How to Get the Most out of Google Alerts

I have read many articles on using Google Alerts and it seems like the information is all the same. I feel like people are not getting the full benefit from Google Alerts. With that said, I want to talk about how to get the most out of Google Alerts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Google Account
• email account
• a little creativity

1. 

   The first step that you need to take in setting up Google Alerts is to make sure that you have an email address for the alerts to go to. I recommend GMail, the Google e-mail system, since the Alerts will be coming from Google to begin with.

2. 

   The next step that you will need to complete is the setting up of the Google Alerts. The first thing that you will need to set is the "type" field. It needs to be set to "Comprehensive". The reason for this is that it will pull from all the world wide web and not just one portion of it. The next step is selecting how often you want these alerts. My preference is "as-it-happens". This way I am not waiting until the end of the day. We will address the search terms in step three due to the length of the step.

3. 

   Search terms is the most important portion of Google Alerts. This is the criteria that you are telling Google to send you an alert for if it is used. I am going to go over what I think is important to give you some ideas for criteria to be added.
   
   1)Your name. If there are variations to it, then use it in multiple alerts. This way, if someone is using your name, then you will get alerted. (*Warning* If your name is common, it can come up a lot.)
   
   2)If you use a screen name regularly and that is how people know you on a website, add that as an alert.
   
   3)If you have a website, use the name of the website. (i.e. Athletic Alley, The Launching Pad, Rich's Blog) This will alert you if anyone uses the name of your blog. This will allow for you to go and read that particular post. Hopefully it is something good that they are saying about you.
   
   4) Another one that a lot of people miss is the fact that you can track any time that some links to your website. I will give you a simple example here: link:http://ehow.com or link:http://yourwebsitehere.com
   This will allow for you to get notifications on people linking to your websites through an article.

4. 

   The last step is the management of all alerts. On the main page at the bottom left hand side, you will find a link that will allow for you to open the management page. From there, you can make any changes needed or required.

Tips & Warnings

• Just remember, be creative in your criteria. If you want to know when someone mentions Mel Gibson, then add it. If you want to know when someone talks about Star Wars, then add it too. I think that you get the picture.
• The more you add, the more emails you will get.
• If your name is common, it can come up a lot.

Resources

• Google Alerts
• GMail

[iamageniuster]

on 10/17/2008 Great tips. 5 stars!

[CandisLynn]

on 10/17/2008 I just set up Google Alerts for the first time the other day. Thanks for this thorough guide, I'm sharing this one for sure!

[vikki9]

on 10/15/2008 Thank you for this very informative article.

[ACGaughen]

on 10/15/2008 I loooove my google alerts! It allows me to keep such diligent track of my fav freelance writers!!

[2besure]

on 10/14/2008 I needed this information. I am still not sure how to make the most of m Gmail account. 5:57