If you’re not monitoring your company or personal name on the Internet, you’re missing out on what people are saying about you. Google Alerts makes it easy for anyone to track their online reputation via web content. I’ve used this tool for years to follow specific keywords, including my own name.
Google Alerts is a free tool that allows anyone to subscribe to be notified of anything Google finds on the web. Results are typically emailed on a daily or weekly basis, with links to articles, discussions, media content and more.
Does it do everything all the paid tools do? No (it doesn’t listen in on all the social media networks), but it’s a great start, especially for those on tight budgets.
To start the process, visit Google Alerts and enter a keyword or phrase (your name, or your company’s name, is a good starting point). Tell Google how often it should alert you, what sources to include (news, discussions, etc.), and how many results to include.
If you want to track competitors or other content, you can narrow results further by filtering the language or region (country).
What else might you use this tool for? How about to filter news stories about specific topics. You can configure alerts to send digest emails about topics specific to your industry. Or, you can find blog posts that cover key interests.
Do you use Google Alerts? How does it help you track information for your business?
