Track your keywords with Google Alert

***Update***



***This column has just been reprinted in the popular Blog Search Engine blog.



Be sure to check out that great business blog too. ***



Bloggers should be aware of a great free tool called Google Alert



Google Alert has the advantage of being entirely withing Google's Terms of Service. I consider that an important feature in any internet or search engine optimation tool. The use of any tool outside of Google's TOS can get your site banned from Google. We don't want that to happen to you!



While not affiliated with the Google search engine, Google Alert will track your blog's URL and chosen keywords. Updates are sent to you via e-mail on a

regular basis, as Google is updated, and as new results of your keywords and blog URL appear.



Google Alert can also send your results through html, RSS 1.0 or 2.0, or by TrackBack feeds. These are new options that have just been added very recently. For sites and blogs with an RSS feed, this is a great addition to the service.



Search updates also contain a direct link to the page cache (snapshot of the page) where the update happened. That is very handy for finding where your URL was mentioned, or where your keywords appeared.



Signing up for Google Alert is very easy. Simply go the the Google Alert web site. Provide a user name, a personal access password, and a working e-mail address to receive your updates.



You're in!



Once you log in, you just fill in the blanks of the URL and keywords you want to track. Be sure to be specific about the keywords you are following. For example "sports football Chicago" is much more specific than "sports" or "football".



By following the appearances of your keywords, you can check their popularity. If your blog's specific search terms are being found on many other sites, and not on yours, it's time to add them to your content.



The best way to provide that valuable content is to add some articles that highlight those keywords. They will get your site noticed when Google searches are conducted. The higher your site or blog are listed in the search engine result placings (SERPs), the more likely your site will be seen. Most searchers don't look beyond the first two or three pages of results.



An advanced search feature lets you limit your results by geography. If you are only interested in placements in England, you can specify that in the search. For different languages, the same narrowing of the advanced search also applies. You can set the results, to only include French language search terms, if you like.



A great feature you certainly want to include is the "Link Search". Found at the bottom of the advanced search page, it enables you to keep track of who is linking to your blog. You can also keep tabs on who is linking to another site if you choose.



Google Alert can be found here:



http://www.googlealert.com



Be sure to get tracking your site and keywords today!