When conducting searches, it's crucial to optimize your search terms to ensure you're reaching the most relevant contacts. Below are some best practices to refine your search and maximize your results.
1. Broaden Your Title Search
Using highly specific job titles may limit your search results. Instead, consider using broader terms to capture a wider range of potential leads. For example:
Searching for "Purchasing Manager" might be too restrictive because different companies use varying job titles.
A broader search using "Purchasing" can yield significantly more results, including titles like:
Purchasing Coordinator
Purchasing Specialist
Director of Purchasing
Procurement Manager
Supply Chain Analyst
"Purchasing @XYZ Company" (where individuals list their roles informally)
Expanding your title search ensures that you're not missing out on valuable leads due to minor title variations across industries.
2. Use Keyword Search Over Industry Search
Instead of relying solely on industry-based filters, leveraging keyword searches can yield more relevant results. Here’s why:
Industry labels may not always accurately reflect a company’s function or operations.
Keywords allow for more precision, ensuring your search pulls relevant contacts who mention specific responsibilities, tools, or processes related to your needs.
Searching by keywords gives flexibility to capture variations in job roles and responsibilities that may not fall under standard industry classifications.
3. Additional Tips for an Optimized Search
Experiment with Synonyms & Related Terms: Try different keywords or synonyms to capture more results (e.g., "Procurement" instead of "Purchasing").
Use Boolean Search Operators: Combine multiple terms using AND, OR, and NOT to refine your search further.
Filter by Location & Company Size: Narrowing down based on geography or business size can enhance relevance.
Refine Over Time: Review your results and adjust your criteria as needed to continuously improve your search.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why am I not getting enough results?
Your search criteria may be too narrow. Try broadening your job title or using a keyword search instead of an industry filter.
Q2: How do I know which keywords to use?
Think about common terms related to the job function, responsibilities, or tools used in the role. Testing different keywords can help identify the most effective ones.
Q3: What if my search returns too many unrelated results?
You may need to add additional filters such as location, company size, or refine your keyword search using Boolean operators (e.g., "Purchasing AND Logistics" instead of just "Purchasing").
Q4: Can I save my search criteria for future use?
Yes! You can save your search parameters so you can quickly rerun them later without having to re-enter all your criteria.
Q5: How often should I update my search criteria?
Regularly reviewing and refining your search parameters ensures that you're continuously improving your results. If you're not finding the right leads, tweak your search terms and filters every few weeks.