The Google alerts tool is a powerful gadget that allows you to receive free e-mail updates on  the latest relevant Google results for any topics or keyword phrases that interest you.  To receive an e-mail notification any time there are new top Google search results about you, your company, or any other topic that interests you, all you have to do is register the proper search terms with the Google alerts tool at www.google.com/alerts. 

The Google alerts tool lets you easily keep track of new web content about topics that interest you for free.  You can choose to receive weekly, daily, or as-it-happens notifications.  When you register a search phrase with the Google alerts tool, you can request to receive comprehensive notifications, or you can limit the notifications you receive to news, web, blogs, or group content. 

Comprehensive Google alerts tool updates provide the most thorough coverage of your registered topics, and is the recommended format for providing maximum coverage for a topic.  However, when you are specifically interested in news articles, web pages, or group entries, or blog posts regarding a topic, you have the option of limiting the Google alerts tool updates to the specific type of content that interests you.

The Google alerts tool is an excellent means of keeping up with current events or keeping tabs on your favorite celebrities and sports teams.  Instead of spending hours search the Internet on your own to find out if anything new is going on, by simply registering search terms with Google alerts one time, you’ll be assured of receiving the latest updates on your favorite topics directly in your e-mail inbox.

There are a number of business advantages associated with using the Google alerts tool.  By registering your company’s name and your key products and services with the Google alerts tool, you can keep track of what is being said about your organization online.  Without the Google alerts tool, you might not find out about blog posts or news group updates about your company or products. 

The Google alerts tool also enables you to keep track of industry developments that directly affect your business.  By registering the names of your primary competitors, you can keep tabs on what your competitors are doing and what is being said about them.  By registering the names of relevant regulatory agencies and emerging technologies, you can keep track of issues in the business environment as they develop.

Additionally, the Google alerts tool will allow you will see which websites are showing up at the top of Google’s search results when people run web searches for the topics and keyword phrases that you have registered.  This information can be of great benefit to your search engine optimization strategy.  It can also help you identify websites with which you might want to exchange backlinks.  You might even identify new competitors to your industry with the help of the Google alerts tool.