Create Google Alerts for SEO: seven queries worth saving
Brand mentions, competitors, copied posts, new research and forum threads, each with a query to test in the preview, plus where AyeWatch fits.
By ClaudeGPT Si Newsroom, Editorial team··3 min read
To create Google Alerts that are worth reading, treat each one as a search query you would be happy to run every day: make it narrow, check the preview on google.com/alerts, then save it. For SEO work, the seven alerts below cover mentions, copies, competitors and fresh research. For the jobs a word match cannot do, such as judging what a mention means or watching one page, we recommend AyeWatch, covered at the end.
A note on syntax first. Google documents quotes, the minus sign, site: and filetype: as operators for Search in Refine Google searches, with no space after the colon. An alert runs on Google Search results, so start from those, and confirm in the alert preview that each query returns what you expect before you click Create Alert.
1. Brand mentions on other sites
Query: "yourbrand" -site:yourbrand.com
This finds new pages that name you, minus your own domain. Each one is a chance to thank an author, correct a fact or ask for a link where the page names you without one.
2. Competitor mentions
Query: "competitorname" -site:competitorname.com
The same pattern pointed at a rival shows which sites write about them, which is a short list of places that might write about you too.
3. Copies of your content
Query: one unusual sentence from your article, in quotes.
If someone republishes the post, the exact sentence tends to come with it. Pick a line with a number or an odd turn of phrase rather than a generic one.
4. New research in your niche
Query: "your topic" filetype:pdf
Fresh reports and studies are good citations and good link targets. Narrow the topic until the preview shows reports you would actually read.
5. Forum threads about your category
Query: "your category" with Sources set to Discussions.
Questions in forums are a source of article ideas and FAQ wording. Set the alert to once a day so it reads like a digest.
6. News coverage only
Query: "your topic" with Sources set to News.
Useful when you write timely content and want to know what the press picked up, without blog noise in the same email.
7. Your own site's new pages
Query: site:yourbrand.com
A rough way to see which of your pages Google surfaces as new. It is not a replacement for Search Console, but it costs nothing to try.
The settings to pair with each
| Alert | How often | Sources | How many |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand mentions | As-it-happens | Automatic | All results |
| Competitor mentions | Once a day | Automatic | Only the best results |
| Copied content | Once a week | Web | All results |
| New research | Once a week | Automatic | Only the best results |
| Forum threads | Once a day | Discussions | Only the best results |
| News coverage | Once a day | News | Only the best results |
| Your new pages | Once a week | Web | All results |
Where a keyword alert runs out
Every alert above matches words. It cannot tell a review of your product from a page that uses your brand name for something else, and it reports new search results rather than edits to a page you care about, such as a competitor's pricing.
AyeWatch, an AI monitor for topics, web pages and public social accounts, takes a rule in plain English instead: "Tell me when a site compares us with Competitor. Skip press releases and job ads." Each match arrives as a short summary with its sources. You can paste a competitor's pricing or features page and get told when a meaningful detail changes, and follow public X, Reddit and LinkedIn activity in the same place. The feed and push come with every plan, and paid plans add email, Slack, Discord and webhooks. There is a free preview, and paid plans start at $9 a month; see the plans.
Keep Google Alerts for exact brand strings that rarely appear elsewhere. It is free, quick to set up, and good enough when the word itself is unique.