How To Set Up Google Alerts

How do you keep up with what is being said about your name and your business on the internet? Of course you can manually do searches on those names, but there is a way to set it up automatically. Google Alerts are sent to you by email or feed, and on the schedule you request. Alerts can be changed, so if you are getting alerts too often – or not soon enough, you can change it.

What should you search for? For starters, you name and any variations you use, and your business name. Got an industry, or niche area you are in – or wanting to be in? Set up an Alert for that as well. I suggest starting small – with what you have to keep up with – and add more once you see how many you are getting everyday.

Setting up Google Alerts is easy. When you are logged in to Google, along the top left of the page are your various options – Gmail, Calendar, etc. Click on More, then at the bottom, click on Even More.

This pulls up a new page, and at the top on the left is Alerts. Click on that.

Up comes the page where you can create your Google Alerts. Put your search terms within quotation marks to help limit the number of results you get. Options for Type include News, Blogs, Web, Comprehensive, Video and Groups. How often options are as-it-happens (which I would recommend for your name and business name, to keep up with any mentions about them as quickly as possible), once a day, and once a week. The length of the email can be up to 20 results, or up to 50 results. Remember you can go in and change or delete the alerts anytime, so if you don’t like the frequency or are getting to many, you can change it. When finished, click Create Alert.

You are set! Check you inbox for the alerts and keep an eye on what is being said about you, your business, or any other topic of interest to you.

Anyone got other ideas on what to set alerts for?