I wrote this post originally last year and after a long day of work I just reconfirmed how important it is to be aware of the going's-on in your market place.    Remember we are educators.     

So let me revisit a popular one....................        Google Alerts. are  A MUST

I can’t remember when someone told me about them.   If I had to say I would say it was my favorite gal in West Virginia, Sarah Cooper that first mentioned them easily over a year ago.

I recently (finally) decided to put them into action.   

So Google alerts is a free (love free)service that Google has to offer.   Here’s the concept as I understand it.    You set up alerts bases on your specific search criteria and whenever that criteria is written about you’ll be sent an email with alert and link to the article/post.  

I’ve put the obvious alert for my name and than I was trying to think outside the box.  I put in other information that could be valuable to me in business.   My local towns, communities and  mayors anything that might be "news worthy" to me in business.

How am I capitalizing on that you asked?  Well I am getting the information as soon as it hits…  

And in turn, if its something of value, then I am writing about it on my blogs.   We are supposed to be informed, what better way to stay on top of things.

I am sorry I didn’t implement this ages ago when Sarah Cooper told me about it.  And I am sure she’ll pop by and hello when she get’s her “alert” on this post.   

HI SARAH!!!!

Here's an example I received this email last night

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Google Blogs Alert for: robbinsville, new jersey

The Greatest 100 Active Rain bloggers from all 50 states.
By Castellum Realty LLC. (Castellum Realty...(Castellum Realty LLC. (Castellum Realty...)
Desiree Daniels New Jersey Real Estate  (609) 448-2222 - Real Estate Agent Score: 212490 Robbinsville, NJThe Desiree Daniels Team of Real Estate Professionals are dedicated to providing quality real estate service in Robbinsville, ...
Castellum Realty 's Blog - http://activerain.com/blogs/castellum 

 This as-it-happens Google Alert is brought to you by Google.

Remove this alert.
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That was the only way I would have know about this post (thanks again Castellum Realty)… pretty cool huh.

If you have any other suggestions on how to use it ... please feel free to share I'd love to hear them.