Do not index
Do not index
Having built several third-party integrations, I’ve learned how crucial it is to track conversations about them. Staying in the loop helps you find new customers and provide timely support to existing ones.
Manually checking forums or searching for mentions gets overwhelming fast, and it’s not the best way to respond in real-time. While many tools are built for this, I’ve found that a simple setup with Google Alerts and Slack works just as well.
Here’s how I use this setup to stay on top of social chatter around add-ons at Lunch Pail.
1. Gather your keywords
I focus on three main categories: direct mentions of the integration, use cases, and competitor mentions.
Direct mentions usually signal support questions or users needing help. Use-case keywords help spot potential users looking for solutions, while competitor mentions highlight where users are frustrated with existing tools.
Building integrations for established platforms gives me access to forums where users openly share their needs. I use this to find relevant keywords and fine-tune my searches to get the most useful results from Google Alerts.
Here’s a sample of the keywords I use for the SmartSuite plugin for Bubble:
Direct mentions
- Smartsuite Bubble
- site:forum.bubble.io SmartSuite
- site:community.smartsuite.com bubble
Use-case keywords
- site:forum.bubble.io project management tool
- site:community.smartsuite.com custom interface
- site:community.smartsuite.com client portal
- site:community.smartsuite.com dashboard
Competitor keywords
- site:forum.bubble.io Airtable
- site:community.smartsuite.com Softr
- site:community.smartsuite.com WeWeb
This curated approach helps me track support feedback, find competitor pain points, and spot opportunities to plug my integrations where users are looking for solutions.
2. Create an RSS Feed
Next, I set up Google Alerts and make sure to choose the RSS Feed option for delivery.
This enables alerts to stream directly into Slack as they happen.
3. Connect to Slack
After that, I add the RSS app for Slack. I copy the RSS feed link by right-clicking the RSS icon on the alert and selecting “Copy link address”.
I set up a dedicated Slack channel, like #mentions-add-ons, to track these conversations.
Now, I get alerts whenever relevant conversations pop up!
4. Limits of This Approach
While this method is lightweight and effective, Google Alerts doesn’t track social mentions (like on Twitter or LinkedIn). Depending on your needs, that might be fine, but for deeper insights, you can try a tool like Syften.
And that’s it! With this setup, I can quickly respond when needed—whether it’s a feature request, a support question, or just someone talking about a use case that my plugin solves.
It’s a simple but powerful way to stay on top of your integrations and gives me peace of mind, knowing I’m not missing anything important while working on the next big thing.
What do you use to track mentions? I’d love to hear about it—send me a note.
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