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Lunch Bytes: 02


While working with Hootsuite and setting up my streams, I noticed the search query modifier tool and was quite impressed. There are a number of logical operators that can be applied to monitor social media data (posts, tweets, grams, etc.). So, for this Lunch Bytes presentation, we’re sampling some kicked up Boolean Soup.

Switching up hats here, right quick, and putting on my librarian sombrero. From ye olde information science field, I can recall the main modifiers for search terms. Briefly, they are Quotes to search for the exact term. Example: “hot sauce”. The Parenthesis to combine modifiers together. Example: hot sauce AND (liquid OR dry).  The AND operator will include two search terms in the results. Example: Sweet AND Spicy. The OR operator broadens the search by locating either or both of the terms. Example: “hot sauce” OR “ketchup”. Lastly, NOT can be used to exclude items from a search to limit returns. Example: chefs NOT cooks.

Hootsuite has a kicked-up version of the Boolean operators that will help narrow or expand results. One of the most interesting query expressions involves a date variable that will provide returns based on either an end or start date. This can be helpful if pulling information from a certain point in time. Perhaps, an increased bump in activity was due to an event and it can be isolated onto a point in time. Example: EME6414 since:2017-06-26 will display results showing EME6414 going back to Monday, June 26, 2017 and EME6414 until:2017-07-07 will show results containing EME6414 until the date of Friday, July 07, 2017.

Another nifty operator they’ve placed is the to: and from: which by lurker principles is gold. You can creepily ogle an entire history of communications (tweets, posts, and grams, etc.) according to the sender (from:@name) or receiver (to:@name). I’ve already set similar searches on my streams to follow content shares across multiple communities. This will allow me to better identify each community’s current issues, activities, and culture.
Well, I hope this helps you get wise on Hootsuite. Until next time, bon appétit!

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