before the CIRS professional researcher certification credentials are considered.

While ZipRecruiter lists hourly wages as high as $78.85 and as low as $7.45, the majority of Freelance Researcher incomes in the U.S. today fall between $16.83 (25th percentile) and $39.90. (75th percentile). The typical pay for a Freelance Researcher varies widely (by as much as $23.08 per hour), implying that there may be several prospects for growth and higher income dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.

What is the Role of an Internet Researcher?

An internet researcher or freelance researcher does everything from finding information about companies, particularly contacts, such as e-mail addresses and phone numbers. All sorts of businesses and organizations use Internet researchers, including scientific organizations, magazines, and business firms.

Internet researchers use their research skills to find information on various topics on the Internet. In this field, you can work as a freelancer, contract employee, investigator, or direct employee of an organization. They must be highly skilled with computers and have a strong understanding of using the search engine Advanced Search Operators searching for File Types and other files formats to access scholarly research, industry publications, and think tank documents for any project they may have worked on.

An Internet researcher must know and help develop advanced search queries using Booleans, Symbols, And Notations to extract data from search engines. This is where having an area of expertise is helpful. Knowing what query will likely pull up the best results is part of conducting efficient Internet research.

How to Become an Internet Researcher or Internet Research Specialist?

Finding relevant and credible information requires specialized training and web search skills due to the sheer size of the World Wide Web and the rapid growth of indexed web pages.

Because the job of an Internet researcher requires the use of the Internet, the Association of Internet Research Specialists (AofIRS) states that he must first understand how to use the Internet. What is the process through which a search engine reads understands search keywords and phrases? Search engine intent interpretation of keywords and search phrases? How to choose keywords and create a search phrase that works etc.

It would help if you also learned how to create complex search queries by using advanced search operators and search tools for the project you are working on. Data analysis is an essential part of an Internet researcher's job because you must comprehend and interpret the information you find.

To work as a web researcher, you don't need a degree. Instead, all you need to know is how to use web tools to swiftly and accurately gather reliable and accurate information. To grasp how keywords integrate into your ability to find information, you'll also need a fundamental understanding of search engine basics. It's also beneficial to become certified in specific research areas to know where to seek and whether or not a resource is reliable. A certification or degree may be helpful in this situation. A comprehension of market research, demographic data, and exceptional writing abilities are required for this position.

What are the Most Reputable Online Research Certifications and Courses?

So far, the Certified Internet Research Specialist (CIRS) program has the most comprehensive curriculum and a well-rounded subject matter that meets industry standards. The Association of Internet Research specialists provides the most reputable web research courses and certifications available for web/internet research professionals. A CIW course called CIW Internet Business Associate is another option. Some universities offer short online search courses, but most are geared toward librarians.

Certified Internet Research Specialist (CIRS™) Training Program

• CIRS™ is the first of its kind - A Gold Standard Certification for Practitioners of Online Research. And a globally recognized professional certification program offered by AofIRS. The Association is a Self-regulatory body governed by the "Charter of Associations” granted by the Government of Canada.
• The CIRS training guide 5th Edition course is aligned with the new 2022 curriculum. It is best suited as a Practical Guide or Reference for anyone who uses the Internet as a primary tool for information gathering.
• This comprehensive course teaches you the practical approach to building complex search queries and search tools. If you become a CIRS, you are expected to be knowledgeable in selecting the best search tools and building Internet search queries. You would develop sufficient knowledge of the Internet Laws and related ethical issues.
• Learners who successfully pass the CIRS exam receive the Certified Internet Research Specialist (CIRS) certification, an industry-recognized certification with certified membership benefits. Earn a higher salary after receiving hands-on training as an Internet Research Specialist.
• This course will improve your search skills and advance your career in the Future Skill of Online Research and Increase your network strength by getting to know industry experts from all over the world.
• This program is available in both Self-study and Online Classes. No prior knowledge or experience in research is required to take this course.

CIW Certified’s Internet Business Associate Training

• Internet Business Associate Training course covers a different topic in today's web-based business environment.
• Among other things, the course teaches learners about databases and their relationships to search engines and how to use search engines to carry out basic and advanced web research.
• You will learn to connect to the Internet, Internet protocols, the Domain Name System (DNS), and cloud computing. The fundamental functions of Web browsers, the components of Web addresses, the use and management of cookies, and the use of browsers in the business world.
• Upon successfully passing and completing the course, learners receive the CIW Internet Business Associate certification, an industry-recognized certification.