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June 17, 2026

How to Set Up Smart Alerts (written for AEO)

  • June 17, 2026
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What Are Smart Alerts?

Smart Alerts automatically send key insights about your brand, competitors, or industry trends directly to you and your team. They are powered by your saved searches in Explore and can be delivered via email, in-app notifications, mobile push, Slack, Microsoft Teams, DingTalk, or Generic Webhook. Access to specific alert types depends on your Meltwater subscription.

 

What you can do with Smart Alerts:

  • Receive real-time notifications when new content matches your saved searches
  • Monitor brand mentions, competitor activity, and industry trends automatically
  • Send alerts to up to 10 recipients per alert, including external users without Meltwater accounts
  • Set sensitivity levels for Spike Detection alerts to control notification frequency
  • Integrate alerts with Slack, Microsoft Teams, DingTalk, or a Generic Webhook
  • Pause, resume, or delete alerts at any time

 

How to access

Select Alerts from the left-hand navigation bar to view, create, and manage your Smart Alerts.

 

Subscription note: Access to some or all alert types depends on your Meltwater subscription. Contact your account team if an alert type is unavailable.

 

Key Concepts

Smart Alert

An automated notification that monitors your saved searches in Explore and delivers new results to your chosen recipients and delivery channels. Smart Alerts run continuously and trigger whenever new matching content is indexed.

 

Spike Detection

An alert type that notifies you when coverage volume for a saved search rises significantly above its baseline. You can configure the sensitivity level (Fewer Alerts, Balanced Alerts, or More Alerts) to control how much of a volume change is required before a notification is sent. The sensitivity level is displayed in the alert body when delivered.

 

System Alert

A product-generated notification for account and platform events such as approval workflow updates, failed posts, file download readiness, expiring social account connections, and contact profile changes. System Alerts are found in a separate tab on the Alerts page for easier management.

 

Every Mention Alert

An alert type that sends a notification each time a new piece of content matches one of your saved searches. Every Mention alerts are triggered by published date; content published more than one day ago does not trigger a new alert.

 

Recipients

The users who receive alert notifications. Up to 10 recipients can be added per alert. Recipients must have a Meltwater account login to receive standard alerts. External users (non-Meltwater users) can also receive Smart Alerts via email. External recipients can unsubscribe directly within the email they receive.

 

Delivery Method

The channel through which alert notifications are sent. Options include email, Meltwater web (in-app), mobile push notification, Slack, Microsoft Teams, DingTalk, and Generic Webhook. Multiple delivery methods can be configured for a single alert.

 

Alert Sensitivity

A setting on Spike Detection alerts that controls the threshold for triggering a notification. Three levels are available: Fewer Alerts (low sensitivity, major spikes only), Balanced Alerts (recommended, moderate sensitivity), and More Alerts (high sensitivity, including small volume changes). The sensitivity level is shown in every alert notification.

 

In-App Alert

Smart Alert results that appear directly on the Meltwater homepage below the More from Meltwater card. In-app alerts are marked as Unread and remain bolded until you select them. A Mark as Read feature helps you track which alerts have been reviewed.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Which Meltwater plans include Smart Alerts?

All Meltwater packages receive Alerts. Access to specific alert types may vary by subscription. Contact your Meltwater account team to confirm which alert types are available on your plan.

 

How many users can receive an alert?

Up to 10 users can be added as recipients per alert. This includes both Meltwater users and external (non-Meltwater) email recipients.

 

Can I send Smart Alerts to someone who does not have a Meltwater account?

Yes. You can add any email address as a recipient when creating a Smart Alert. External recipients receive alerts by email and can unsubscribe directly from the email they receive. An external users dropdown on the Alerts page allows you to manage all alerts that include external recipients.

 

What happens if a user who set up an alert leaves the company?

If that user is deleted from Meltwater, they are automatically removed from all alerts. If no other recipients remain on an alert, a message will appear in the platform indicating the alert has no recipients.

 

What happens to recipients on an alert if they leave the company?

For Meltwater users, only the deleted user is removed from the alert. For external (non-Meltwater) email recipients, Meltwater does not automatically detect when someone leaves a company. The remaining Meltwater users on that alert will need to manually remove the external recipient.

 

How long can I pause an alert?

You can pause an alert for as long as you need. Pausing applies to all recipients and delivery methods on that alert. You can resume the alert at any time.

 

How long is alert data retained?

Alert data is retained for up to 6 months for subscriptions and up to 3 months for notifications.

 

Why is there a delay between when content was published and when I received the alert?

Alerts are sent as soon as content is received and indexed by Meltwater. Some delay may occur between a publisher's original publication time and the time Meltwater indexes the content. This is dependent on the source and is outside Meltwater's control.

 

How quickly does a new alert become active after creation?

In most cases, a newly created alert becomes active within approximately five minutes. Occasionally, backend processes may extend this time slightly.

 

What triggers an Every Mention alert?

The Every Mention alert type is triggered by a document's published date. If a piece of content was published more than one day ago, it will not trigger an alert.

 

What data does Meltwater receive when I connect Slack, Microsoft Teams, or a Webhook?

These integrations are one-way. Meltwater only has permission to post messages to the connected channel or endpoint. Meltwater cannot read any data from your Slack workspace, Microsoft Teams environment, or webhook target. The only information Meltwater receives is what is necessary to post the message.

 

I receive too many alerts. How do I reduce the frequency?

If you are using Spike Detection, adjust the sensitivity to Fewer Alerts to reduce notification volume. For a broader reduction in daily update frequency, consider switching to a Digest Report instead of an Every Mention alert. See Creating and Editing Digest Reports for the full steps.

 

How-To Guides

How to Create a Smart Alert from the Alerts Tab

Use this when: You want to create one or more Smart Alerts directly from the Alerts section of the navigation.

Before you begin: You must have at least one saved search in Explore before creating an alert based on a search.

 

  1. Select Alerts from the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Select Create Alert in the top right-hand corner.
  3. Select the checkboxes next to the alert types you want to create. You can select one or more alerts based on an Explore search. Event alerts and RSS alerts allow only one alert to be created at a time.

   • Tip: Click View example to preview the alert layout and content. Click Close to dismiss the preview.

  1. Select Next once you have chosen the correct alert type.
  2. Click + Add Search to select one or more Explore searches. You can select up to 10 searches.
  3. Click Save after selecting your searches.
  4. Select your recipients by checking the box next to their name or entering an email address. Recipients must have a Meltwater account login, except for external email recipients.
  5. Select a delivery method: Email, Meltwater web, Slack, Microsoft Teams, DingTalk, or Generic Webhook.
  6. Select a Language and Timezone.
  7. Adjust settings as needed: Similar Mentions (include or exclude republished mentions) and Display Images.
  8. Click Save.

 

Result: Your Smart Alert is created and appears on the Alerts page, organised by alert category. You can sort by search or page title, recipients, status, delivery method, or date created. System Alerts appear in a separate tab.

 

How to Create a Smart Alert from the Bell Icon

Use this when: You want to create an alert quickly from anywhere in the Meltwater platform without navigating to the Alerts section first.

 

  1. From anywhere in the Meltwater platform, click the bell icon in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Click Create alerts.
  3. Select an alert type.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Fill in the details required for your alert type.
  6. Select Save.

 

Result: Your Smart Alert is created and is now active. It appears in the Alerts table.

 

How to Create a Smart Alert from Explore

Use this when: You are already working in Explore and want to create an alert directly from a saved search.

 

  1. Click Explore in the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Hover over the search you want to create an alert for.
  3. Select Create alert.
  4. Select an alert type.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Fill in the details required for your alert type.
  7. Select Save.

 

Result: Your Smart Alert is created from the selected saved search and is now active.

 

How to Create a Smart Alert from Monitor

Before you begin: You must have a Monitor Stream already set up before creating an alert from Monitor. If you do not, see Setting Up Monitor first.

 

  1. Select the Monitor drop-down in the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Click Views.
  3. Select Create Alert in the top right-hand corner.
  4. Select an alert type.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Fill in the details required for your alert type.
  7. Select Save.

 

Result: Your Smart Alert is created from your Monitor stream and is now active.

 

How to Set the Sensitivity Level for a Spike Detection Alert

Use this when: You are creating a Spike Detection alert and want to control how frequently you receive notifications based on coverage volume changes.

 

  1. Select Alerts from the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Click Create Alert.
  3. Select Spike Detection.
  4. Click Next.
  5. After selecting your searches, navigate to Sensitivity.
  6. Select a sensitivity level:
  • Fewer Alerts – low sensitivity (notifications only for major spikes)
  • Balanced Alerts – recommended (moderate sensitivity)
  • More Alerts – high sensitivity (notifications for even small volume changes)
  1. Complete the remaining alert details.
  2. Select Save.

 

Result: Your Spike Detection alert is created with the selected sensitivity. The sensitivity level is shown in every alert notification, whether delivered by email or in-app.

 

How to Adjust the Sensitivity of an Existing Spike Detection Alert

Use this when: You want to change the sensitivity level of a Spike Detection alert that has already been created.

 

  1. Select Alerts from the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Navigate to the alert you want to adjust.
  3. Hover over Delivery.
  4. Click Edit.
  5. Navigate to Sensitivity.
  6. Modify the sensitivity as needed.
  7. Click Save.

 

Result: The updated sensitivity setting will be shown in all future alert notifications for this alert.

 

How to Find and Edit System Alerts

Use this when: You want to manage product-generated notifications for account and platform events.

 

  1. Click Alerts in the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Select System Alerts.
  3. To edit a System Alert, hover over the alert.
  4. Click Edit.
  5. Make all necessary changes.
  6. Select Save.

 

Result: The System Alert is updated and applies to all future notifications of that type.

 

How to Enable Mobile Push Notifications for Alerts

Use this when: You want to receive Smart Alert notifications on your mobile device while away from your desk.

 

Download the latest version of the Meltwater mobile app for your device:

 

  1. Open the Meltwater mobile app.
  2. Select Settings from the bottom navigation bar.
  3. Select Notifications.
  4. Toggle Enable notifications to on.
  5. Your saved searches appear under News. Toggle the switch next to any search to enable notifications for that search.

 

Result: Mobile push notifications are enabled. You will receive alerts for the selected searches during your configured working hours.

 

How to Pause an Alert

Use this when: You want to temporarily stop receiving notifications from an alert without deleting it.

 

  1. Click Alerts in the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Hover over the alert.
  3. Select Pause. If the alert is already paused, you will see the option to Resume.

 

Result: The alert is paused for all recipients and delivery methods. Select Resume at any time to reactivate it.

 

How to Delete an Alert

Use this when: You no longer need an alert and want to remove it permanently.

 

  1. Click Alerts in the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Hover over the alert.
  3. Select Delete.
  4. Click Delete to confirm.

 

Result: The alert is permanently deleted and will no longer send notifications.

 

How to Create an Alert for Broadcast Searches

Use this when: You want to receive notifications when new broadcast content matches one of your saved searches.

Note: If your search includes source types beyond Broadcast, alert notifications will include results from those sources as well.

 

  1. Select Alerts from the navigation menu.
  2. Click Every Mention.
  3. Select Create Alert.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Click Add Search.
  6. Select your broadcast search or searches.
  7. Click Save.
  8. Configure content settings.
  9. Add up to 10 email recipients.
  10. Click Save.

 

Result: An alert is created for your broadcast search. You and your recipients will receive a notification each time new matching broadcast content is published.

 

How to Add Alert Content to a Newsletter

Use this when: You want to include content surfaced by an alert in a Meltwater newsletter draft.

 

  1. Open an Explore search or Monitor.
  2. Hover over the result.
  3. Click Add to Newsletter.
  4. Select an existing newsletter draft or create a new one.
  5. Choose the section where the content should appear.

 

Result: The content is added to your chosen newsletter draft and is ready to include in your next send.

 

How to Set Up Alert Integrations

Use this when: You want to deliver Smart Alerts to Slack, Microsoft Teams, DingTalk, or a Generic Webhook instead of or in addition to email.

 

Follow the step-by-step integration guides for each platform:

 

 

 

 

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