# Social listening keywords: choose and set up terms (https://snitchfeed.com/docs/listeners/keywords) Keywords decide which posts a listener collects. Terms that are too broad flood your feed and use credits on posts you will never act on. Terms that are too narrow find nothing. The examples on this page use one scenario: you sell a **Notion competitor** and want posts where people **complain about Notion** or **ask for alternatives**. ![Keyword term builder](https://cms.parthkoshti.com/assets/c66dea8a-680d-437e-8521-c98ed7ba5558) ## Add a term [#add-a-term] Each keyword on a listener is called a **term**. A term has its own main term, platforms and filters. Open the listener and go to **Keywords**. Click **Track Keyword**. The button shows how many keyword slots your plan has left. Enter a **Main Term** and turn on at least one platform. Add any filters you need (below), then click **Save**. Your terms are listed on the left. Click one to edit it. While a term is open, the copy and trash icons at the top duplicate or delete it. Use separate terms for separate angles. For example, one term for `notion alternative` and another for `quitting notion`. ## How a term matches [#how-a-term-matches] A post matches a term only when **all** of these are true: 1. It contains the **Main Term**. 2. It contains **every** word in **Must also include**. 3. It contains **at least one** word in **Must mention at least one of** (if you added any). 4. It contains **none** of the words in **Skip posts that mention any of these words**. | Field | Where | What it does | | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | **Main Term** | Top of the term | The anchor of the search, for example `notion`. | | **Skip posts that mention any of these words** | Below the main term | Drops posts with any of these words. | | **Must also include** | **Advanced Settings (boolean)** | Every word must appear (AND). Up to 5 words. | | **Must mention at least one of** | **Advanced Settings (boolean)** | Any one word is enough (OR). Up to 5 words. | To add words to a list, type a word and press Enter, or paste a comma-separated list. The copy and paste icons move a list between terms. ### Main term options [#main-term-options] Two options apply to the main term only: * **Whole word**: the term must appear as its own word. Use it for short terms like `block`, which otherwise matches `blockchain`. * **Case sensitive**: capitalization must match exactly. Use it for brand spellings like `Notion AI`. Leave it off for broad coverage, since people type inconsistently. ### How the word lists match [#how-the-word-lists-match] * **Skip words** match whole words and ignore capitalization. `hiring` blocks `Hiring` and `HIRING`, but not `rehiring`. * **Must also include** and **Must mention at least one of** ignore capitalization and can match inside longer words. Each word in those two lists also has an **Exact** or **Broad** toggle. New words start as **Broad**. | Mode | Behavior | | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Exact** | Matches only that exact word or phrase. Fewer, tighter results. | | **Broad** | Also matches variations and related word forms. More results, less precise. | **Example:** main term `notion`, must mention at least one of `alternative`, `replacement`, `switching`. Any post about Notion with one of those words matches. ## Choose platforms per term [#choose-platforms-per-term] Each term has its own toggles for Reddit, X, LinkedIn, Bluesky and Hacker News, limited to your plan. A term needs at least one. * X, LinkedIn and Hacker News are checked once per term at the listener's [scan interval](/docs/listeners/scan-intervals). * Reddit and Bluesky match each term against new posts in real time. **Example:** * Term `notion alternative` on X and LinkedIn, where buyers ask for recommendations. * Term `notion` on Reddit only, where users vent in communities. Settings in the listener's **Authors** and **Reddit** sections apply to every term. See [Create a listener](/docs/listeners/create). ## Example terms [#example-terms] | Goal | Main Term | Must also include | Must mention at least one of | Skip posts that mention | | ------------------ | ------------- | ----------------- | --------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | | Switching intent | `notion` | | `alternative`, `replacement`, `migrate` | `hiring`, `template` | | Pricing complaints | `notion` | `pricing` | `expensive`, `per seat` | `tutorial`, `giveaway` | | Comparisons | `"notion vs"` | | `coda`, `obsidian`, `confluence` | `meme` | ## Pick good keywords [#pick-good-keywords] | Tip | Instead of | Try | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | | **Be specific.** Use words that signal dissatisfaction, comparison or switching. | `productivity`, `notes app` | `notion pricing`, `switching from notion` | | **Avoid common words alone.** "notion" also means "idea". | `notion` | `notion.so`, `@NotionHQ`, `notion workspace` | | **Use long-tail phrases.** People describing a specific pain are closer to buying. | `notion` | `notion takes forever to load` | | **Cover other languages.** People shop in their own language. | `notion alternative` only | `alternativa a Notion`, `substituto Notion` | For a common word, you can keep it as the main term and require context words with **Must mention at least one of**. Review the feed after a few days. Too quiet? Widen a little, for example add `notion vs`. Too noisy? Add skip words, tighten phrasing (`done with notion`, `migrate from notion`), or sharpen the [intent signal](/docs/listeners/listener-intent#intent-signal). ## What to track [#what-to-track] | Track | Why | Example | | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | **Your brand** | Join threads where you are already named | `AcmeNotes`, `@AcmeNotes`, `AcmeNotes vs notion` | | **Category words** | Catch buyers who are shopping | `team wiki tool`, `notion vs confluence` | | **Competitors** | Find friction and evaluation moments | `notion enterprise`, `hate notion`, `notion billing` | | **Pain points you solve** | Meet people venting about your problem | `notion lag`, `notion too expensive`, `locked into notion` | Pair your terms with a clear [intent signal](/docs/listeners/listener-intent#intent-signal) so Fit Score favors high-intent posts over tutorials and promotions. ## Keyword slots and credits [#keyword-slots-and-credits] Each term uses one keyword slot from your plan, and so does each tracked profile. Every term on X, LinkedIn or Hacker News adds scan credits each month. See [Credits](/docs/credits). ## Next steps [#next-steps] * [Advanced search](/docs/listeners/boolean-search): write raw boolean queries and use LinkedIn and X filters. * [Intent & Brand Context](/docs/listeners/listener-intent): score what your keywords collect. * [Track profiles](/docs/listeners/tracked-profiles): follow accounts instead of keywords.