How To Setup Google Alerts   by Mitchell Farley

in Search Engines / SE Tactics    (submitted 2012-01-05)

Learning how to setup Google alerts has recently been made easier than ever. You have multiple types of results available to choose from (web, news, etc.), how often you'll be alerted (assuming you'll be receiving alerts via email), how selective you want Google to be with what to send to you as an alert, and where you want it delivered.

Some people use Google alerts to keep track of their personal name to manage their reputation online.

Others use Google alerts to keep track of what is being said about their brand or business or organization to make sure that they know when people are talking about them (good or bad).

Some people use Google alerts to have opportunities to win free iPads, free coffee, free gift cards, etc. literally put in their face through emails delivered by Google alerts.

How to Setup Google Alerts

1. Go to Google and search for "google alerts". The first listing is the one you want to click.
   


2. In the "Search query:" field, enter whatever it is you want to be alerted about. A good example is your own name, or your business name, etc. I'll write more on advanced search queries you can use to keep alerted about other things some other time, let's stick with the basics for now.


3. Result type:
   The result types are broken down as follows:
   
   
   
   • Everything. This will send you alerts that are generated by content from all over the Internet, namely where Google finds and/or indexes your search query phrase within its properties discussed below:
   
   
   • News. This option will provide you with Google alerts that are contained within the properties used throughout the Google News platform. This was the original way Google alerts was used.
   
   
   • Blogs. Google has created a separate area of its search engine dedicated to finding information that is found strictly on blogs. Using this option will make your alerts be delivered only from these sources.
   
   
   • Video. Want to know when a new video is released on a particular subject or when your favorite musician has a new video out, this option will allow that to be done easily.
   
   
   • Discussions. This is actually from Google Groups (http://groups.google.com/)
   
   
   • Books. Google launched it's controversial Books program in secret in 2002. Now one of the top websites for finding books, you can also use Google alerts to keep yourself apprised of updates to the site.
   
   
   
   


4. The "How often:" selection is pretty self-explanatory.


5. The "How many:" selection provides you with the ability to let Google try and decipher what results are worthy of your review, and which are not. My personal preference is to set this on "All results".


6. The "Deliver to:" selection actually allows you to choose whether you want the alert sent to your email address, or if you want it sent to your favorite RSS feed reader.

Go through and enter your search query and selections at http://www.google.com/alerts and click "Create Alert". If you have any issues, leave me a comment, and I'll try and help you out.

About the Author

Mitchell Farley is a freelance writer that loves technology and he also helps provide content about Google alerts at http://googlealerts.org.