Google Alerts Tips & Tricks
... what is it? and why? Some examples and ideas.

Free Google Alerts *can really help you know when there’s new info published to the web regarding a certain set of keywords.
(* it’s dead simple to set-up, but the success/usefulness of alerts is all down to ‘what’ query you setup.)

To get started: www.google.com/alerts 

EXAMPLE 1 – Know when something is said (on the web) about you, your firm, your project, your client or your competitors.

1. Setting up a Google Alert for company name eg.: WEB MARKETING LTD   (this doesn't cut it).
   ... would e-mail you many alerts from around the world to do with [WEB] or [MARKETING] or [LTD].
2. A better alert to setup would be eg.: "Web Marketing Ltd” OR “yourwebsite.co.uk” OR “yourbrandname.co.uk”
   a. NOTE: the query would be ALL the green text.
   b. Perhaps self-explanatory, but, such a query would email you results when info about any of the above elements are published to the web.
   c. The vague bits which you’d need to get to grips with would be getting rid of the irrelevant stuff. There's much content on the web not about what you're after.
   d. TIP: For a list of the query elements (building blocks known as ‘operators’) you can use ...
   See this handy non-official page: http://www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators_reference.html
   
3. Better still just let us sort it for £45 (includes a phone call and or email or 2).

Some ideas for handy Google Alerts...

1. Monitoring what your competitors are doing.
   
2. Monitoring some topics you’re keen to follow.
   
3. Monitoring some target Audience hangouts..

'EASY' FOR US TO SAY (& DO)
... as with anything in life, to do it well takes time, experience and wisdom.

We can set this up for you if you like, it's not the most complicated of jobs so we only charge £45 flat.
Our service includes...

• Understanding your various life situations + business situations.
• Advising you on what kind of alerts you will likely benefit from.
  (Such a strategy involves Knowing of Good & Bad news surrounding your situations & keywords, Geographics, avoiding irrelevant and disinteresting alerts. 

• Setting them it all up and choosing the right frequency of alerts for your given situations / projects.