Google
Alerts is a free service which monitors the
use of any subject or terms you specify online. You then receive emails when
that term appears within the top 20 websites or top 10 news stories of Google's
organic search results.[1]
There are many applications for Google Alerts. For personal
use, you can track your own name to see what others say about you, follow your
favorite sport, or other topics you find interest in. It can, and should, also
be used to further your knowledge about your own business and company.
Monitor Industry
If there is a specific part of your industry which perks
your interest, Google Alerts is a great way to track and follow any new
articles, stories, blogs, or sites that mention the topic or phrase you would
like to search. It is like having a personal secretary to do online searches
for you.
Monitor Reputation
Google Alerts is a simple way to know what others are saying
about you and your company online. You can track you company name, names of
employees, website domain, products or services you provide, etc. Anything that
is associated with your company and is unique enough that it can be tracked,
should be tracked.[2]
Monitor Links
To see what sites are linked to your own website, use this
as your Google Alerts search: “link:http://www.my-website-name.com”
This
will not only make you more aware of who is linking to your site but can be a
great opportunity for outreach and networking.[3]
Monitor Content
If your site has unique and specific content, you can
utilize Google Alerts to search for any site that may have copied your
information. If it was truly copied and not quoted, you can quickly go through
the processes of getting it removed.
Monitor Competitors
Monitoring your competition in reality is just as important
as monitoring them online. Doing so can help you learn from their successes and
failures. Just as it was mentioned to track your own reputation and backlinks,
you should also be tracking those of your competition. If your competition is
more successful in an area, Google Alerts is a great tool to help you analyze
why and then make smart business decisions to stay competitive.
Google Alerts is a tool that every company should use to
track and protect not only their own name and information but also track the
reputation and moves of their competitors. This will give your company a
greater competitive advantage.
This is a great topic to write on! I have never used Google Alerts and I am going to try it.
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