Do you know what it is? Do you know how it can help you as an author?
If you have never heard of Google Alerts… let me be the first to tell you how important it is to you.
I can almost guarantee Donita K. Paul, author of the DragonKeeper Chronicles; Robert Liparulo, author of the Dreamhouse Kings series; and Karen Kostlivy, author of Cyber Writers and the Zebra of Life all use Google Alerts.
(Kathy, Robert and Donita… can you please respond to this message so I may prove a point? Hehe… thanks.)
Other then simply typing their name in this post, I will not send them a personal note saying, “Hey I mentioned you”. Nope, instead I will let Google Alerts do that job and hopefully they will respond. 
How does it work… It’s really quite simple. Follow this link to Google Alerts and you will get a screen that looks similar to this one:
You can see in the image above that I have put my own name into the “Search terms:” field. Basically I am telling google that any time anyone puts my name into a blog post or tweet or anywhere on the web, Google Alerts will send me an email (Deliver to box above) telling me when, where and who said my name.
Why is this valuable to you?
Because marketing is important to your novel! If you are releasing your first novel, like for instance Kristie Cook just published her first novel Promise (http://www.ihavepromise.com/ – She has a great Labor Day Deal going on if you haven’t picked it up!). She wants to see the awesome reviews that people are posting on their blogs and she wants to make sure she responds to each of them in a timely matter. Do you know how cool it is to have the author of the book you are blogging about comment on your blog post? For good old fashion readers… It’s way cool!
I have a great personal example. I used to have a blog with Veggietales theme. If you don’t know what the Veggietales are, I strongly urge you to check it out if you have preschoolers in your house. Not only is it hilarious to them but they throw in some great jabs for adults too. Bunny trail: So, one day I was blogging about Veggietales, wondering if I should facelift my blog. Lo and behold, Brian one of the Chief Officers at Big Idea itself comments on my blog! Besides the fact that I almost died right there on the spot, it really made me have a new found respect. I mean I was a peon, in their eyes. Not that I am still not one… I digress… yet he took the time to just give me a quick comment. THAT is fabulous marketing! I still buy every Veggietales that comes out… and this maybe the reason why. I appreciate the company and their personal touch.
If you need more examples of how Google Alerts works for you… I say try it. You can choose how many results you get (as you can see in the box) and how often. Usually I get 1-2 emails a day with up to 20 results on one page. All clickable so I can immediately go to the site and check it out.
It is a fabulous tool to help you hear the “buzz” of what is going on around the web about your upcoming novel or you!
Will you try it?
I have Google alerts, too. It's always funny to get Google alerts to my own blog posts!
I do have google alerts even though I don't have any books coming out. But it did alert me to a contest that I had won! Or when someone links to blog. It's always nice to go and say thanks!
I use Google Alerts and have them delivered to my RSS reader for faster/easier perusal. I find them very helpful in finding blogs that I should follow [smile].
~Luke
Oooh great post, m'dear! I keep forgetting about Google Alerts and often wondered if it was relevant to me, but you've convinced me that it is.
Hi, Eisley! Well, you were right on. Although there was a delay, because you posted this yesterday, I see, and it just came in my Google Alerts a little while ago. I do like to know who's saying what about me. :) But one of the main reasons I use it for is to check that my eBook isn't being pirated. It's not sure-fire, but if anyone's advertising my book, I can check it out to make sure it's legit.
I get lots of notices for American Idol Kristy Lee Cook and sometimes for a Kristie with a cooking blog. LOL But it's worth it. And it does give me a chance to thank readers and reviewers that I wouldn't have otherwise known about.
So nice job, EJ! As if we'd expect anything less. :)
LOL! Here I am! Yes, I got a google alert and clicked on the link. I love commenting on readers' blogs. And some people are just blown away that I would do that. I do know authors who use google alert but don't comment. Well, come to think of it. If the blogger or reviewer doesn't care for my brand of fiction (in other words lays a heavy negative damper on my book), I don't leave a comment. Unless there is something positive I can say. So your point is proven.
I've heard of it or something like it. but since I don't feel as if I need it, I don't have it. lol!
but I think it's a great tool. Google comes up with very cool stuff.
Great post! I love Google alerts. They are excellent for keeping track of who's keeping track of you. Which is especially important for aspiring authors! Thanks for the tutorial!
Dragons Forever
Inspirational Fiction
Ha! Cool experiment. Actually, I have an assistant who gets my google alerts and then either clips the article if it's a review or interview, or tells me about ones I ought to check out. It's the only way I can do it without being completely distracted from what I need to be doing--writing. (It helps that I have an unusual name.) But I do want to be accessible to readers and an occasional "thanks" to a blogger who mentions me goes a long way in that department. So obviously, I recommend Google Alerts...just as long it doesn't become part of the war dance when you should be in the battle.
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