One of the most effective tools for your freelance business can be Google Alerts. How it works is simple: you create search terms, and every time something new turns up in the news or in the blogosphere with that particular search term, you’ll be sent a notification.

Some of the alerts writers can create include:

1. Your name. It’s important to know where your byline is popping up and when. By creating an alert for your name, you’ll know when people are talking about you or your work, something is published, and if someone is misusing your work.

2. Topics of interest. For instance, “Beijing Olympics.” If you’ve created an alert for that particular term, then every time there’s a mention of the Beijing Olympics in the news, you’ll be notified. Very convenient if it’s a topic you write about regularly.

3. Places of interest. Moving to another country or city? Create an alert for that location and you’ll find news, views, and other articles of interest about that location.

4. Titles of articles you’ve written. This helps to identify when there’s misuse of your work or if it’s ever plagiarized.

Any other ideas?