Getting Google searches down pat

What: Boost eLearning, Seattle.

Who: Victor D. Alhadeff, 62, founder and CEO.

Mission: To provide training that allows people to dramatically improve the quality of their Google search results.

Lesson plan: The company offers 20 online lessons from five to 15 minutes in duration. It costs $29.95 per individual, or companies can subscribe to training to maintain the search smarts of their entire work force. They learn how to apply the existing commands that aren't widely known: How to find results by file type, date or domain type, to name a few; looking past the results favored by search optimization and paid placement.

Fast path to knowledge: Training, according to Alhadeff, decreases the high percentage of unsuccessful searches. "We don't show you how to search for weather information or sports scores," he said. "We are out to increase productivity in business. If a company spends 10 minutes a day on unsuccessful searches, that can add up."

Employees: Three, plus contractors.

Financials: The private, self-funded company does not provide financials. Alhadeff predicts the company will "turn the corner on profitability" in the next two months.

Class act: The courses target individuals and corporations who want to increase efficiency, using tested adult-education techniques. Those who want to learn how to execute a skip trace or perform background checks should go elsewhere. "We are looking to improve search skills," Alhadeff said. "We don't teach how to invade people's privacy."

Independent study: The lessons won't help the second required step of searching, confirming the information's veracity. Alhadeff said the user still needs to pay attention to the origin.

Wanna have fun: "There is still a 'wow factor' about what you can do online," Alhadeff said. "Being able to show people this still excites me."

— Charles Bermant