As a writer, you want to set up Google Alerts for your name and your book titles. Google will let you know when your name or title shows up on a webpage. You can track any reviews or other mentions of you and/or your work.

Today I received another benefit from having a Google Alert set up on my name. I have a website and a blog that were the first sites I set up. I use the blog to test out things, before I try them on this “real” blog.

The other blog showed up on my daily Google Alert. I haven’t made any changes for awhile. The alert specified the main page, not the blog. It showed an advertisement for shoes. I’m all for shoes, but not on my website. This is the second time that account has been hacked. Right now, I’m having trouble making any changes myself to the site. Support has bumped up the problem to a higher level. I may just close the account, although I have several reasons to keep it open. I’ll go into those reasons in another post.

Stop surfing the net and go set up your Google Alerts now!

Go to http://google.com/alerts

Enter the topic

Search terms — this is your name or title

Type — comprehensive
You can search only news, blogs, web, video, or groups.

I recommend using comprehensive.

How often — once a day
You can choose once a day, as-it-happens, or once a week.

Your email — this is where they send the alerts notices

Here’s hoping all your alerts are good ones.

Write on,

Lynn Jordan

If you are like me, your best ideas come when you are unable to grab a pen and write them down. My memory isn’t as good as it use to be. Whenever I get this great idea

that I’m sure I’ll never forget, I usually only remember that it WAS a great idea.

One company has come to my rescue. http://jott.com is a service that you set up with your cell phone. You can call in and leave voice messages. These messages are then emailed and/or texted to you or anyone else you choose.

This voice-to-text service is remarkably accurate, even with my Yankee infected Texican accent. You can’t leave long messages, but you can leave a message that’s long enough to remind you of your fabulous idea.

Now, all I need is a water-proof cell phone or voice recorder. My best ideas still come in the shower. I have been taking my cell phone into the bathroom with me. Usually I can remember my brilliant idea for a few minutes after I leave the shower.

Try Jott and let me know how you like it. If you have other great ideas for capturing those flashes 0f brilliance, please leave a comment.

Write on,

Lynn Jordan

You know you need to start building your presence on the internet. However, you aren’t sure where or how to start. There’s a site that will help you get started.

Twitter.com is a new micro-blogging site. You only get 140 characters (that’s characters, not words) to update the question, “what are you doing now?” You can write 140 characters. You’re a writer.

It’s also a good way to check in a few times a day to ask yourself if you are being productive and accomplishing what you mean to accomplish.

You can also put in links to your website or blog and tell the world about your WIP or next release.

Check it out. It’s a great starting point for your Web 2.0 social networking.

Write on,

Lynn Jordan