In fact, are Google Alerts useful at all?  Answer – yes they are extremely useful, particularly when you have a regular online writing gig and you constantly need fresh ideas for articles.

Getting prepared to use Google Alerts

Some alerts are more useful than others - such as Google Alerts for example! (photo credit garwee at http://www.sxc.hu/profile/garwee)

I set up a dedicated email address this week to handle plenty of different Google Alerts I have set up.  In case you don’t know, you can request Google Alerts for a specific search term you are looking for.  This is a facility that is currently in beta mode, but if you love it half as much as I do you’ll be using it constantly within minutes of trying it for the first time.

More about using Google Alerts

I first started using it as a one off several months ago, when I started looking for anything related to online writing.  I have since discovered it is fantastic for setting ideas off in your head when you need some inspiration on regular writing topics.

An example of Google Alerts created for a specific purpose

Let’s say for example that I wrote a regular monthly article on widgets.  All I have to do is to go to Google Alerts, set up a regular alert for the word ‘widgets’ and wait for an email to arrive.  I don’t always get any inspiration from it, but quite often a news item will pop up that immediately sparks off an idea.

For my money this is a great new asset from Google that I personally will be making a lot of use of.  Will you find it just as good, or do you have other ideas when it comes to seeking news and inspiration?  I can’t see a time when I won’t be using Google Alerts for inspiration, along with various other methods as well.