Why We Love Google Alerts
Posted November 28, 2006 by Margie Zable FisherAs I checked my e-mail inbox recently, I noticed that I received several new Google Alerts. Through this f*ree service, I’m notified by e-mail every time a word or phrase of my choice is picked up by Google’s search engine.
I set up Google Alerts for client names, client industries, media folks, our company name and industry. They have become a powerful publicity tool. How? Several ways:
- I can quickly track breaking news in my clients’ industries, so I can jump on potential publicity opportunities
- I can keep a record of the latest stories that a journalist or writer has written, so I can reference them in a pitch tied into that story, or I can compliment them on writing a great story as part of an initial pitch (both strategies are effective in developing relationships with media people)
- I can see if client stories have shown up on Web sites, and/or have been picked up by other Web sites
- I can see if press releases sent through various Web press release services have been picked up, and when and where
If you haven’t been using Google Alerts, I highly recommend you get started using them today. Just go to www.google.com/alerts and sign up for them. It’s easy. And you’ll be adding a terrific tool to your P.R. arsenal.
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Thank you for the great tip! Both my husband and I do periodic searches to see if our company name, events, his name as an author, etc., show up and this will save us so much time and energy! I love it when you share this kind of practical, hands-on info, it is so very helpful for small companies like ours who have no money for paid marketing efforts and have to be creative in other ways! I will definitely be passing this on to my Feisty Women Network of small business owners, and tell them to subscribe to your ezine as well! Thank you, thank you!