Google Alerts should be a key part of monitoring the success of your

search engine optimization. It's very simple to set up and gives you

important real time information about your website.

Cool Reason # 1

Tracking Backlinks

Google Alerts enables you to track whenever a backlink is connected to

your website. By using this method as soon as your site gets a new

backlink you'll be informed.

The solution is at http://www.google.com/alerts

Go to that URL and enter this

Search Term: link:www.yourdomain.com

Type: Web

How often: as it happens

Deliver to: <your email>

Now as soon as your site gets a new backlink Google will send you email

to let you know.

Cool Reason # 2

Finding Out When Your Web pages Are Indexed

You can use Google Alerts to discover when new pages from your website

are indexed.

This time you use the search term site:www.yourdomain.com .

Cool Reason # 3

Discovering Where Your Competitors Get Their Backlinks From

A smidge sneaky but you can use Cool Reason # 1 to track your

competitor's backlinks. Everytime their site gets a new backlink you'll

receive a notification from Google. This means that you can monitor

their linkbuilding campaigns. You can then also get your backlinks from

the same sites.