How to Use Google Alerts to Build Your Business

Woman Working With ComputerWhen looking for ways to market your services in the building of your business, there are a number of tools you can use. Amongst those tools is Google Alerts. Google Alerts can do a number of things for your website through serving as a research tool that you can use all on your own. This allows you to stay on top of your game within your market so that you can have that “heads up” on your competition by staying up with what’s hot within the industry. Unfortunately, some don’t realize this useful tool because they don’t see how it can be effective.

This article will outline for you how you can use Google Alerts to your advantage and make your website even more successful.

The following are tips you can use to make Google Alerts work for you:

•    Make a list of keywords and phrases

Make a list of keywords and phrases that are relevant to your business. For example: If you are a coach and you’re looking to learn about what is happening within your line of business, you don’t want to receive e-mail alerts from Google Alerts about the fashion industry.

•    Sign up for Google Alerts

Google Alerts will notify you by e-mail about news pages and web pages that match the keywords and phrases that you chose. If news articles find their way into the top 10 results, you will be alerted. If web pages make it into the top 20 results in Google web search results, you will be notified. You will also be notified when new posts make it into the top fifty of Google Groups. To get all of this, you go to www.google.com/alerts and sign up for news alerts, group alerts, and web alerts.

•    Be sure to repeat the process

For each keyword or phrase, you have to repeat the process. Every single time a new keyword or phrase comes to mind, be sure to add those to your Google Alerts.

•    Use advanced search features

Google Alerts gives you the opportunity to be more detailed in your search through the “More Options” button. You can then use the “Advanced” button next to the search term you wish to be more detailed about.

•    Use the “Link Search” option

You will find this option under “Special Searches,” which is on the advanced search page. This allows you to explore a website that you are interested in. This is also a great way to see what kind of people are linking to your own website. You can even use this option in addition to HTML feeds that you have set up on the feed settings page. This allows you to see any new links to your site.

An even greater feature of Google Alerts is that it is a free tool that any webmaster can use. That is why you should visit Google Alerts today and sign up to receive alerts specific to your industry. It is like having your own set of spies without having to pay them a dime.