How to use Boolean searches to find contacts

Enhance your search capabilities on Getro by using Boolean logic to find the right contacts quickly and efficiently. This guide will show you how to use Boolean searches within the Job Titles and Keywords filters to refine your results.

What are Boolean searches?

Boolean searches allow you to combine keywords with operators like ANDOR, and NOT to produce more relevant search results. By structuring your search queries with these operators, you can include or exclude specific terms and find exactly who you're looking for.

Where can I use Boolean searches?

You can use Boolean searches in the following filters:

  • Job Titles

  • Keywords

Keywords filter searches through multiple fields:

When you use the Keywords filter, Getro searches through several fields to find matches:

  • Full name

  • Current job titles

  • Past job titles

  • LinkedIn tagline

  • LinkedIn handle

  • Industry tags

  • Skills

Job Titles filter searches through:

  • Job titles

  • LinkedIn taglines

How to use Boolean operators

1. Quoted searches ("")

  • Purpose: Find exact phrases.

  • How to use: Enclose your exact phrase in straight quotation marks.

  • Example: "Product Manager"

    • This will find contacts who have exactly "Product Manager" in the searchable fields.

  • Note: Use straight quotation marks ("), not curly or angled ones.

2. AND operator

  • Purpose: Find contacts that include all the terms.

  • How to use: Type AND between your search terms.

  • Example: Engineer AND Python

    • Finds contacts who are engineers and have Python experience.

  • Tip: You can omit AND because typing multiple words assumes AND by default.

3. OR operator

  • Purpose: Find contacts that include any of the terms.

  • How to use: Type OR between your search terms.

  • Example: Marketing OR Sales

    • Finds contacts in either marketing or sales.

4. NOT operator

  • Purpose: Exclude contacts that include certain terms.

  • How to use: Type NOT before the term you want to exclude.

  • Example: Developer NOT Junior

    • Finds developers but excludes those with "Junior" in their title or profile.

5. Parentheses ()

  • Purpose: Group terms and control the order of operations.

  • How to use: Enclose grouped terms in parentheses.

  • Example: (Manager OR Director) AND Sales

    • Finds contacts who are either managers or directors in sales.

Examples of Boolean searches

Find a senior engineer but exclude managers:

"Senior Engineer" NOT Manager


Find contacts who are in marketing or sales and have SEO skills:

(Marketing OR Sales) AND SEO


Find product managers but exclude those in finance:

"Product Manager" NOT Finance


Tips for effective searches

  • Use exact phrases: Quotation marks help you find exact phrases.

  • Combine operators: Mix ANDOR, and NOT to refine your search.

  • Check your spelling: Boolean searches do not allow typo tolerance. Ensure all terms are spelled correctly.

  • Use uppercase for operators: Always type ANDORNOT in uppercase letters.

Understanding search priorities

When searching:

  1. Current job titles are prioritized first.

  2. LinkedIn taglines are considered next.

  3. Past job titles are also searched but are given lower priority.

Handling errors

If your search query isn't working, you might see an error message like:

"Invalid boolean format. Learn more."

Here's how to fix common issues:

  • Unbalanced parentheses: Make sure every opening parenthesis ( has a closing parenthesis ).

  • Incorrect operator usage: Ensure operators like ANDOR, and NOT are placed correctly and surrounded by terms.

  • Invalid characters: Avoid using special characters (like #$%) unless they are within quotes.

  • Empty queries: Don't press enter without typing anything.

Best practices

  • Preview your query: As you type, your entire query is visible below the input field. This helps you review and adjust your search.

  • Edit freely: You can always edit your Boolean search to refine results.

  • Mix and match: You can use both Boolean searches and regular terms. If you add multiple searches, they will be combined using OR.

Need help?

If you're unsure how to structure your search or encounter errors, click the "Learn more" link in the error message for detailed guidance.

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