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



4 Comments to 'Set up your Google Alerts!'
June 29, 2008
Lynn …
Thanks for this great resource and the incentive to set it up.
I’ve heard of Google Alerts once or twice before, but only in passing. It’s time to take some action.
Write On!
~Melanie Kissell
July 1, 2008
How To Set Up A Google Alert For Your Name And Your Niche…
I was reading Lynn Jordan’s blog, Authors Tools Blog, and she has a great post about Google Alerts. I teach this in my classes, but have not blogged about it here.
A Google Alert is a way for you to know when your name or other phrase is mentione…
October 1, 2008
[...] Google Alerts can help you keep tabs on your website(s) even before your virus protection software can warn you that you have a [...]
May 21, 2009
[...] your online presence by setting up a Google alert on your name to see what others are saying about [...]
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