Setting up alerts for Google (websites, blogs, news articles) and Google Scholar (journal literature) involves separate but simple processes. Follow the instructions given here that correspond with the type of web sources you would like to receive.
To establish a literature alert in Google Scholar:
1. Go to scholar.google.com and perform a search.
2. In the left column of the results screen, click 
.
3. Enter your email address, choose number of results to be sent in each alert, then click the create alert button.
4. Look for the verification email in your inbox to activate the alert.
To establish a Google alert for websites, news, blogs, etc.:
1. Go to alerts.google.com.
2. Enter your search query.
3. Choose the type of source you would like to receive: news, blogs, video, discussion boards, books, or automatic (everything on the open web).
4. Choose how often you would like to receive email alerts.
5. Enter your email address and click the create alert button.
6. Look for the verification email in your inbox to activate the alert.
