If you’ve ever wished that your company would invest in a press clipping such as BurrellesLuce, check out Google Alerts.  Currently in its Beta version, Google alerts will scan the Web for news about your company, your clients or your competitors.  It then automatically sends you emails with the stories.  It’s also a terrific way to monitor the results of your own communications efforts.

And here’s the best part—IT’S FREE.  Check it out at: http://www.google.com/alerts.

Of course, you can also use it to track your favorite sports team, movie star or politician, but that could result in a lot of alert messages in your inbox.