Boolean search: raw queries and LinkedIn and X filters

Write raw boolean queries with AND, OR, NOT, quotes and parentheses, and filter LinkedIn and X results by author, company, likes and language.

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Advanced search gives you two extra tools for a keyword term: a raw boolean query you can type by hand, and search settings that filter LinkedIn and X results by author or engagement.

You do not need either to get started. If you are new to terms, read Keywords first. It covers the main term, AND, OR and skip words, and platforms.

The examples use the same scenario as Keywords: you sell a Notion competitor and want posts where people complain about Notion or ask for alternatives.

Write a raw boolean query

Open a term, expand Advanced Settings (boolean) and find Raw Boolean Query. It shows the whole term as one line of text.

You can edit the text directly. When it is valid, the builder fields above it update to match. Changes in the builder fields show up in the text too.

Syntax

SyntaxMeaningExample
ANDBoth sides must appearnotion AND export
OREither side can appearalternative OR replacement
NOTDrop posts with this wordnotion NOT hiring
"..."Exact phrase"social listening"
( )Group words together(SaaS OR startup)

AND, OR and NOT work in any capitalization. Curly braces are not supported. Use OR instead.

Example

A term for people looking to switch, without job posts or template sellers:

notion AND (alternative OR replacement OR "switching from") NOT (hiring OR "template for sale")

In the builder, this is the main term notion, three words under Must mention at least one of, and two skip words.

On X, LinkedIn and Hacker News, each term runs as a search on that platform.

  • A word set to Exact is sent as a quoted phrase.
  • If a skip list has more than 5 words, only 5 are sent to the search. Every skip word is still checked before a mention is stored.

Filter LinkedIn results

Each term has a LinkedIn Settings card below the skip words. It only applies when LinkedIn is on for that term.

SettingWhat it doesLimit
Author job titleOnly posts from authors with similar job titlesUp to 3 titles
Author companyOnly posts from authors at these companies (paste LinkedIn company URLs)Up to 4 companies
Author industriesOnly posts from authors in these industriesUp to 5 industries
Post typeAny, Person or CompanyOne choice

Keep these two rules in mind:

  • Each job title is its own search. Three titles means three LinkedIn searches per scan, and each is billed. See Credits.
  • LinkedIn allows at most 5 operators. A single query can hold at most 5 AND, OR and NOT operators. The editor warns you when a term goes over.

Filter X results

Each term has an X (Twitter) Settings card below the skip words. It only applies when X is on for that term.

SettingWhat it does
Minimum likesSkips posts with fewer likes
LanguageOnly posts in this language

Next steps

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