How Does It Work? Setting Up Google Alerts in 5 Steps
Google Alerts monitors the web for new content related to specific search terms, like your company name or product. This helps you track your coverage and assess your outreach efforts as new stories go live.
1. Go to Google Alerts
Head to the Google Alerts homepage. Make sure you’re logged into the Google account where you want to receive notifications.
2. Enter Your Search Terms
In the search bar at the top of the page, type in the name, phrase, or keyword you want to monitor. For best results:
Use quotation marks to track exact phrases: "Acme Widgets Inc."
Include variations of names or products
Add “site:example.com” to track mentions on specific sites
Use the "-" symbol to filter out unrelated mentions
3. Customize Your Alert Settings
Click “Show options” to fine-tune how often and how thoroughly Google searches for your term.
How often: Choose “As-it-happens,” “At most once a day,” or “At most once a week”
Sources: Select from various media sources such as blogs, web, video, etc.
Language and region: Match these settings to your audience for better results
How many: Choose “All results” to see everything or “Only the best results” for more refined alerts
Deliver to: Pick the email address you want alerts sent to
4. Click ‘Create Alert’
Once you're happy with the settings, hit Create Alert. You’ll start receiving notifications when Google finds new results matching your search term.
5. Edit or Manage Alerts Anytime
You can head to Google Alerts at any time to update, delete, or pause alerts. Just click the pencil icon to edit or the trash icon to remove an alert.
Tips for Tracking Mentions in Media Coverage
As you use Qwoted, you’ll want to set up alerts to see when you get mentioned in the press. Here are some tips and tricks to help you out:
Set Up Multiple Alerts: Track your company name, spokesperson name, product name, campaign hashtags, or press release headlines. The more specific alerts you set, the better your chances of catching every mention.
Use Filters: Combine keywords to narrow your search and avoid unrelated mentions.
Track Mentions from Qwoted Pitches: To monitor coverage that may have come from a Qwoted pitch, try alerts like "Your Name" and "Publication Name" to catch when a journalist includes your insights in a story.
Track Competitors: Set up alerts for competitor names or shared industry terms. This helps you see what’s trending so you can create stronger pitches for future opportunities.
The Benefit of Setting Up Google Alerts
While most journalists will let you know if they are going to use a quote you submitted, they do not always know when the story will go live. Setting up Google Alerts is a helpful way to track down live articles as soon as they are published.
If you have any questions about using Qwoted for media opportunities, reach out to our team at support@qwoted.com. We’re happy to help!