Search engines and critical evaluation

When using search engines for B2G marketing research, apply targeted keywords such as “public procurement strategy,” “government contractor marketing,” or “B2G supplier selection.” Always critically assess the credibility of search results and favor premium databases for authoritative information. To ensure your sources are reliable, use the CRAAP test—a practical tool for evaluating information:

• Currency: Is the information up to date and relevant to your topic? What are the consequences of making decisions for tomorrow based on outdated information?
• Relevance: Does the source directly address your research question or project needs? Does the topic align with your offering, target, and industry?
• Authority: Is the author or organization reputable and qualified in the field? Does it provide verifiable research support? Are you risking your credibility on authors you cannot identify or validate as experts?
• Accuracy: Is the content supported by evidence, free of errors, and reviewed?
• Purpose: Why was the information created? Is it objective, or does it show bias? Is it trying to sell you something or is it littered with advertisements? Is it a legitimate source? Is it a content marketing page trying to capture you for advertising, sales, or to capture your personal data?

Pro Tip: Ask an AI platform CRAAP analysis of the sources you find in the public domain to validate credibility. Applying the CRAAP test helps you rely on authoritative, high-quality sources, prioritizing premium databases and official government sites over unverified search results.