As writers and freelancers, it’s imperative that we stay “in-the-know.” Depending upon what aspect of the industry we’re working in, we need to stay informed of job opportunities, book promotions, conventions and (of course) what others might be saying about our work. About two months ago, I started using a neat little trick that I picked up from work and I’ve been really happy with the results.
How Google Alert Works
If you have a GMail account, simply click on this URL. http://www.google.com/alerts. Enter in your keywords into the field, choose how you want your Google Alert mailed to you, and start receiving info!
It’s not really clear how Google pulls the information. I’ve received results that are dated a few years ago, but I’ve also seen results pop up really quickly for blog posts, so be sure to follow through and read the links in your Google Alert.
Keywords in Mind
The key thing to remember here is that Google Alerts work the same way Google does, so without good keywords, you’re probably not going to get great results. I wrote about the concept in an earlier post about writing for the web and more recently, using keywords to sell your work. From learning about potential job opportunities to staying abreast of specific topics to blog about or read up on, this Google feature is a huge time-saver.
Google Yourself
Have you whined about your obsession with Johnny Depp on MySpace? Are you on YouTube singing “Eye of the Tiger?” We all have embarrassing moments, but the trick to successfully managing your reaction to them professionally is to see what’s out there. I recently met a really nice lady who works for the Madison Public School District who’s full-time job is to research prospective employees, and I’m sure she’s not the only one out there.
Identifying potential causes for concern may be going a bit too far (For example, I can sometimes be self-conscious about being a female game designer and genre author based on knee-jerk reactions I’ve gotten in the past.) but at the very least it can’t hurt you, especially when you’re in the market for a new job.