Some exceptional use of Google alerts for webmasters.

Google alerts can also be used for a few interesting purposes than just getting alerted for news or information. This is more helpful for webmasters, who have blogs and websites of their own, and would like to track search engine metrics to their websites.

For example, Google alerts can be used to track incoming links to a website. This is how we do it.

Let me give a brief introduction to an SEO (Search Engine Optimization Tutorial) metric to you. It’s a search engine operator that is used to find out how many other websites are linking to a website. Example:Searching on Google for “link:www.yoursite.com” without the quotes will give you the list of websites that are linking to www.yoursite.com.

Using this, let’s create an alert so that whenever Google indexes a new link to your site, you get an email message right in your inbox.

• Step 1 – Go to www.gmail.com/alerts
• Step 2 – In the “Search terms” field enter – link:www.yoursite.com (replace with your own URL, see screenshot)
• Step 3 – In the “Type” option, select – Web. (If you want to get alerts from blogs, select Blog)
• Step 4 – Give your email id and hit “Create alert”. The final settings will look similar to the information seen on the screenshot(Replace yoursite.com with your URL).

Here's a screenshot of how the Google alert email looks like, showing you information of the site that just linked to you. Note that you have links to Remove, Create and Manage your alerts right beneath the information on the email.



That’s about it, whenever a site/blog links to your site and the link is indexed by Google, you’ll get an email, in your inbox notifying you about it. Ain’t that cool?

Increasing Traffic & Your Search Engine Rankings Using Google alerts

Another great way to use Google Alerts from an internet marketer’s point of view can be a little time consuming, but is 100% Free! Let me give you an example:

WebBizIdeas.com wants to rank to (1) be known for (2) rank well for the keyword phrase “Internet Business Ideas We use Google Alerts to be notified ANYTIME a new page is indexed that mentions that keyword. Usually we get Alerts for new blog articles written. So we go to the new blog article, READ IT, and then respond with a USEFUL comment. It is important that you post responses that contribute to the article, otherwise the blogger won't approve the response.


In order to become #1 for the keyword “Internet Business Ideas” WebBizIdeas.com needs to build as many backlinks as possible for that keyword. When we post blog responses we insert that keyword when it asks us for our name. So instead of putting Jeff Foster I put Internet Business Ideas.

We use Google Alerts to be notified ANYTIME a new page is indexed that mentions that keyword. Usually we get Alerts for new blog articles written. So we go to the new blog article, READ IT, and then respond with a USEFUL comment. It is important that you post responses that contribute to the article…otherwise the blogger won’t approve the response.

When it asks for your URL we put in the web page we are trying to optimize for: http://www.ideas.webbizideas.com. All blogs default your name to your URL so by doing this we build back links.   A

Word of Caution

Do you notice anything different in the post below:



Why is WebBizIdeas highlighted in red? It is highlighted because I am viewing the post I made in Firefox using SEO For Firefox. You see most blogs default ALL blog comments as NO FOLLOW links. SEO For Firefox highlights all NO FOLLOW links in red.

Back a few years ago Google’s War on paid links & spam caused the industry to follow Google’s recommendation on adding NO FOllOW links to blogs & forums. The NO FOLLOW above basically means this link will not help us at all rank for the keyword “WebBizIdeas.”

View more information on NO Follow Links vs. DO Follow

So should this stop you from posting a comment? NO, 95% of all blogs have this attribute. I post comments on blogs when I have something to say. If I don’t have an opinion I don’t post a response. WebBizIdeas.com still receives traffic & brand awareness from the comments I post with NO FOLLOW Links; it is just an added bonus when that links counts double.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Google Alerts can also be great for bloggers who have a high authority in the search engines. You may read a news article and be able to write a better article or guide. Even though your guide was published after the original post the authority of your website may win.