Boolean search
What is Boolean search?
Boolean search uses operators to combine keywords: AND (both words), OR (either), NOT or a minus sign (exclude), quotes (an exact phrase) and brackets to group terms. Search engines, social platforms and listening tools support versions of it.
It is essential when a brand name is also a common word: for example "notion" NOT "notion of".
Why Boolean search matters
Good queries are the difference between a useful mention feed and a feed full of noise.
Related marketing terms
Social listening is tracking public conversations about your brand, competitors and market, then learning from and acting on what people say.
Brand monitoring is tracking where and how your brand is mentioned online, from forums and social media to reviews and news.
Google Alerts is a free Google service that emails you when new pages it indexes match your keywords, such as your brand name.