STOP What Your Doing Right Now…Set Up Your Google Alerts Today, Here’s Why
Google Alerts is ‘email updates’ of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. It distills the results from the first 20 pages of its search engine results and sends you the alert. The most important aspect of being on the web is your online reputation. Making sure that the information regarding yourself and your business is representing you in a Good and True manner. This is one way that you can monitor your online reputation.
As a business owner whose specialty is marketing, Google Alerts is a tool that I cannot live without. I get to find out about my clients and their competition, see if anyone is plagiarizing their content, and see who is searching for them. Google Alerts is the ultimate internet spy.
Here are some ways I use the service to save me lots of time and energy marketing in the wrong places.
Google Alerts allows you to take a keyword phrase (for example, your name or company name) and receive a notification each time Google finds a new page using that phrase. My Google Alerts has my name “Lucinda Cross” and my company name “Ultimate VA Support”, amongst other words and phrases that are in my industry that I use by doing a keyword search (www.freekeywordtracker.com).
Whenever someone mentions my name or company online, I know about it IMMEDIATELY thanks to Google Alerts – it sends me an email letting me know where the mention is.
Why should you know this information? If someone mentions my name, I can then comment or send an email to the webmaster regarding the page in question. If the mention was a good one, then I could thank him or her and make a connection. If it was bad, then I could ask why or try to change his or her opinions of me or see how the issue can be resolved. Either way, I am aware of what is being said about my company, and me, which is VERY important! Since most of my business comes from online, my online brand reputation means everything.
So now, do you see why I had you stop what you were doing? Make sure you stay on top of your targeted keywords and phrases, set up through Google Alerts. When a mention is made, that is an opportunity for you to join the conversation and engage the webmaster, and hopefully generate interest in your website or blog. This is especially important in obtaining inbound links to your site. Here is a sample of what I get on a daily basis:
Google Blogs Alert for: “business baby shower”
susan theshowerdiva (theshowerdiva) on Twitter
Enter the Business Baby Shower Contest to win dozens of prizes http://budurl. .. . 8:48 AM Feb 22nd via web; @paulbarron is a social media mentor for …
Join our Networking & Support Group! Business Baby Shower. The Business Baby Shower Contest has officially launched. Enter to win great prizes! …
Google Blogs Alert for: “lucinda cross”
Why am I so Happy? « The best in Nubian Lit
By Joy Farrington
Corporate Mom Drop Outs by Lucinda Cross. A Literary Diva’s Guide to Hosting a Fab Book Club Meeting. Nubian Lit Tweet. Make sure you use PROTECTION http://is.gd/8ybYI MyFreeCopyRight.com 2 days ago; Join us in just a few minutes. …
The best in Nubian Lit – http://bookclubcoach.wordpress.com/
Google Web Alert for: “lucinda cross”
The Phenomenal Women Group, Inc.’s Page – Soul Commune
Lucinda Cross is breaking the shackles that bind Moms to a life sentence of 9 to 5, keeping them away from the children who need them, and in exchange, …Google Web Alert for: “lucinda cross”
I must admit I love this thing. My personal spy and it keeps me in contact with those who are looking for me or using my name. If you’re not using Google Alerts, I hope this article will motivate you to get started.
