Setting Up A Google Alert for Your Winery

Want to know when someone mentions your winery online? It's easy, and it's free.  Just set up a Google Alert. 

Here's how:

1. Go to the Google Alerts home page.  You'll see a box titled "Create a Google Alert" at the right.
2. Fill in the name of your winery in the Search Terms box. For best results, enclose the name of your winery in double-quotes (e.g. "acme winery").
3. Leave the Type drop-down box set to "Comprehensive", which will search news, blogs, and the Web (although you can select to get alerts based on any one of News, Blogs, Web, Video, or Groups).
4. Choose How often you'd like to receive your alert (I'd recommend leaving it set to "once a day").
5. Enter your e-mail address.
6. Click "Create Alert".
7. Wait for the confirmation e-mail and click on the enclosed link to verify your alert (otherwise, nothing will happen).

Now anytime your winery name turns up in the top search results for news, blogs, or the Web, you'll receive an e-mail.

If you're really serious about using this terrific free service, you'll want to read the FAQ and sign up for a free Google Account (required for advanced features, which are still free).

What are you waiting for?

(Update: I modified #2 above, since putting acme winery in double-quotes makes Google search for the word acme followed immediately by the word winery, which is really what you want.  You may want to set up different alerts for common alternatives, e.g. Acme Winery, Acme Vineyards, Acme Winery and Vineyards, Acme Wines, etc.)

Comments

[Paul Mabray]

Mike,
Candidly - that is one of the best tips posted for a winery in a long time. Knowing what people are saying about your product allows you to engage in the community in a healthy way.

Paul Mabray - Chief Strategy Officer

Inertia - Powering the Wine Revolution

[Mike Duffy]

Thanks for the good words, Paul. This is something that even a harried small winery owner can find time to do, and I hope the easy instructions will encourage them to do it.