The tool is called Google Alerts.
In this article I will show you how to,
step by step, set up and get started with Google Alerts.
Before you can use Google Alerts you
have to open a Google account.
If you have a Gmail email account you
already have a Google account and can go to Step Two.
Opening a Google Account is very easy
and can be done quickly by clicking
here and filling the five fields.
If you do not want Google to record
your internet activities be sure to un-check “Enable Web History”.
To see how click here
Be sure to make a note of the email
address and password you selected as you will need it to log into
Google Alerts in future.
Once you have opened your Google
Account you have to go to Google Alerts by clicking
here.
First log into your Google Account by
entering the email and password you chose in step one.
Once you have logged in you can create
your first alert by clicking on “creating one” in the middle of
the page. To see where click
here
The
best way to create an alert is to first create a search in Google
and, after you are happy with the result, cut and paste the search
text into Google Alerts.
Open
up a second internet browser window and go to the Google search page
by clicking
here
Type
the search criteria in the Google search box, for example “Hornby
plc” including the brackets. I used the brackets because I want to
search for exactly that search term.
For
more information on how to get the most out of searching the internet
with Google take a look at the following two articles:
Once
you are happy with the Google search result mark the text in the
search box and press the right mouse button while holding the mouse
pointer over the marked text.
Select
copy from the menu and click on the internet browser page that is
open at Google Alerts.
Press
the right mouse button while holding the mouse pointer in the box
below “Search terms” and select paste from the menu. It should
then look like this.
I
usually leave the other menu options unchanged.
Click
on “Create Alert” on the right hand side to finish the process, over here.
Congratulations
you have created your first alert!
You
can use Google Alerts to automate a search for anything you can think
of. Your name in quotes may for example be a good idea so that you
can see where in the internet your name appears.
I
have found that Google Alerts work best for information on small and
mid sized companies.
Large companies generate too much information
and the results are overwhelming and not very useful.
Do
not be concerned that your search may not be perfect first time. The
Alert email you receive has a link to let you easily change the
search text so that the information you receive becomes more and more
relevant as you refine the search.
Have you signed up for my free weekly newsletter "Investing that makes sense" yet?
Sign up now and receive
articles like this in your inbox weekly.
And if you sign up now you will also receive a
10 page free bonus report - Enhanced Checklist for Equity Investors - with over
30 proven checklist items to improve your investment returns.
I respect your privacy - Privacy
Policy
Your
alert analyst
PS.
I have started a blog or web diary where I write about reports or
articles I have found of value. I write something about three times a week and
have set up a separate email or RSS feed where you can sign up.
To
have a look and sign up for the blog click
here
P. S. You simply have to invest when you find a good company in the software industry.
Here’s why.
A software company, once its development and fixed costs are covered, generates just about pure profit on each additional sale as the cost to produce an additional CD is virtually zero.
This month I stumbled onto exactly such a company when searching for an investment to recommend to my subscribers.
The company is trading at a price to earnings ratio of under 12. I agree this does not seem like a bargain but remember 2009 was a difficult year for all companies.
The company is even cheaper based on its price to free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital investment) of 8.7 times. This means the theoretical dividend the company can pay with the cash it generates is nearly 11.5%.
The only valuation measure (I look at 7) the company is not cheap on is its dividend yield of only 2.1%. This is due to it using cash to pay down debt taken on to pay for an acquisition.
But as the debt is nearly all repaid there is a lot of room for a substantial increase.
To find out how you can also get ideas like this monthly click here.
