Tuesday Quik Tip: Be Alert

I can’t recall where I first saw the phrase, but it came to mind today when I sat down to write this post.

“Be alert…if there’s one thing the world needs, it’s more lerts.”

BTW, if you are aware of to whom the quote should be attributed, please drop me a note and I will credit it appropriately.

Now, back to being alert.

If you aren’t using Google Alerts, you should be. And believe me, once you start, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.

Google Alerts allow you to track specific news topics, markets, trends, and even mentions of your name or brand. You can set it to alert you as often as you like — but I recommend you stick to once daily. You can then set up folders within your email client to help you organize your alerts, and process them once daily.

Examples for Using Alerts:

• If you write a blog about underwater basket weaving, alerts will keep you apprised of developments within the niche — and provide you with content for future blog posts.
• Interested in keeping tabs on a competitor’s online activities? Your alert will notify you of press releases, articles posted, and other pertinent developments.
• Keep updated on developments in your niche – great for newsletter content
• Product tie-in’s to current events
• Content to post on Twitter, or other social networks

Google Alerts are just one more way to work smarter, and not harder. So, if you ask me, I’d have to agree that if there’s one thing small business owners need, it’s more ‘lerts.