These days, it isn’t enough to have your Aunt Gladys keeping an eye out for your reputation. Online information flows fast – Gladys is going to need help. Google Alerts, a service provided free by Google, sends updates directly to your email account whenever there are new Google results for your personalized search terms.

Use Google Alerts to

· Monitor online references to your name or website
· Track mention of your important clients
· Get the latest in industry news

To sign up, visit the Google Alerts home page at http://www.google.com/alerts. Enter the topic(s) you want to monitor, your email address, and how often you would like to receive the updates. You may also choose the specific type of sites – such as blogs, news articles or web pages – you’d like Google to watch for you. You’ll soon receive a confirmation email. Click the link in the mail to activate your new alert.

It is possible to create up to 1,000 alerts at a time. Use the “Manage Your Alerts” page to change settings or remove alerts. To access this management page, you’ll need to create a Google account – but it requires only your email address and a password.

Stay a leap ahead of your competitors – and your nosey relatives. Set Google Alerts for a current, comprehensive picture of your world on the Web.