LinkedIn search syntax
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A search query decides which posts your LinkedIn post finder Ghost reads. Your goal decides which of them become Finds. Keep queries broad and let the goal do the judging.
LinkedIn user monitors and company monitors have no search queries.
Queries are boolean keyword searches of up to 512 characters, and a Ghost takes up to 15 of them.
Operators
| Operator | What it matches | Example |
|---|---|---|
word word | Every word must appear, in any order. A space means AND. | startup marketing |
"exact phrase" | The exact phrase, word for word. | "happy hour drinks" |
OR | Either term, or both. Write it in capitals. | love OR hate |
NOT | Leaves out posts with the next word or quoted phrase. Write it in capitals. | beer NOT root |
( ) | Groups a list of OR options so it combines with the other terms. | (web OR mobile) developer |
#hashtag | Posts with the hashtag. | #haiku |
Rules
- A query can be up to 512 characters long.
- A Ghost can have up to 15 queries.
- Do not write AND. A space already means AND, and a query with AND is rejected.
- Use OR at most 5 times in one query. Split longer lists into more queries.
- OR joins single words or quoted phrases only: write "open banking" OR Pix, not open banking OR Pix.
- Parentheses only wrap a list of OR options, one level deep. A group cannot sit next to OR, and groups cannot be nested.
- OR and NOT cannot start or end a query, and two operators cannot sit side by side, except OR NOT.
- Lowercase or and not are searched as ordinary words.
- No * wildcard. A hyphen only works inside a word, such as e-commerce.
- Use straight double quotes ("). Curly quotes (“ ” ‘ ’) and the + sign are rejected.
- Every opening quote and parenthesis needs a closing one.
Examples
| Query | What it finds |
|---|---|
need (web OR mobile) developer | Posts with need and developer, and also web or mobile. |
hiring senior NOT junior developer | Posts with hiring, senior and developer that do not mention junior. |
CRM (alternative OR switching OR "moving away") | Posts about CRM with alternative, switching or the phrase "moving away". |
Write queries that find enough
A broad query with a precise goal beats a long exact-phrase query. Every quoted phrase and every extra word cuts volume.
- Quote a phrase only when the words mean something different apart, such as
"payroll provider". - Pair one phrase or keyword with a short list of alternatives in parentheses.
- Keep each query to 5
ORs or fewer. When you need more alternatives, split them across queries. - Describe what makes a post good or bad in the goal instead of adding more keywords.
For a payroll software company, "payroll provider" (frustrated OR switching OR alternative) NOT hiring finds posts such as “Frustrated with our payroll provider after another missed run” and leaves out hiring posts.
Filter by job title
Who posted is a filter, not part of the query. Set Poster type to Person to unlock Person’s title, which takes this same syntax, for example controller OR "head of finance" OR "finance manager". Exact job titles cut volume too, so list the variants.
Mistakes that get a query rejected
| Rejected | Write instead |
|---|---|
payroll AND software | payroll software |
payroll -hiring | payroll NOT hiring |
payroll software OR payroll app | payroll (software OR app) or "payroll software" OR "payroll app" |
payroll NOT (job OR (hiring OR intern)) | payroll NOT (job OR hiring OR intern) |
NOT hiring payroll | payroll NOT hiring |
Quotes pasted from a document are often curly. Retype them as straight quotes.
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LinkedIn post finder
Search all public LinkedIn posts by keyword and keep the ones that match your goal, with no linked LinkedIn account needed to scan.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.