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For most of us web workers Google is almost a simile for a spade.
I would be treading on much furrowed ground if I were to hail the power of Google search.
Optimally tuned with the correct search string, Google Alerts becomes a speeding bullet for targeting precise data.
of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.)
based on your choice of query or topic.
It simply allows us to automate our search, setting it just once instead of doing it every day.
For a freelancer, Google Alerts can become a homing missile in his or her arsenal.
(1) Walk around the writer’s block - Get fresh ideas to write on.
(2) Be in step with your niche - Get the news delivered to your inbox.
A fine-tuned alert updates us on what’s happening where.
(3) Become a cyber paparazzi - Become an ardent follower.
(4) Use it as a job scout - Go where ‘no freelancer has gone before’.
Life for a freelancer often means a 24x7 job hunt.
Jump ahead of the queue with just-in-time alerts.
It could easily be on an obscure site not on your feed list.
Sometimes major events in a company could signal an opportunity for the freelancer.
Especially during a recession when a company looks to retrench its rolls with outsourced work.
Seek, prepare and apply.
Google Alerts is a powerful tool if set up with your skills matched to your niche.
(5) Proof the future - Prepare a job tagectory.
Bookmark them, tag them, or put them on an Excel file or just a notebook.
A ready list saves time and hassle.
(6) Climb up the SERP - Do your own SEO.
Page rankings revolve around keywords.
Bring out your own list of keywords and see which sites rank near the top for those phrases.
This is a precursor to the next activity.
(7) Be with the crowd - Take your work to the community.
(8) Spot the spotter - Know when Google finds you.
Use a unique line of text from a page as a Google Alert search term.
(9) Do some ego-googling - Manage your reputation.
(10) Catch the copycats - Defeating plagiarism.
Copyscape is good but add Google Alerts to it.
Make up some unique phrase or keyword combination.
Some Tips to Manage Google Alerts -
- Get friendly with Google search queries.
There are specialized search queries for news and blogs too.
- Google has introducedRSS Feeds optionto deliver alert results.
It is a more compact option to the earlier email only option.
- If email is the choice choose HTML mails.
You are always a click away from the source.
Get accurate results by putting quotes around your search terms.
Choose’Comprehensive’as Google Alert punch in for getting results across the web, news, blogs and groups.
Choosing’once a week’in the ‘How Often’ dropdown prevents clutter in your mailbox or feed reader.
It’s time to sit back and let the results come in on their own.
How do you use Google Alerts?
Maybe a tip from you could add another to those mentioned.
