I can't use Google Alerts for my name.... 'cause then I get every single instance on the international interwebs where someone has said "Alan may be released from jail, soon ..." since my last name is also used in lots and lots of sentences.

d'oy!

Do you have yourself set up for Google Alerts as 'your name activerain'?

AR stuff comes up for me Googling my own name, but I don't have an alert set up specifically for my AR posts so it might be something to check out.

It's a great question!

The only time my name or company name appears from an AR post on Google alerts if I tag or link my name or other keywords I have set up for Google alert. 
I believe the reason AR posts just don't show up is that we are the author of the posts and Google knows who we are. 

Interesting but, I have to say that Google Alerts are not alerting me like they once did on anything. I don't think it's limited only to failing to index AR posts.

GREAT question Lyn Sims . I can only imagine what a huge boost each one of us would get if it worked properly. That being said, when I Google my name it shows a lot of my activity here in the rain.

Google Alerts has been acting up for a few years now. It does not work for all queries.

You could try deleting the existing alert and re-entering it.

You could also try different alerts like:

- "Lyn Sims"
- "Lyn Sims" "Lyn on Pinterest" (just your AR blogs)
- "Lyn Sims" activerain.com (anything on AR)

great question and many good answers....

Now that you mention it, you have brought up an excellent point. I have the same set up and can't remember when Google Alerts last sent me anything. I may need to go in and recheck my settings.

As to why? Why? Why? All I can say is Who Knows? Who Knows? Who Knows?

No eye deer

Good question but I haven't put much time/effort into "alerts" for a few years. It still amazes me when I get a contact me and while they don't typically reference ActiveRain I know AR is the source.  

Lyn,

From the many people that are working in Google or have worked there, we have met, Google is notorious in not following through on their ideas like Google plus.  They are also notorious on coming up with stuff like "we will not read your gmail" and ten days later admitting that they are...In all likelyhood, they are not following through.  Google moves in mysterious ways!  A

I get Google alerts when I publish on Active Rain.

Yes.  I've never had them pick up AR either.

This one is above my pay grade.

Good question Lyn. Worthy of some research.

I agree with you, not like it use to be.

WHY, WHY WHY?

valide observation and question here...lets find out Little Lyn

Yes, I have noticed this, it seems to only grab from mainline media.

Haven't thought of this for quite some time Lyn. Just went and updated anyway!

I haven’t been paying attention but will now that you mention this, Lyn. I have my name and variations set up too and can’t recall AR posts showing up for my name. Time to do some cleaning up and see what happens.

Interesting, I'll set up it too.

Interesting, will do allert too.

Google and FB are constantly changing things. It can be frustrating. You can have something working well and they make a change that destroys all your hard work.

I agree, only get the obituaries.  Hard to start the day out like that!  

I see both sides of the story now.

I have Google Alert set up. Results are RARELY about me but about someone else with the same name. I should probably revisit the settings.

Yes, the same. I have a few alerts for my name, my pro name, for location i work in, I never had an AR post. 

I haven't used Google alerts in quite some time but also no work is being done on the site by the owners to strengthen SEO.

Google alerts never were accurate nor timely. Canceled it after getting too many articles from previous years.

Too many "Wayne Martin's" in the world for me to try! So for me there is no "why" since I don't try!

Thanks for sharing your experience.