I have been looking at my Google account and notice the Alert options, a friend said he uses it to find out what his competitors are doing but I wonder if anyone else is using it and what for ? I just understand what its really for, can someone shed some light and what do you use it for?
It's one of the best tools Google produces. Set an alert for a keyword, or a brand name, or a competitors name, and you'll be kept informed of when and where those things are mentioned on the web. What you do with that information is up to you - use it to request links, make relevant blog comments - or just keep yourself informed of what the competition is up to, or what's new in your niche.
you can setup google alert to be notified whenever there is a news on post relating to the keywords you specify. some people use it for reputation management as well. for example, if i setup a google alert and use the keywords "seofocused" and "seofocused.com" then everytime someone posts or writes something using those 2 words, i will be notified. i can then visit those posts and respond if needed. it is important to manage reputation online. sometimes someone might post something negetive regarding on your site or make comments that is not really true. if you cannot visit those pages and action accordingly, it is the other side of the story people will know. so you can use it wither to be notified on the terms of your interest or to manage your online reputation
I use Google alerts, it definetely helps to alert you of what your competitors are doing lately for results. and more importantly , whether you are in the results too.
I use it for all my sites, but you can use it for various purpose, it is very good, but becomes boring some kind of spamy over time... Nemanja
Google Alerts sends you an email each time a new page for your chosen term makes it in the top twenty results on Google’s web search. You can also have the alert check Google News and/or Google Groups. By receiving alerts on important key words related to your industry, you can be on top of any sudden changes and react accordingly. By the time your competition realizes what’s happening they will be scrambling to catch up to you
I have used Google alerts for over a year now as i have worked within the content creation industry for a number of big name clients and they wanted the latest news right after it broke, it offers a great way to get the news as it hits rather than waiting to read it in tomorrows media.
Google Alert is very useful tool for my link building campaign. I used to set Google Alerts using targeted keywords of my clients sites for which I am doing link building . Every time Google finds some new sites with those keywords anywhere I gets an e mail .
Hi to all my dears .. I am Dann and new here ... I am glad to join this forum community ..I would like to say I also use google alerts ... It is really beneficial to knowing about the competitor result ...!!! Thanks to all for sharing a better knowledge .....
I never used Google alert before.... I just use WEB CEO to do research about competitor..... And it really awesome tool
Thanks to tell me .. I click on the link and i get better information ... Thanks ..I hope you will Share more knowledge and help me in any confusion ...
Google Alerts are great for getting the latest updates on news in certain areas. Just set up an Alert with the area name you live in or want to know more about!
I use Google alerts for informing about my websites not my competitors websites. But as you said some webmasters are using Google alerts for finding more information about their competitors but i think its not such useful and i don't use this way.