How to Create a Google Alert

Google Alerts let you keep track of new developments in topics of your choice. For example, if you were following a specific news event, you could set an alert on that event. Then, whenever new stories were published, you would receive an email with links to those new stories..

You can also use Google Alerts to follow people's names, including your own. If you are a writer, you can follow either your real name, or your pen name (if you use one), or both. Then, every time something with your byline appears online, you will receive an email. Some people use alerts on their writing names, or on excerpts from their articles, in order to catch plagiarizers. Also, if you have a Google Alert on your name, you will be notified whenever anyone else mentions your name online.

Setting up Google Alerts is easy. You do not even need to have a Gmail account, though if you do, you will be able to access more features. The hardest part of setting up Alerts is thinking up good search terms.

Here are instructions for setting up the Alerts, step-by-step:

1. Go to the Google Alert input form: http://www.google.com/alerts

2. Think of your search terms. If you are setting an alert on a name (either yours or someone else's), put the name in quotes. If you are setting an alert on a topic you're interested in, give some thought to making the search terms specific enough so that you won't get swamped with irrelevant stories. You can test your search terms by clicking the "Preview results" link on the input form. Keep on fine-tuning your search terms, if necessary, until you are satisfied with the results.

3. The rest of the input boxes on the form are self-explanatory. Keep in mind, though, that if you ask for emails to be sent "as-it-happens," you might be receiving a lot of emails, especially if you have an alert out on a hot topic.

4. If you are not using a Gmail address as the email where the alerts will be sent, Google will send you a verification email. Just click on the link in the email to confirm. If you are using a Gmail address, you can skip this step.

And that's it - your alert is now set up.

If you want any more information about Google Alerts, including examples of how Google Alerts are used, common questions, and troubleshooting, see the official Google Alerts Getting Started Guide.