A bookmark tells you where a page is. A useful research note tells you why you kept it, what you learned and what still needs checking. Keep those three things together so the next visit starts with a decision, rather than another reading session.
Start with the question you are trying to answer
Before opening more tabs, write one question: “Which tool fits this project?” or “What does this source actually support?” Pick two or three criteria. A note with a purpose is easier to use than a collection of copied paragraphs.
Copy this research-note template
Use these fields to structure your note. Replace each prompt with your own details.
- Question
- What are you trying to find out?
- Source URL
- Paste the exact page address.
- Checked on
- Record the date you reviewed the source.
- What this page says
- Summarize the source, without adding assumptions.
- My conclusion
- Write what the evidence means for your decision.
- Still unverified
- List what needs another check.
- Next action
- Name one clear next step.
Separate what the source says from your conclusion. If a claim has no supporting source, leave it under “Still unverified”. Record the date for information that can change, such as pricing or product limits.
A worked example: comparing two project tools
The following is a fictional example, not a review of a real product. On the first tool’s pricing page, a note might read:
Fictional example · These fields show what a completed note can look like.
- Question
- Can a three-person team export its work?
- Source URL
- https://example.com/tool-a/pricing
- Checked on
- 26 October 2026
- What this page says
- Export is listed under the paid plan.
- My conclusion
- We need to compare the full three-person cost.
- Still unverified
- Export formats and whether images are included.
- Next action
- Read the export documentation before choosing.
Write the same fields for the second tool. This gives you comparable evidence without assuming that a missing feature on a pricing page is unavailable everywhere.
Keep the note attached to the right source
If you already have a Duonote review build, open an ordinary webpage in desktop Chrome, then right-click and choose New note. Put the question and conclusion in the note, and keep the source URL inside it when you expect to copy or export it. See how to create your first browser note for the full steps.
In Duonote, an open note can follow the same tab while you browse. Its saved home remains the original page URL. A note visible over a different page is not proof that its saved home moved there. Revisit the original URL in the same Chrome profile to check persistence.
Finish with a return check
- Return to the original source and confirm your note still makes sense beside it.
- Turn the next action into a checklist item using the formatting guide.
- Export important notes before removing the extension or changing profiles; local storage is not the same as an independent backup.
- Keep passwords, license keys and private customer data out of notes displayed on webpages.
You can use this template in your existing notes app today. To see how it works beside a webpage, explore the Duonote demo. The Chrome Web Store release is still in preparation.