---
title: "Search queries"
url: "https://pitchghost.com/docs/ghosts/search-queries"
description: "Search queries decide which posts your Ghost reads. Keep them broad, check them with the weekly estimate, and narrow them with filters."
---

Search queries are the keyword searches a finder Ghost runs on the platform each scan. They decide which posts your Ghost reads. Your [goal](/docs/ghosts/goals) then decides which of those become Finds. A post that matches no query is never seen.

Monitors have no search queries. They read the people or company pages you list. See [Ghost types](/docs/ghosts/ghost-types).

## Write queries that fetch enough

Each query is a separate search. Your Ghost runs all of them and reads everything they return.

Keep queries broad and let the goal do the judging. Exact phrases and exact job titles cut volume more than they improve results. Use several queries to cover the different ways people describe the same problem. A payroll software company might run `payroll provider`, `payroll mistake` and a competitor’s name as three queries.

Operators such as exact phrases, OR and exclusions differ by platform. Choose the syntax link next to Search queries to see the rules in the app, or read the [Search syntax](/docs/search-syntax) page for your platform. Under each query, the app explains in plain words what it will match.

## Add and remove queries

Open the Ghost, choose Settings and find Search queries. Choose Add query to add one. The button disappears when you reach the limit. A Ghost always keeps at least one query.

| Ghost type | Most queries per Ghost |
| --- | --- |
| Tweet finder | 15 |
| LinkedIn post finder | 15 |
| Reddit content finder | 15 |
| Facebook post finder | 10 |

## Check a query with the estimate

Each query shows a weekly estimate of how many posts match it. Select the estimate to open Sample results, a short sample of matching posts. Not every sample would become a Find, because your Ghost still filters them against your goal.

An estimate of zero means nothing matches, so rewrite the query. If you save anyway, the app warns you with Query with potentially 0 results. Choose Edit queries to go back or Save anyways to keep it.

## Filters

Filters narrow a search by things other than keywords, such as location. Use them for hard facts and leave judgment to the goal. The filters on offer depend on the platform.

| Filter | Applies to | Where to set it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Global filters | Every query on the Ghost | Set Global Filters above the queries |
| Query filters | One query | The filter button next to the query |

A query’s own filters take priority over the global ones.

## Queries or goal

Open the Ghost’s [Scanned items](/docs/ghosts/scanned-items). If the posts you want are there but excluded, adjust the goal or the [Match threshold](/docs/ghosts/match-threshold). If they are not there at all, your queries are not fetching them, so add or loosen queries.