If you run a business, most likely people are talking about your business on social media, even if you are not yet using social media. Google Alerts are a free tool that you can start using today to listen for these hidden conversations.

• Before You Start: You understand reputation management and can use Google.
• Learning level: 2 | Getting Started
• Article last updated: Thursday, September 22, 2011

Google Alerts

When you do a Google search, it provides you with all of the results it can find at that moment. A Google Alert is a stored search that continues to find results as Google finds new matches. You can receive these new results through email.

When you create a Google Alert for your company, your brand, or your product/service name, Google constantly monitors the internet for new mentions of these names and emails you the results.

Google doesn’t charge for this service. However, you must have a free Google account to use the full range of alert services and set up the maximum number of alerts.

Creating Your Search

A Google Alert is a stored search. The more specific your search, the better results you will get.  Here’s a general strategy to define your search.

1. Create a simple search for your company or brand on Google.
2. Review the search results and identify ways you can refine your search (add more key words or exclude specific words).
3. Switch over to the advanced search page. Use the form options to add your search refinements and run your search again.
4. Review the search results, refine your search string, and repeat as necessary.
5. When you have the search string you want to use for your Google Alert, copy it to the clipboard (higlight and CTRL+C).

If you don’t know how to use advanced search techniques such as Boolean operators, take a little time to experiment with these search features. You can use the Google advanced search page to create a customized search criteria and Google will create the search string for you.

Google Alert Options

Google indexes nearly everything it finds on the web and includes it in the search results. However, it sorts the results into general categories based on where it finds things:

• News
• Blogs
• Web (general websites)
• Video
• Groups (results found in any Google group)

You can request a separate alert for each location. Google also offers a comprehensive option that includes news, blogs, and web results.

There are more options for creating and managing your alerts. Check the Google Alerts FAQ for more information.

Creating A Google Alert

After you have a search string defined, you are ready to create your Google Alert.

1. Display the Google Alerts page.
2. Type or paste (CTR+V) in your search string.
3. Select the search type, the alert frequency, and the email results length.
4. Type your email address.
5. Click Create Alert.

You can use the Google Alert feature without having a Google account. However, you are limited to having a few alerts and you can’t manage them until you have a free Google account. If  you don’t yet have a Google account, this would be a great time to start one. There are many free Google services that you can use with an account.

Now, sit back and wait for Google to let you know when it finds your search item mentioned online.

Your turn: Do you use Google Alerts to help you with reputation management? What tips or tricks can you share with the community?

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• Twitter Search and Saved Searches
• Local Review Sites
• The Value Of Negative Reviews
• How To Respond To A Bad Review
• Social Media Secret Ingredient
• Using The Upgraded Google Results Sidebar