Google alert for Volunteer Management

Google doesn’t pay me. Let me make that clear first of all! They probablyy should though. Because I use a Google blog and I want to promote their service. I use Goggle search engine and have always found it the best. I will have mentioned this before but “Google alert” is simply fantastic in my view!

Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.

Enter the topic you wish to monitor, then click preview to see the type of results you'll receive. Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:

• monitoring a developing news story
• keeping current on a competitor or industry
• getting the latest on a celebrity or event
• keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

I use Google alert to keep up to date on volunteer management, volunteerism, and to find out if so key people or organisations are saying anything about my pet topic – Volunteer Management.

Astute organisations I believe have caught on the Google alert. Why? Because they are savvy enough to know that is important to monitor what people are saying about them or about their sector. Thus giving them a chance to respond if something contentious is raised!

Astute public relations or Marketing people know about this.

So what has this got to do with Volunteer Management?

Well let’s try this – I think that Volunteer Management is in a catch up status when it comes to Social media. After all, how many sites, blogs twitters, etc do you see solely concentrating on volunteer management? Its growing though. And it will grow further. More people will blog and more people will comment on volunteer management. Online discussions amongst volunteer managers are already happening.

If Volunteer Managers who are committed to their sector, peak bodies for volunteering, or government ministers responsible for volunteering, or national associations for volunteer management or volunteering involving organisations or academics or trainers or consultants in volunteerism or management are not keeping up to date on what people are saying on this subject matter then they are sorely missing out. Or behind the times. Or disadvantaged by lack of knowledge.

Not only is it important to know what is going on in your sector it is important to know what people are saying about you!

I have “DJ Cronin” on alert for example. Just in case someone is agreeing or disagreeing with me somewhere online! It gives me the chance to respond.
I also am interested in any new comments from a number of key people and organisations in volunteer management. So anytime that, say, someone like Jayne Cravens writes a new comment I am alerted to that fact.

Heres a test:

Points of Light

AAVA

Volunteering Australia

Volunteering New Zealand

Volunteering England

Susan J Ellis

people first total soloutions

Andy Fryar

hands on network

Volunteering Queensland



Here I just mentioned a few people or organisations known to me. Now if they have a Google alert they will know within 24 hours that they have been mentioned in this blog!

They may also then be astute enough to simply reply to this blog and say “yep DJ – got my eye on the ball!”

Which is a good thing for volunteer management!

Let’s wait and see.........