Do You Use Google Alerts?
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OK yea, a large part of this post is self-serving, however it definitely should help others along the way as well.
Back in the beginning of December I was getting fed-up with the uselessness of the wordpress dashboard and went looking for quick and easy ways to check incoming links. Although many link checking tools were mentioned, all but Google alerts fell way outside my immediate criteria…..
Something simple to merely check who is currently linking to me so I could link back/thank them in some way.
Most, if not all backlink checking tools, were not made for such simplicity. The wordpress dashboard was perfect until they changed the way it reads pages…but I’m not going to get into that now, there are blog articles all over with people complaining about the same thing.
So it’s Google alerts to the rescue! This is where your help comes in. What the heck do I add to it so I don’t get FLOODED with emails due to irrelevant or more to the point, too broad based terms? Some excellent suggestions were already made in the comments of the last post.
If you use and understand Google alerts and can come up with any term suggestions that have not already been suggested, I’d appreciate it with a thank you link back in an upcoming post. This will also tell me how well my readers know the purpose of this blog 
.
Things that have already been suggested already are:
Name, Company Name, URL, Slogan, Direct Sales Marketing.
There must be more, yes?
Dennis
No related posts.
Tags: backlink checking tools, Blog Articles, Direct Sales Marketing, Google Alerts, incoming links, link checking tools, wordpress, wordpress dashboard
Jaq @ Net Age Web Design
Kev
Latief@AnotherBlogger
sherry
January 20th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Hmmm, can’t really think of any others to add to your list, but thanks for the reminder to check into Google Alerts. I’ve been meaning to check into this for awhile but keep putting it off!
Nick´s last blog post..Vacation Rentals Is Giving Away $500.00
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:32 am
@Nick, glad I could help, now snap to it! LOL
Nick Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
@Dennis Edell, actually, I started using it as of earlier this week (Wednesday I think it was) but I’m not sure how I feel about it yet at this time…
Nick´s last blog post..Make PDF Files With PDFCreator
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:55 pm
@Nick, keep me updated.
January 20th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I do use google alerts.. I alert my name LOL.. so anything that I post or contests that I take part - and win, or comments that I post on other sites etc do get “alerted” back to me.
Dominique´s last blog post..The year of the Ox- 2009
Living on Adsense Blog Reply:
January 21st, 2009 at 11:27 am
I have the same thing set up with the same results. I yet super excited to see a ‘living on adsense’ alert and then I see that it is my own post or a comment I made.
…or I get a link an alert from a spam blog…
Living on Adsense Blog´s last blog post..Living on Adsense Blog Earning Stats for Jan 11th and 18th
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:34 am
@Living on Adsense Blog, I can see how that could get really annoying….but good to see who’s copying you as well.
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:33 am
@Dominique, just your name?
Dominique Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:41 am
@Dennis Edell,
As If I receive google alerts-2-3 times a day 
Yup it is enough to get information via google alert everyday.. if I put alert for my series /posts it would clog up my e-mail box
Oh reason behind that is that my name is used for my e-mails/blog domain/ articles that I write/ series etc..
Just have to search my name and all the articles/comments etc link to it will show up in google search.
Dominique´s last blog post..Many Faces of Roy
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
@Dominique, ah yes I see what you mean. I could see a lot coming up with my name as well…I use it for everything.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
I use Google Alerts myself, and I have about 7 of them going. I set them up for my web links and my name, along with a couple of business terms. Heck, that now reminds me that I have to add more links.
Mitch´s last blog post..Barack Obama - Our Time For Change Has Come
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:36 am
@Mitch, glad I could help lol.
I assume you might get flooded with email for certain “business terms” though, yes?
Mitch Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 am
@Dennis Edell, You might think I would, but truth be known, I get very few messages for any of them.
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:01 am
@Mitch,
Interesting. Perhaps a sign that you’re targeting the wrong terms? If so, that seems like another useful use for alerts.
Mitch Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:04 am
@Dennis Edell, Oh no, you’re misunderstanding. That’s exactly what I want. I know the specific terms I want to see, in the exact order, so I’m getting just what I want. The only one where I was getting overwhelmed, that I finally had to drop, was for “Mitch Mitchell”, because, as you know, he was the drummer for Hendrix, and not only were most alerts about him, but it could go on for pages.
Mitch´s last blog post..Topix
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:45 am
@Mitch, Ohhhh gotcha!
LOL @ “Mitch Mitchell”, I can just imagine.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:16 am
I have yet to try Google Alerts because I usually use my feed reader to get updates on the blogs that I really like.
Donny Gamble´s last blog post..AnyLuckyDay.com - Is it your lucky day?
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:37 am
@Donny Gamble, I get my subscriptions via email, but Google alerts is for totally different uses…or so I’m finding out.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:49 am
I do not use many Goog Alerts. I had some set up but, they seemed to bring in allot of garbage. I do have 1 with my name & with company names.
I tried to follow a few key topics but, it was just not worth it.
Sheryl Loch´s last blog post..Blog Co-Op Free Membership
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 am
@Sheryl Loch, yea like I asked Mitch, I assume “key topics” could easily overflow with emails in a real short time span.
Sheryl Loch Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
@Dennis Edell,
I have mine in Google Reader. I would have gone nuts if they were in email. I prefer to only get email if it is information about enlarging body parts that I don’t have. =)
Sheryl Loch´s last blog post..Is My Child is a Geek
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:45 am
@Sheryl Loch, I hear ya. I’d like to know who’s peekin’ in my windows.
So you can get the alerts to a reader?
January 21st, 2009 at 2:49 am
I don’t use Google Alerts, but from now on, thanks to you, I think I’ll start doing it
I just have never got into Google Alerts.
Cheers,
The Moneyac
The Moneyac´s last blog post..Do Affiliate Marketers Improve The Web ?
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 am
@The Moneyac, glad I could help!
January 21st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Great heads up Dennis!!! Google Alerts is a MUST for EVERY business owner - or blog owner!!!
You should at LEAST have one set to your name AND your business name… that way you can know when people are praising you (or dissing you) on the web.
Kathy - Beyond Niche Marketing´s last blog post..How to Create Word of Mouth Marketing
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:40 am
@Kathy - Beyond Niche Marketing, yes indeed, I can see how both can be quite useful….knowing when others are saying naughty things as well lol.
January 21st, 2009 at 4:30 pm
It would be nice if you could get them to go to a RSS feed…
~ Kristi
Kikolani | Poetry, Photography´s last blog post..My Flickr Meme - Creating A Mosaic
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:41 am
@Kikolani | Poetry, Photography, I’m sure many feel that way. You know me though, everything goes to email.
January 21st, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Was reading another link / seo blog this morning, a post specifically on inter-linking within various pages of your own website. Wanted to tell you that the 2 intra-links here were helpful. Right now, I use google alerts to find other category/keyword-specific or relevant posts in the blog world on niche topics I like to write about. This has been helpful to think of new topics to write about. But tracking links to my blog, that’s a great idea too.
Matty Byloos´s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: 1.21.09
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:44 am
@Matty Byloos, thank you Matty, I’m here to be helpful.
Regarding the niche topics - do you find as others mentioned that you get super flooded with emails on popular topics?
January 21st, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Its good informative to help SEO and manage my blog,thanks.
wirote2008´s last blog post..Thai Chicken and Rice Soup
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:45 am
@wirote2008, thanks and welcome to the blog!
January 21st, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I use google alerts, and I also have “ego searches” set up on techrigy and filtrbox. They both look at social media outlets such as twitter as well.
I’ll admit, I haven’t done enough competitive research do see which returns “better/quicker” results. I just like to believe I have all my bases covered!
Andrea Hill´s last blog post..Should you use full-text or summary articles in your RSS feed?
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:47 am
@Andrea Hill,
I haven’t heard of the other two, but I’ll check them out as well, thanks!
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:06 am
I do use google alerts so if ever there’s any notification, I can easily know…=)
real estate broker philippines´s last blog post..JP Morgan adds 6,000 seats to BPO facility in RP
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I use it , it helps me get alerts in my mail whenever any blog links my site
ZK@Internet Marketing blog´s last blog post..Professional Web Template Designs from Template Kingdom
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:48 am
@ZK@Internet Marketing blog, what terms do you use?
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Is there anything that Google doesn’t do. Google alerts is cool. Thanks for the tip. I’m going to use it to help automate my blogging.
The Almost Millionaire´s last blog post..What is Clickbank?
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:49 am
@The Almost Millionaire, you’re welcome, I hope it works out well.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:53 pm
As for the back link checking why don’t you use Google Analytics
Caleb´s last blog post..Tips From The Blogoshere
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:50 am
@Caleb, does it work as simply as telling me who’s linking at the moment?
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:01 am
Yes, I use Google Alerts. And I too get flooded with all sorts of irrelevant information which have nothing to do with my website… Who knew Velvet Blues was so popular?! I even get things for Velvet Underground…
Shirley´s last blog post..Are You Really Getting 99% Uptime From Your Host?
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:51 am
@Shirley, you must get a lot of music type replies, yes?
Shirley Reply:
January 28th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
@Dennis Edell, Indeed. It’s insane. I usually get about 5-10 items, only 1 of which is related to my site.
Shirley´s last blog post..Does Your Blog Need A Makeover?
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Dennis: No…GA isn’t as fast or up to date, but in Google WebMaster Tools under “Links/Pages w External Links” there is the definitive back link checker
I know it says “external links” -which may sound misleading- but this does indeed refer to backlinks…
The page URL looks something like this: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/externallinks?siteUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fmarketsecrets.biz%2F&hl=en
Caleb´s last blog post..Tips From The Blogoshere
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
@Caleb, Thanks man. I’ll check out the tools as I can’t seem to get into your page. It seems though that it’s another all purpose backlink checker which would be too broad for my purposes.
January 24th, 2009 at 2:29 am
I love Google alerts and use it for all my sites, the cool thing about it is that you can also check your competition, find out if someone is stealing your content and lots more.
JR @ Internet Marketing Strategies´s last blog post..Affiliate Marketing - Seize the Opportunities and Don’t Give Up
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 24th, 2009 at 8:06 am
@JR @ Internet Marketing Strategies, what kinds of terms do you put in for that kinda checkup?
January 24th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I have used Google Alerts for some time!
But, unfortunately this technique didn’t give me results I want! Maybe I will explore it further soon!
Bash Bosh´s last blog post..Use Feed Ads to Boost your Earnings
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 24th, 2009 at 11:40 am
@Bash Bosh, a whole lotta exclamation points there. What type of results does it not give you that you are searching for?
Bash Bosh Reply:
January 24th, 2009 at 11:56 am
@Dennis Edell, well, I have get many “spamming” mails into my email account (not so much related to things I want to receive). I will try it soon, maybe I use it in wrong way
Bash Bosh´s last blog post..Use Feed Ads to Boost your Earnings
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 24th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
@Bash Bosh, keep us posted. I’ll be posting my experiences as I get things set up also.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Well m glad that I have never used anything else which floods my mail box.
Yes I am using the Google alerts for news.
It gives me alert via SMS, so i just read that and delete them at a time. No spam emails,
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 27th, 2009 at 7:16 am
@Visual guard for .Net, an excellent choice and welcome to the community!
Visual guard for .Net Reply:
January 29th, 2009 at 6:44 am
@Dennis Edell,
Thanks for your warm welcome Dennis….:)
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 29th, 2009 at 8:33 am
@Visual guard for .Net,
You’re welcome my friend. In the future though, I do ask for a real name somewhere in the name field.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I’ve been using Google alerts for about 3 years now. Primarily to see who is linking back to me and what they are using to link back with.
Helps to filter out terms for my sites, etc.
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 29th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
@Internet Marketing Strategies,
Very good point, get to see anchor text being used.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Hi Dennis,
We are big Google Alert users. We have a few competitors we track, a few seo types we enjoy we track, and lastly, we’ll often time place a sentence in quotes and see if anyone is stealing it.
Anyway, you have a nice blog, and appreciate your keeping it spam free.
Colleen
Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate´s last blog post..What Is “Bacn?”
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 7:32 am
@Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate, Welcome to the community!
Great job, the competitor thing is what most forget to track at all.
I’m very curious here. Without giving away real secrets, could you give an example of a sentence important enough to track like that? I’m thinkin’ that could run into a lot of alerts.
Andrea Hill Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 8:35 am
@Dennis Edell,
the idea of tracking a particular phrase is a way to measure the effectiveness of their campaign. My favorite example was shared at Podcamp Ohio when I attended - an agency coined the phrase “bird poop facial” for a campaign. They did monitoring for that phrase before the campaign, and not surprisingly, nothing came up. Then they launched their campaign, and they were able to see the results of their efforts.
Don’t forget, too, that when you put quotes around a search phrase, Google will only return exact matches. What is the likeliness a particular phrase will match what someone else writes EXACTLY?
Andrea Hill´s last blog post..Social Media Confession: I Hate Online Video
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 8:58 am
@Andrea Hill,
“What is the likeliness a particular phrase will match what someone else writes EXACTLY?”
Nowadays? Who knows, people seem to steal whatever they can get their mouse on. Definitely a good way to follow up on a good catch phrase.
January 30th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Dennis,
Sure, on this site I have "free" real estate articles. A form on inbound link generation. Well, I’ll have the first sentence in Google Alerts to let me know when someone is using the articles. Here is the result of a Google Alert for one article. I wish I can remember the website, but there was a real estate agent who copied every article for his new website and removed the attribution. I contacted him and had to go to his broker to have the content removed or corrected. The website ended up being deleted altogether.
Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate´s last blog post..What Is “Bacn?”
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 8:46 am
@Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate, I like it, thanks for the info.
It’s good to hear you got someone shutdown, that’s rarely an easy thing to do.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Now that’s an innovative usage for GoogleAlerts Colleen!
btw: Don’t know if anybody noticed yet, but WordPress Admin now lists incoming links right on the dashboard. It even allows you to edit whats being used to collect the link data. For example mines is currently using…
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch_feeds?hl=en&scoring=d&ie=utf-8&num=10&output=rss&partner=wordpress&q=link:http://marketsecrets.biz/
…as the source for incoming links. This option is located underneathe RecentComments on the dashboard, but you have to hover over it in order to edit it with your own source
Caleb´s last blog post..Doing What You Like
February 4th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
I don’t use Google Alerts because I don’t really know what it does. Well, I guess I need to go and figure it now!
Vinh Nguyen´s last blog post..8 Attitudes Businesses Can Learn From Real Babies
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 4th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
@Vinh Nguyen, Welcome to the community!
It’s a pretty cool service. Just pick any keywords/terms/phrases/sites or whatever that you wish to track. Whenever their mentioned anywhere on the ‘net, you get an email.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Just discovered a new use for Google alerts and thought about this blog entry. A Google alert setup for site:yourdomain.com +viagra (or any other keyword a hacker would want a link for).
The big news in the real estate community is Trulia’s website was hacked and the links to viagra sites were inserted. Trulia didn’t know anything about this until they received a penalty from Google.
Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate´s last blog post..I Love Jesus But I Drink A Little
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 10:14 am
@Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate,
The problem I can see with that is for people who don’t like lots of email…..I’d think that would bury them lol.
Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 10:24 am
@Dennis Edell,
Yeah, but I would hope to never receive a Google alert for site:mydomain.com +viagra
Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate´s last blog post..I Love Jesus But I Drink A Little
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 10:39 am
@Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate,
Well yea, but besides that you might as well set them for all the popular spams…that could take a while as well. lol
Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 10:49 am
@Dennis Edell,
My thought is just hitting the 4-5 pills/porn variety to catch the most obvious ones.
Right now I have bigger fish to fry, as our other blog has been hacked (second time, same reason) whereby I cannot login.
Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate´s last blog post..I Love Jesus But I Drink A Little
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
@Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate, Oh damn sorry to hear it. When you do get in, I hope you will remedy whatever the reason might be.
February 8th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
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February 19th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I’ve yet to use Google Alert although it’s about time. People have been saying only good things about it. I probably will sign up very soon thanks to your post.
Peter Lee
Peter@passive income ideas´s last blog post..Here’s A Smarter Link Building Strategy To Get Top Search Engine Ranking
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 19th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
@Peter@passive income ideas, I found the same type of thing for twitter too. I’ll post it soon.