Search and Research

I bought a book call The family tree Problem Solver it was telling me there's a different from search and research I still don't see much difference. I just want to know how to get more out researching my ancestors. I have been searching since 2004 and have a lot of people ,places and etc.,but my biggest problem I can't find the information I want. Being home bound now I would like help on some free sites because I just can't keep paying Ancestry.

    I have gone back to my grandmother {my mother's mother} and trying to just spend sometime on her father {my great- grand} I know he was born or came from Virginia { what part I don't know} it was about 1835 from there I found f  him in 1900 census in Bogalusa, Louisiana and again 1910 census. Everything before that and between that I can't find anything. So what's next?