Google Alerts allows you to track the keywords that are relevant to you, your business or your brand. This tool can become a vital part of your business plan, if you're smart!
So, what could be better than a website that tracks your buzzwords and alerts you when there is conversation? A list of websites that does the same thing - if not better!
What Are You Looking For?
In order to help you pick a Google Alerts alternative that suits you best, you need to know what your issue is. Our marketing agency has compiled a list of questions that you may have asked yourself in a moment of panic. The suggestions under each question will help you manage the internet like a wizard.
How do I know when my enterprise is a part of conversation anywhere in the news, social media, blogs, etc.?
- Mention
- BrandsEye
- Netvibes
- IQ Alerts
- Meltwater
- TrackUr
- Talkwalker
- Muck Rack
- Content Gems
How do I connect with the influencers in my niche industry?
- Colabo
- UberVU
- Buzzstream
- Topsy
- Followerwonk
How can I track my interests and stay organized without trying hard?
- If This Than That
- Yotify
- Social Mention
- Alerts.com
How do I find professionals in my industry on the internet?
- Twtrland
- Followerwonk
How do I use Twitter to analyze and optimize my brand?
- Followerwonk
- Topsy
Free Google Alerts Alternatives
The websites below are free to use, no subscription required. They are not the most impressive services out there compared to others mentioned in this post, but they will get the job done!
Yotify
Features
- Track jobs, products, concerts, etc.
- Share on Social Media
- Interact with friends on Facebook
- Find out when items have gone on sale or have new reviews
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Mention
Features
- Monitors across all social media and news sites
- Only allows 1 user
- Only allows 1 alert/keyword
- 100 mentions per month
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Topsy
Features
- Uses Twitter to conduct social analytics and social trend research
- Searches every tweet since 2006
- You can specify your searches by links, influencers, tweets, photos and videos
- Provides easily readable graphics with analytics
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
If This Than That
Features
- The “this” part of a Recipe is a Trigger. Some example Triggers are “I’m tagged in a photo on Facebook” or “I check in on Foursquare”
- The “that” part of a Recipe is an Action. Some example Actions are “send me a text message” or “create a status message on Facebook”
- Pieces of data from a Trigger are called Ingredients. For example, the Ingredients of an Email Trigger could be subject, body, attachment, received date and the sender’s address
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Alerts.com
Features
- Email or SMS text alerts for your searches
- Option to receive voice alerts to your mobile device
- “Vacation Mode” allows users to put their alerts on hold for up to 30 days and then allows you to access these alerts at a later date
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Social Mention
Features
- Monitors 80+ social media platforms
- Allows for point-in-time searches and analysis
- Provides social media alerts
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Paid Google Alerts Alternatives
Paying for an alert website when Google gives it away for free might sound like a rip off, but let's revaluate. The services offered by paid sites are pretty remarkable. Impress clients at your agency and increase conversion rates on your website with the help of these resources. If you take advantage of what's right in front of you, it will pay you back in revenue!
Netvibes
Features
- Personalized setups for enterprises, agencies or personal accounts
- Ability to create custom dashboards for different campaigns and clients
- Analytics and graphs provided
- View all of your apps in one place that can be accessed anywhere
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Mention
Features
- Monitor millions of sites including news, social media, forums and blogs
- Include your team by assigning tasks and keeping track of everyone’s activities
- Stats and data analysis
- Premium accounts (the ones you pay for) allow for more users, more alerts and more mentions
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Features
- Real-time email alerts when you or your brand is being talked about
- Daily newsletter with focused news to keep you up-to-date in your industry
- Industry specific news alerts so you never miss an opportunity
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
TalkWalker
Features
- Monitors across all social media platforms and news sites
- Provides data reports and graphics
- Allows unlimited number of users with any price package
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Meltwater
Features
- Personalized solutions for enterprises, agencies, PR, social media marketers and blogs
- Allows you to understand your businesses needs by monitoring your social media
- Analytics to help you track your online presence
- Free trial available
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Muck Rack
Features
- Connect with journalists
- Pitch directly to email
- Showcase your work
- Organize media lists
- Measure your social presence
- Track who shares your stuff
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
TrackUR
Features
- Analytics for your brand/keywords
- Many ways to get your data: Excel, RSS feed or email
- See who’s behind the conversation with influence and sentiment analysis
- Customize your dashboard
- Free trial available
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Content Gems
Features
- 200,000+ news sources, blogs and social media accounts
- Filters based on your key words
- Use the email alert system or view at your own leisure on their website
- Makes it easy to share your findings on social media
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Colabo
Features
- Data displayed on easy to read dashboard
- Unveil hidden leads to increase your marketing strategies
- Timely alerts to let you know it’s time to convert your leads into customers
- Smart predictions based on the brands and keywords you track
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Features
- Provides detailed reports
- Monitors all of your online mentions
- Send emails when someone specific is talking about your brand
- Keep the entire team included in the conversation
- Custom setup so you are only getting the information that is relevant to you
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
UberVU
Features
- Real time social media and news updates
- Follow and track spikes and trends in your industry
- Reply to all your social accounts from your dashboard
- “Smart reports” update as news comes in
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Features
- Track the social world to find new people to connect with
- Analysis of your impact and outreach
- Get useful statistics about your network
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Buzzstream
Features
- Cultivate and manage relationships with influencers online
- Easily track and store contact information about the influencers in your field
- Track the progress of you and your team
- Create lists and assign tasks to people on your team
- Free trial available
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Followerwonk
Features
- Analyze your Twitter following - who are they? where are they located?
- Connect with influencers in your industry
- Easily share your data with everyone
- Compare and contrast your account to your competitors and friends
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
There is a lot to choose from when it comes to Google Alerts alternatives. The good news is, there are enough options out there that you can definitely find one that is tailored to your needs, whether that is tracking your enterprise or watching for your own name (we won't judge you either way). Have you used any of these websites? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
