In my last marketing tip I wrote about how you can use Google Alerts for managing your brand and a few other marketing related ideas.  Not too long ago I learned about a new use for Google Alerts.

How would you like to know whenever someone links to your blog or site?

All you need to do is set up a link alert.  Just go to Google Alerts and put this in the search term box -

link:http://www.yourblogurl.com (yourblogurl (or site) is of course the address of your blog).

Note: You won’t get an alert for sub pages of your blog unless you set them up individually (by post url).

In addition to brand monitoring this is an opportunity to network. If someone links to your blog, you might want to comment back on their blog, drop them a note of thanks or reach out and build a relationship with them.

Anyone want to test out my alert?

My alert for this marketing blog is set for the following url:

http://www.josefkatz.com

A lot has been written about why it is important to manage your brand and online reputation. Every business owner should monitor their brand online (personal or professional). One easy way to do this is to set up a Google alert. A Google alert will deliver an email to you with links to any content referencing the phrase(s) you set up.

Not sure how? It is easy. Learn how to set up a Google alert.

Google alerts are not going to completely cover everything about your brand online but it will be a great start to keep you updated if someone is talking about you.

Bonus Tip

When you set up your Google alert you might want to think of any other names you use or how people might spell or refer to your company. For example I have the following alerts set up:

• “Josef Katz”
• “Katz Direct Marketing”
• “Marketing Maestro”
• Etc

Second Bonus Tip

Set up an alert for each of your competitors to see what they are up to online.

Final Tip For Today

Monitor your partners, potential partners and suppliers to stay informed of what others are saying about them.

I have been “playing around” with Twitter (you can follow me if you would like) for almost a year and there always seems to be something new coming out for Twitter.  In addition to meeting some new folks and following some interesting people there are some definite business uses for the application.

Twitter search allows you to track what others are saying about you, your brand, your company, your competition or whatever you think is important or interesting to follow. You can set up an RSS feed for your search term(s).  This will allow you to always be updated with what’s going on without having to remember to go back to the site (this is similar to a google alert as discussed in our first Marketing Tip – Monitor Your Brand Online).

You don’t even have to have a Twitter account to set up the RSS feed.  Go ahead give it a try.

Related Posts

Marketing Tip – Monitor Your Brand Online

Marketing Tip – Monitor Your Brand Online Part 2

5 Big Social Media Wins Last Week

Twitter Research