Back in June, TechCrunch asked if the newly implemented Google Alerts changes, specifically the removal of “WEB” alerts to an “EVERYTHING” option, was the “beginning of the end for Google Alerts.”  After about a month since the changes, I still love the Google Alerts service — even while it’s still in beta.  I’ve used it monitor to the latest relevant Google results (blogs, news, etc.) specific to the Adventures in Library Instruction podcast, as well as topics of interest (e.g., “information literacy,” “information fluency,” etc.)

example of Web alert for "information literacy"

example of blog alert for "information literacy"

I’ve found that I still get up-to-date notices on topics and subjects that of which I try to stay “in the know.”  Apparently, some people who originally had the WEB option selected stopped getting updates with the EVERYTHING option.   I, however, did not run into that problem.  Google recommends for those who find they “aren’t getting any results, try changing the “email length” field to “up to 50 results” – this will result in looser filtering, giving you more possible results.”

examples of options in google alert searches

Try it for a variety of reasons –  track an area of research interest, a political topic, a business and/or library, or your ex-boy/girlfriend.  You never know what you may find out, as well as who’s talking/blogging about topics of interest to you!