Google Alerts: Who’s Talking About Your Brand?

If You Aren't Using Google Alerts to Find Out Who’s Talking About You, It’s Time to Start Today!
Are you using Google Alerts to…
    See where you are appearing in the online world?
    Find out about speaking opportunities?
    See where your book(s) are being mentioned?

We use this tool daily to find out about media and speaking opportunities, find reviews on our books, and locate where we are being quoted or appearing on blogger or media sites.
As a speaker, author, or entrepreneur, setting up Google Alerts may be one of the simplest and most important tools you have available to you. It allows you to be aware of conversations about you, your brand, your partners, champions, and even competitors that you'd likely otherwise miss. This awareness of your online presence allows you incredible opportunity to engage with others. As your reach, audience, and influence grow, managing your online reputation becomes increasingly important. Don't miss important conversations that you should be involved in; set up your Google Alerts today. It is so easy!
The 411 on Google Alerts
Google Alerts is essentially a customized, on-going Google Search that delivers the search results to you automatically. You can set up as many alerts as you like (last count was up to 1000 per email address) to help you monitor online activity for the search terms you choose.
Applications of Google Alerts
You can use Google Alerts to keep track of who’s mentioning you, your brand, your products, or website. You can also use it to keep track of trending topics in your industry. If you set up alerts for specific keywords or phrases related to your speaking and book topics, your audience, or your industry, you'll know what’s being talked about. You can inform your speaking and writing topics to what is being searched for in your field or by your audience and never be out of the loop either.
 

Setting up Your Google Alerts
Setting up Google Alerts is so simple — the most common misconception is that you have to have a Gmail account. This is not true; anyone can set up Google Alerts.
1.    Go to http://www.google.com/alerts/   
2.    Sign in if you have a Gmail account.
3.    Enter the search terms you wish to track, separated by commas. If you’re not sure what to start tracking, we suggest that you start with your name, business name, book title, and speaking subjects.
4.    Choose the type of results you want Google Alerts to find and send you.
5.    Choose how often you’d like to receive your Google Alerts.
6.    Choose how many results you want to get (You may want to test this one out and see how many results you're getting).
7.    Choose where you’d like your Google Alerts delivered. If you have a Gmail account, you can receive them via gmail. If you don't, you can also receive them via RSS or another email account.
8.    Click the “Create Alert” button.
Voila! You will now be in the know.
Examples of Google Alerts that we have set up:
    Call for speakers
    Call for presenters
    Call for conference speakers
    Book awards submission open
    Speaking opportunities in XXX (put the city, province, or state next)

*Cautionary Note: We recommend that you use Google Alerts for good instead of evil. Tracking ex’s and celebrity gossip is an option, but it'll clutter up your Alerts about all the press you're getting.