Facebook search syntax
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A search query decides which posts your Facebook post finder Ghost reads. Your goal decides which of them become Finds. Facebook queries are plain keywords, and every word must appear in the post.
Queries are plain keywords of up to 150 characters, and a Ghost takes up to 10 of them. Facebook search has no operators.
Operators
| Operator | What it matches | Example |
|---|---|---|
word word | Every word must appear, in any order. This is the only operator. | watching now |
Rules
- A query can be up to 150 characters long.
- A Ghost can have up to 10 queries.
- No double quotes or apostrophes, so no exact phrases: write dont, not don't.
- None of these characters: : ` + * ( ) = - ?
- No OR, AND or NOT in capitals anywhere, even inside an all-caps word such as ORACLE. Write keywords in lowercase.
Examples
| Query | What it finds |
|---|---|
CRM recommendations | Posts with both CRM and recommendations. |
happy cats | Posts with both happy and cats. |
Write queries that find enough
Every word must appear, so each extra word narrows the results. Keep a query to two to four lowercase words and let the goal do the judging.
- Write one query per wording. Where another platform takes
payroll (late OR missed), writepayroll lateandmissed payrollas two queries. - You can’t exclude words. To drop job posts, say in the goal that job posts don’t count.
Mistakes that get a query rejected
| Rejected | Write instead |
|---|---|
"payroll provider" | payroll provider |
self-employed payroll | self employed payroll |
can't run payroll | cannot run payroll |
which payroll app? | which payroll app |
HORROR stories payroll | horror stories payroll |
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Facebook Ghosts
A Facebook Ghost finds public posts by keyword, cannot see private groups, and leaves the replying to you on Facebook.Search queries
Search queries decide which posts your Ghost reads. Keep them broad, check them with the weekly estimate, and narrow them with filters.Write your Ghost's goal
The goal tells your Ghost which posts become Finds. A good one answers three questions and says what to leave out.
Still need help? Open the app and choose Help, then Chat now.