I had to give this some thought because I can live without a lot of things

But when it comes to monitoring what is happening in the markets I want to follow, hands down Google Alerts is right up there on my list of must have tools.

If you aren’t using Google Alerts, or aren’t familiar with what it is let me give you a quick brief description.  Google Alerts is a free tool that updates you with information you wish to track or monitor online.  Updates are sent directly to your email box as frequently as you request.

Here are the top 3 ways I use this awesome tool in my business:

1.    Monitor news (press releases, event announcements, etc.) in any industry you wish to follow.  If you ever wonder what to write about in your blog or ezine, monitoring a news story or industry trend and sharing your point of view about it will do the trick!

2.    Track how often and where your name or business name is mentioned online.  This gives you great fuel for follow-up articles or interview opportunities you can present and give your personal brand a powerful boost.  This is a great way to gather information that will portray you as an industry expert – a place where people can find what others are saying about you!

3.    Track any news or other mentions of a competitor, company you’d like to do business with, or existing clients.  For new business development, this is an especially powerful resource.

There is something to be said for having the right information at your fingertips.  But like anything else, it’s what you do with what you know that makes all the difference.

What’s your favorite, can’t live without Internet tool?  Why?  As always, your comments are truly welcome!