How to Use Boolean Search in Sales Navigator’s Advanced Search
Sales Navigator offers many features that are incredibly valuable. Its best-known and used feature is its advanced search capabilities. The search on Sales Navigator Accounts is broken down into Accounts and Leads searches.
Accounts search enables you to find the companies you want to target, and the leads search enables you to find the people at these companies. You can also use the leads search on its own to find people in certain positions.
In every single leads search, the search filter ‘Current job title’ will be added. If it isn’t added, you will be targeting everyone! You can, of course, add in general words like sales, or even sales director. This will give you results. But the results will include people you don’t want to target.
Boolean search helps you get far more targeted. Let’s find out what it is and how to use it.
What Is LinkedIn Boolean Search?
Boolean search lets you combine keywords and phrases using special operators (quotes, parentheses, NOT, AND, OR) to get highly targeted results. Instead of just using basic filters, you can craft complex queries that pinpoint exactly who you want to find.
Think of it as interrogating LinkedIn’s search engine by telling it exactly who you want (and don’t want) to see in your search results. Boolean search enables you to filter the 1 billion+ database of professional people on LinkedIn and focus on who you want to reach.
Why Use a LinkedIn Boolean Search?
Precision: Boolean search helps you find only the most relevant people. Not just anyone who matches general keywords, but those who make or influence decisions.
Efficiency: It helps you refine the results you get. Without using Boolean Search, you may have to wade through more pages to find the people you actually want to reach. Reviewing irrelevant people is not the best use of your time.
Customisation: This highly targeted approach means you can create highly targeted searches for different campaigns. For example, you may have one offering that is well-suited for a highly niche audience and a completely different offer for another audience that is very similar. Without this detail of targeting, they couldn’t be split.
Competitive Edge: The reality is that most users employ basic searches with basic filters. Boolean search gives you an advantage over your competition. The narrower your search to identify the most likely to be interested, the greater your competitive edge.
What Are the Boolean Operators and Modifiers?
On LinkedIn, there are three Boolean Operators and two Boolean Modifiers.
Boolean Operators
Boolean Operators are words that define the relationship between your search terms. They allow you to refine and focus your results. The three operators are:
NOT: Using it excludes terms. Results will not include the specified word. Example: “marketing” NOT “intern”.
AND: Using it narrows your search. Results must include all terms. Example: “sales director” AND SaaS.
OR: Using it broadens your search. Results can include any of the terms. Example: “VP” OR “Vice President”.
💡 Operators must be in ALL CAPS for the search to work correctly.
Boolean Modifiers
Boolean Modifiers are symbols that can expand, refine, and improve a search. The two modifiers are:
Quotes (” “): Using it finds exact phrases. Example: “Head of Sales”.
Parentheses ( ): Using parentheses groups terms and controls the logic. Example: (“Head of Sales” OR “Sales Director”) AND SaaS.
💡 LinkedIn does not support curly brackets{ }, brackets [ ], angle brackets < >, or wildcards like asterisks *
Example Boolean Search
The following example is a real example I’m currently working on i.e. not been run past the client yet!
However, it will let you see a Boolean Search in action, and I’ll give some thoughts below.
(Director OR Head OR Chief OR Manager OR Lead OR Specialist) AND (Diversity OR Inclusion OR Equity OR DEI OR Wellbeing OR Health OR Wellness OR “Occupational Health” OR Occupational OR “Employee Experience” OR “Employee Relations” OR Engagement OR “Leadership Development” OR Talent)
As you can see above, I have used the first section to include senior positions that can influence or make the buying decision. I then have separated it with an AND, and in the second part, I add the business area of the job.
💡 Use quotes for multi-word titles. Without them, LinkedIn splits the terms.
In Summary
Boolean search in Sales Navigator is a feature that is massively underutilised. It helps you find the best people who are most likely to be interested in what you offer. It’s potentially your unfair advantage, but of course, you need to use it.
There is obviously a lot more to finding your ideal clients, but unless you master using Boolean search, you will be limiting your potential and wasting time. It’s a fundamental skill you need to master. It will be in all your searches!
Start experimenting with Boolean searches today, whilst this article is fresh in your mind.
Do this, and you will start focusing more precisely on the leads you actually want, and more importantly, the ones most likely to buy.
How to Use Boolean Search in Sales Navigator’s Advanced Search
How to Use Boolean Search in Sales Navigator’s Advanced Search
Sales Navigator offers many features that are incredibly valuable. Its best-known and used feature is its advanced search capabilities. The search on Sales Navigator Accounts is broken down into Accounts and Leads searches.
Accounts search enables you to find the companies you want to target, and the leads search enables you to find the people at these companies. You can also use the leads search on its own to find people in certain positions.
In every single leads search, the search filter ‘Current job title’ will be added. If it isn’t added, you will be targeting everyone! You can, of course, add in general words like sales, or even sales director. This will give you results. But the results will include people you don’t want to target.
Boolean search helps you get far more targeted. Let’s find out what it is and how to use it.
What Is LinkedIn Boolean Search?
Boolean search lets you combine keywords and phrases using special operators (quotes, parentheses, NOT, AND, OR) to get highly targeted results. Instead of just using basic filters, you can craft complex queries that pinpoint exactly who you want to find.
Think of it as interrogating LinkedIn’s search engine by telling it exactly who you want (and don’t want) to see in your search results. Boolean search enables you to filter the 1 billion+ database of professional people on LinkedIn and focus on who you want to reach.
Why Use a LinkedIn Boolean Search?
Precision: Boolean search helps you find only the most relevant people. Not just anyone who matches general keywords, but those who make or influence decisions.
Efficiency: It helps you refine the results you get. Without using Boolean Search, you may have to wade through more pages to find the people you actually want to reach. Reviewing irrelevant people is not the best use of your time.
Customisation: This highly targeted approach means you can create highly targeted searches for different campaigns. For example, you may have one offering that is well-suited for a highly niche audience and a completely different offer for another audience that is very similar. Without this detail of targeting, they couldn’t be split.
Competitive Edge: The reality is that most users employ basic searches with basic filters. Boolean search gives you an advantage over your competition. The narrower your search to identify the most likely to be interested, the greater your competitive edge.
What Are the Boolean Operators and Modifiers?
On LinkedIn, there are three Boolean Operators and two Boolean Modifiers.
Boolean Operators
Boolean Operators are words that define the relationship between your search terms. They allow you to refine and focus your results. The three operators are:
NOT: Using it excludes terms. Results will not include the specified word. Example: “marketing” NOT “intern”.
AND: Using it narrows your search. Results must include all terms. Example: “sales director” AND SaaS.
OR: Using it broadens your search. Results can include any of the terms. Example: “VP” OR “Vice President”.
💡 Operators must be in ALL CAPS for the search to work correctly.
Boolean Modifiers
Boolean Modifiers are symbols that can expand, refine, and improve a search. The two modifiers are:
Quotes (” “): Using it finds exact phrases. Example: “Head of Sales”.
Parentheses ( ): Using parentheses groups terms and controls the logic. Example: (“Head of Sales” OR “Sales Director”) AND SaaS.
💡 LinkedIn does not support curly brackets{ }, brackets [ ], angle brackets < >, or wildcards like asterisks *
Example Boolean Search
The following example is a real example I’m currently working on i.e. not been run past the client yet!
However, it will let you see a Boolean Search in action, and I’ll give some thoughts below.
(Director OR Head OR Chief OR Manager OR Lead OR Specialist) AND (Diversity OR Inclusion OR Equity OR DEI OR Wellbeing OR Health OR Wellness OR “Occupational Health” OR Occupational OR “Employee Experience” OR “Employee Relations” OR Engagement OR “Leadership Development” OR Talent)
As you can see above, I have used the first section to include senior positions that can influence or make the buying decision. I then have separated it with an AND, and in the second part, I add the business area of the job.
💡 Use quotes for multi-word titles. Without them, LinkedIn splits the terms.
In Summary
Boolean search in Sales Navigator is a feature that is massively underutilised. It helps you find the best people who are most likely to be interested in what you offer. It’s potentially your unfair advantage, but of course, you need to use it.
There is obviously a lot more to finding your ideal clients, but unless you master using Boolean search, you will be limiting your potential and wasting time. It’s a fundamental skill you need to master. It will be in all your searches!
Start experimenting with Boolean searches today, whilst this article is fresh in your mind.
Do this, and you will start focusing more precisely on the leads you actually want, and more importantly, the ones most likely to buy.
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