Some of its users might have been experiencing problems with Google Alerts lately. Many of these people are complaining that they either don’t receive as many alerts as they have in the past, or none at all. And nobody is really sure what is causing these issues. Nonetheless, it’s still a hassle, especially when you rely on Google Alerts. If you’re sick and tired of waiting to see if Google Alerts gets any better, try some alternatives. While they might not be perfect, it’s worth trying them out so you’re not totally relying on Google Alerts.
1. Mention
While not necessarily free, this media monitoring app does offer more advanced tools so you can get the most out of your alerts. Mention allows users to monitor any keyword (including social media networks) and gives you results in real time, either as a daily or weekly email digest or push notifications. Other features include in-app social media integration, detailed reports, team alerts and more. You can use Mention on a web-based app or the app for PC, Mac or Linux. There is also the option of using it on iOS or Android mobile devices. You can use their free account or a paid one starting at $6.99 a month.
2. SocialMention
SocialMention helps to keep you updated by providing conversations that are taking place across blogs, news, social media and other media outlets. Not only that, but it provides trending keywords and hashtags and a sentiment analysis which is exportable. You can also get email alerts for any keyword you want to monitor including which social media platforms you want included.
3. Talkwalker Alerts
For users looking for something a bit more minimalist and similar to Google Alerts, Talkwalker Alerts may be your best choice. Once you sign up, you can get alerts on your brand, competitors, and other relevant topics. Talkwalker is not only free to use, but it resembles the old Google Alerts layout and alerts are sent to either your RSS feed reader or via email. All you need to do is enter a search query and customize it by the result types you want, language, and frequency of alerts.
4. Topsy
You can compare up to 3 queries with this social search engine. Users can create alerts. All you have to do is sign in with either Facebook or Twitter and away you go. If you’re looking to customize your alerts, however, you want to stay away from this option. Topsy alerts are sorted according to how influential Twitter users are, so the most relevant hits are at the top.
5. Meltwater News
For PR professionals or anyone wanting to stay on top of industry level coverage on the web, Meltwater News is a great option. It helps users keep track of companies, competitors, names and more. This software helps users search more than 200,000 blogs, social media platforms and news publications. Try out for a trial account, and if you like it, you can contact them for a paid account.
Conclusion
No longer do you need to rely solely on Google Alerts to keep up to date on news, social media trends, or even information on your brand. Even if you use just one of the above alternatives, you can be assured that you’ll get the alerts you need when you need it. Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments below.
