With so much information on the web, it’s easy to lose hours “doing research”. A simple way to keep on top of information without wasting time is a little known tool called Google Alerts. I’ve been using Google Alerts for several months. I track my name, my blog and a handful of industry keywords that are important to me. It was easy to set up and lets me know what’s happening online.
How Does It Work?
This simple tool allows you to be notified by email each time a new page for your chosen keyword makes it in the top twenty results on Google’s web search.
To sign up for a Google Alert go to the Google Alerts home page. Choose the keyword you want to monitor and the frequency. Then enter your email address. It’s that simple. You can have as many Alerts as you need.
Track Yourself and Your Business
Using Google Alerts to track yourself and your business is important for two reasons. First, it lets you know if your marketing efforts are working. If your name keeps cropping up online, you know you’re being effective. If your latest marketing campaign disappears without a trace, you know it’s time for some tweaking.
Second, a Google Alert for your name or business lets you know if anyone is saying anything negative about you. If someone is not happy with your products or services and talking about it online, the sooner you know about it the sooner you can do damage control.
Track Your Competitors
Just like you need to know what – and if – people are saying about you online, you need to know what’s being said about your competitors. Whether it’s a new product, a rave review, or a major customer service flop, knowing what’s happening with your competitors allows you to keep up or even ahead.
Track Your Industry
Major news, new trends, consumer discussions, new research; they’re all things you need to know to keep current. Creating a Google Alert for common terms and phrases for your industry allows you to have the most up-to-date information without having to spend hours surfing the web. It comes to you.
If you haven’t tried Google Alerts, I urge you to give it a test today. It beats the alternative of spending time surfing the web, and ensures you don’t miss important news.
Andrea J. Stenberg
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