Google Alert!

H

hostaaddict

New member
Earlier this year I set up a Google alert for my name. It just popped into my mailbox again today and I see I won a Halo 3 game from the Casey's sweep that ended a month ago. I haven't received any notification but when I followed the link, my name is on the winner's list. Just thought maybe some might not be aware you can set up such an alert.

Funny, right as I posted this and went to look at winners lists on this forum, I found the Caseys list. SA rocks!
 
Just an FYI for some using the Google Alert

We get them all the time but make sure you check the site showing your name to see exactly what your name came up for. More times than not, the name shows up just for having entered it into a sweepstakes. Sometimes, looking at the alert, it appears you won something when you really haven't.
 
hostaaddict said:
Earlier this year I set up a Google alert for my name. It just popped into my mailbox again today and I see I won a Halo 3 game from the Casey's sweep that ended a month ago. I haven't received any notification but when I followed the link, my name is on the winner's list. Just thought maybe some might not be aware you can set up such an alert.

Funny, right as I posted this and went to look at winners lists on this forum, I found the Caseys list. SA rocks!
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Congrats!! Alot of times, the prize just shows up like in the Old Bay Sweepstakes (they also had a winner's list).
 
Thanks! I think that is probably what they are doing. Just sending out the prize without notifying. I have never had a Google alert pop up for just entering though. I imagine too if you had a more common name it might be popping up all the time for other things too. LOL! It added a little drama to an otherwise boring Saturday night. :sunny:
 
Our last name is very uncommon; but if you know enough about me, you'll know how many sweeps I enter--alot!! Alot of times, the name popping up from sweepstakes entries might be from where you post a comment, in a blog, etc. It never comes directly off of an entry form.
 
I use the google alert but probably don't have it set up the way I should. I just set it up as my name.winner. I get quite a few alerts but it's news stories and such but nothing about prizes or contest I may have won. I have won so many contest that I am suprised I don't get any of those alerts. How do you set yours up?
 
The Google Alert is not a perfect way of finding your name on the internet whatsoever. It will send you alerts long after your name has been on a website for awhile, it will send you duplicate alerts, and it also misses many sites that may have your name posted on it. Personally, I don't find it all that it's cracked up to be.
 
I really like the google alert. I have several set up since different sites use different variations. like name, city, state. while others will only have first intial, last name and state. I think I have 7. The only time I have a problem is during racing season. female race car driver has same name. :cry:
 
LOL! No one has my name so it makes it simple. I just put it down as my full name, as that is what I always use to enter sweeps with. I don't even have a middle name. :sunny:
 
Make sure you put the name combination in quotes. This way, it will only pull that exact combination. I really wouldn't suggest going with "first name, last inital". That combination will be pulling up all kinds of stuff that won't have anything to do with you. It ends up being too common a combination. Unless, of course, you have some really off-the-wall first name! :laughing:
 
I don't think I've been doing it right either.

What do the quotes do? And how would it look...like this? "First Last" winner?
 
mtejen said:
I don't think I've been doing it right either.

What do the quotes do? And how would it look...like this? "First Last" winner?
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Whenever you put more than one word in quotes, it tells the search engine to look for that exact combination of words. So, yes, you would put in "First Last". It really isn't necessary to put in "winner". Even with winner added, Google is still going to pull up anything with the exact name you put in.
 
greensthings said:
http://www.google.com/alerts
and on that page have it set to look for "news and web" and "as-it-happens"
hints for google alerts...
put your name in quotation marks
like this "Jane Doe"
add +winner and +your state for best results...
will look like this "Jane Doe"+winner+WI
and you should get more accurate (and faster) results!
for best results get a google alert set for each of the following;
"Jane Doe"+winner+WI
"Jane Doe"+WI
"Jane Doe"+winner
"Jane Doe"
Click to expand...
 
LIDARKSIDE said:
Unless, of course, you have some really off-the-wall first name! :laughing:
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That's me! Anikka...atleast my spelling is not common at all. I very occasionally get alerts for Annika Sorenstam (a LPGA member) when people spell her name wrong. Otherwise it's all me...I also have a unique last name (i am with out a doubt related to everyone with my last name) so if I google my full name the results are all about me!
 
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