19 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
19 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

The Power of Google Alerts = Free traffic

by asiancasanova
16 replies
How many people here use Google Alerts?

It truly is a great tool to use.

You can keep up to date on what your competitors are doing for keywords you're targeting.

Its a great way to spot opportunity for link building and traffic siphoning. You'll get alerted to fresh blog posts that you can be the first commenter on for instance. This is especially powerful if you do this on really big blogs.

You can keep up to date on any major news releases within your niche so that you can create content that piggy backs on its viral nature = free traffic.

You can even keep track of your own branding. See who's talking about you.

Really, the list could go on and on. I personally like to use it for traffic siphoning. I have my Google alerts targeting my main niche and I try to be the first commenter on the latest blog posts. Truly awesome way to generate traffic and links. Even better, is that this can be outsourced easily.

Anyone else have Google Alert ideas?
#alerts #free #google #power #traffic
  • Profile picture of the author SEOFocused
    i (and lot of others i know) use it mainly for reputation management. anytime anyone posts something about my site/company mane, i get an alert. using it for keyword tracking can be a bit too overwhelming as there will be lots of competitors building links and posting blogs on a daily basis. if it works for you, then by all means keep using it
    Signature
    SEO Services: We Develop and Promote Your Business Online
    One stop design, development, content creation and link building service
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6442643].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author asiancasanova
      I like to create a dedicated google account for google alerts. I also outsource this work. However, for people low on cash, they can put in the work to do it themselves for free of course.
      Signature
      $1k a day?
      Click here
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6442676].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jay Campbell
    Originally Posted by asiancasanova View Post

    How many people here use Google Alerts?

    Anyone else have Google Alert ideas?
    In addition to the ideas mentioned in your OP and in reply if you are an affiliate of physical products in a niche you can setup a Google Alert (s) with new "product name" or "product type"etc keyword to be alerted to new products in your niche. Then you could write up a commentary on the new product. While it will not always hold true many times there won't be many other pages competing with you for the new product and you can rank more easily.
    Signature
    Free Personal Finance PLR WSO from PLR Articles Emporium
    30 Pack Internet Marketing PLR WSO (Over 12,000 Words, Use as Autoresponder emails or E-course)
    What is up with Amazon Affiliate State Bans?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6442972].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      If you practice article marketing to any degree, you can set alerts to tell you when and where one of your articles has been republished.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6444508].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Berg Canon
    asiancasanova you say that you try to be the first blog comment but what I find with Google Alerts is that its old news by the time I get it in my inbox. How are you able to get get it hot of the presses so to speak?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6444550].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author fluffythewondercat
      Originally Posted by Berg Canon View Post

      asiancasanova you say that you try to be the first blog comment but what I find with Google Alerts is that its old news by the time I get it in my inbox. How are you able to get get it hot of the presses so to speak?
      That's a good point. I have all my alerts set to as-it-happens but I often don't get notifications until a week later.

      fLufF
      --
      Signature
      Fiverr is looking for freelance writers for its blog. Details here.
      Love microjobs? Work when you want and get paid in cash the same day!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6444571].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author asiancasanova
        Yeah this can be tricky, because a lot of it depends on how popular the site is. The more popular a site the faster the page gets notices by google and thus, the faster you get notified.

        So if there are a few very specific blogs you want to keep tabs on, add them to your google reader and make sure to check it often and you will most of the time be 1 of the first commenters = great for traffic.

        Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat View Post

        That's a good point. I have all my alerts set to as-it-happens but I often don't get notifications until a week later.

        fLufF
        --
        Signature
        $1k a day?
        Click here
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6451452].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Big Al
    I do and I subscribe to relevant blogs using Google Reader. The only trouble is my account is somewhat filled to the brim on a daily basis. Now I have to find a way to filter the info better
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6445000].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Marketing Fool
    I used to use the heck out of Google alerts, but found over time that it doesn't really work that well. It doesn't send you every new item that gets indexed in Google...I'm not sure what the exact criteria is.

    For instance, I might set an alert for "XYZ Coffee machines" and then build 5 micro niche sites about "XYZ Coffee machines". All 5 will get indexed but I might receive a Google alert about 3 of them...etc.

    So yes, it's fun to use...but I wouldn't count on it for the end all be all of monitoring...
    Signature
    Learn to CODE at Codemy.com - It's Pretty Awesome!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6452536].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      It's very useful for content curation and topic ideas. I use it to find blogs and forums that I can comment on or participate in. Keeping up with the latest news is great, too.
      Signature
      Discover how to have fabulous, engaging content with
      Fast & Easy Content Creation
      ***Especially if you don't have enough time, money, or just plain HATE writing***
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6452580].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author edd666666
    Maybe it is just me, but I think I see a bias in Google to pack in lots of blogspot or blogger.com blogs in the results for alerts. I find these blogs are mostly at the bottom of the barrel in terms of traffic and are "buggy" for commenting on. I just pass over them.
    Signature
    “Over 1,000 People Have Used My Unique Pitch System To Achieve Their Publicity Goals... And I’ll Work Personally With You Too, One-On-One To Help You Get On TV!” CLICK HERE
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6452751].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author abbesnwk
    Banned
    It is a great tool to track your reputation over the internet, but to check your competitors with it...is unrealistic (my opinion)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6506418].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author thedanbrown
    Google alerts is a great tool. I've never used it to spy on competitors though...

    More so, I use alerts to keep track of new info that I need to know. I open up Google Reader every morning on my Ipad and scroll through what's new on the internet.

    I have also used Google Alerts for commenting too which can be effective.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6506531].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author WebProWorker
    Indeed this method of taking advantage of google alerts is very useful. I haven't tried being the first commenter on related blogs, but I will, in the future.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6506690].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author billthelord
    Any advice on how to get your content turn into a 'Google alert'... I'm finding it hard to get done despite being a leading site in my niche.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6508414].message }}

Trending Topics