Meathead, guys,
First - want to thank you for sharing this amazing experience with us. Got my main online asset killed by that zoo updates, so was looking for something safe from upcoming animals. Looks like I found where to re-start

So..
I've read all the pages in this thread, my site is up & ready to be promoted (I set up a review site for some physical product group), but I still have serious probs with my Google Alert configuration. Let us imagine I've set up a site with reviews for lawn mowers as an example.
I also assume that I should get traffic from forum threads where topic starter requested some info on:
1) lawn mower reviews exactly (i.e.: "Please advise some good mower review sites")
2) lawn mower choice-related question (i.e.: "Which lawn mower is better - gas or electric?")
3) exact model/brand - related question (i.e.: "Any experience with HUSQVARNA RZ3016 mower?")
I personally think that people from "unaware" buying stage would be useless for such a method.
Like, if I'd post a link into a thread similar to "How do I mow my lawn". Seems that that person is not going to buy anything yet.
First, he'll have to find out that he needs a mower. Then he'll research mowers' types and think that he wants a gas mower.
That is where I should steal him from forums. Right?

If not, please correct me (with some explanatory comment, if possible).
So with alerts I'd set this keyword list:
- lawn mower reviews
- gas lawn mowers
- electric lawn mowers
- HUSQVARNA RZ3016
In fact, I did so. And get zero results in my inbox for over 300 alerts.
(well, actualy I get a couple each day or 2, but that's enough only to confirm that Alerts service is still alive, not for marketing)
All alerts are set as per your advice: all results, discussions, send immideatelly.
But my box is empty. What do I do wrong? Please help
Meathead, wouldn't it be too impertinently to ask you to post an example of keywords you would use for Alerts in some example niche?
Prefferably, something from physical goods area
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PS: I'm not a native English-speaker, please forgive my possible errors.