Google Ads and Alexa: Two great Apps That (can) Work Great Together
Public relations runs on timing, memory, and the ability to stay two steps ahead of the conversation. No single tool can do it all, which is why PR professionals end up juggling a roster of digital helpers. If you are as old as me, you might remember the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups commercial with the peanut butter jar and the chocolate bar colliding in every possible way. The tagline was, Two great tastes that taste great together. That is exactly what happens when you pair Google Apps with ALEXA. On their own, each tool is useful. Google Apps manages your work in the cloud, while ALEXA manages your reminders out loud. Put them together and you get something better than either one alone: a partnership that covers both the quiet and the noisy sides of PR.
Google Apps and Amazon’s Alexa
A Partnership that encourages tracking.
Image: Mirage Thrams
Google Apps: Collaboration Is is love language.
Google Alerts
The Quiet Stalker You Actually Need
Image: Lamon Thrams
Photo Credit: Mirage Thrams
What It Does:
Google Alerts keeps an eye on the internet for you. Type in the names, brands, or keywords you care about, and it will slip results into your inbox without you lifting a finger. (Google, 2025)
How It Works:
You enter search terms, set your delivery preferences, and choose how often you want results. The tool monitors news, blogs, and websites, then emails you whenever your terms appear. (Determ, 2023).
PR Power Move:
Stay on top of trending topics and conversations. Google Alerts helps you stay aware of media mentions, speaking opportunities, and competitor activity without constant searching. Update your keywords periodically.
(Image: Mirage Thrams)
The Upside ☝🏾 It is free and simple to set up.
The Downside 👇🏾 Alerts can be too broad and it does not capture content behind paywalls.
Runaway Groom- But Where is He?
He lives in your laptop, your tablet, and your phone. He is the groom who shows up in your browser tabs, tucked inside Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. If you have Wi-Fi, he is there. If you have a cloud, he is already in it. He is the one who remembers your files better than you do, follows you from office to coffee shop, and keeps receipts on every draft you ever made. And that’s okay, isn’t it?
Ever Chatty
ALEXA is the assistant who talks back.
Image: Mirage Thrams
How much is this setting us back?
Google Alerts is completely free. There are no tiers, upgrades, or hidden features locked behind payment. Anyone with an email address can set up alerts and start receiving notifications. (Determ, 2023)
That said: The cost of using your equipment (Phone, laptop, desktop, rental fee). Shows that there is really no such thing as “free.”
Photo by: Mirage Thrams
ALEXA: No She Will Not Be Silenced (unless you choose that setting)!
What it Does: Alexa is Amazon’s voice assistant, and with the right setup it becomes a productivity tool for PR. No need for a keyboard or computer, she’s right by your “ear” (Amazon, 2025).
How It Works
Through your voice commands, Alexa can set reminders, deliver flash briefings, and connect with apps that expand its capabilities. By linking integrations like calendars and news feeds, Alexa keeps you updated hands-free.
Make it stand out
ALEXA delivers quick updates and reminders so you can manage deadlines, catch client mentions, and stay aware of industry news while on the move.
The Upside ☝🏾 Flash briefings provide instant news and client updates.
The Downside 👇🏾 Without custom integrations, Alexa is limited to basic tasks.
Runaway Bride -But Where is She?
ALEXA does not hide in your browser or wait quietly in a tab. She lives out loud on your desk, your nightstand, or your kitchen counter. She is the bride who speaks up in every room, tucked inside an Echo speaker or ready to answer in the Alexa mobile app. Wherever you plug her in, she is listening for her cue, ready to talk back with reminders, flash briefings, or whatever question you throw at her.
How much is this setting us back?
The ALEXA app itself is free to download and use, and all basic voice assistant functions come at no cost. Some integrations, like premium news services or third-party apps, may require their own subscriptions, but most PR-friendly features, such as reminders and flash briefings, are free. To get the full experience, you need an Echo device, which starts at about $50 for an Echo Dot and can run closer to $100 for the larger models (Wired, 2025; Security.org, 2025). In 2025, Amazon also introduced ALEXA+, a premium subscription with expanded AI features priced at $19.99 per month, though it is included for Prime members (Business Insider, 2025).
The Proof’s In The PR
PR is not about being everywhere at once, but it can feel like it. Google Apps keeps the receipts, ALEXA keeps the reminders, and together they keep you moving before the news cycle leaves you behind. That balance a quiet record-keeper and outspoken assistant, creates a workflow that is both watchful and responsive. If you are too young to remember the Reese’s commercial, congratulations on your youth. Instead of lamenting over your good health, use Google Alerts or ALEXA instead. For the rest of us, this pairing is proof that sometimes two very different flavors really do work best when they are together.
Mirage Thrams is a Public Relations Strategist and Laughtivist in Hollywood, CA
She is the founder and owner of Just Like a Mirage and Just Like A Mirage PR
Amazon. (2025). Alexa. Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/alexa
Business Insider. (2025, February). Alexa introduces Amazon Plus with new AI features. Business Insider.
https://www.businessinsider.com/alexa-introduces-amazon-plus-voice-new-ai-features-2025-2
Determ. (2023, August). Google Alerts: 6 key things you should know.
Determ. https://determ.com/blog/google-alerts-6-key-things-you-should-know/
Google. (2025). Google Alerts. Google. https://www.google.com/alerts
Security.org. (2025, July). How much does Alexa cost? Security.org.
https://www.security.org/smart-home/alexa/prime-day/
Wired. (2025, May). Best Alexa and Amazon Echo speakers.
Wired. https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-alexa-and-amazon-echo-speakers/
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