How to set up a Pulsar search: a pro guide to getting swift and accurate results

Building accurate searches is the keystone of effective social listening. Honing this skill can take the worry out of starting new projects, making the process less daunting for you and your teams. That’s why we’ve developed tools like Wizard and the Boolean Generator - they're designed to make search creation faster, easier, and more accessible. 

In our recent Power Up: Search Setup 101 webinar, Fraser Souter from our Customer Success Team walked through the essentials of crafting  searches in Pulsar, covering everything from Boolean logic to platform-specific signals and location-based tracking. Whether you’re a Boolean expert or just getting started, here's our 101 guide to setting up a robust and successful Pulsar search.

How do I structure my search from scratch?

At the core of every Pulsar search is Boolean logic, so familiarising yourself with this is everyone's first step to refining and filtering results with precision. Operators like AND, OR, NOT, and parentheses allow users to combine and exclude keywords effectively. (For a full list of our operators, check here.)

But let’s be honest, Boolean can take time to master. So what if we told you that coding logic wasn't necessary to create a quick, effective Pulsar search.

For users who prefer a more guided approach, the Wizard tool provides a step-by-step method to create structured searches. By simply typing in keywords - or uploading them in a CSV file - users can automate complex Boolean setups in seconds ideal for large campaigns or competitor monitoring.

Some users who prefer a more customisable and in-depth approach, especially on bespoke projects. That’s where the Boolean Generator comes in. Using AI, it builds fully-formed searches based on just a few inputs. Take the above example looking at a search looking to encompass white spirits on the UK market. Here the Generator returned an optimised Boolean query including brand names, hashtags, and key terms. It also  filters out irrelevant results like perfumes and recipes.

A hot tip from Fraser is that AI loves exaggeration. Try asking the Boolean Generator to “list all the whiskey brands in the world” rather than to “list whiskey brands” and see a huge difference. See more in the clip below:

How can I use location & platform-specific signals?

Another huge asset of Pulsar is its ability to apply location-based filters. Certain platforms allow city-level targeting, while others only support country-wide searches. Understanding these distinctions is crucial when refining your results. For example, X can show data on a US-state level, which isn't available for every platform. There's also the option to lay on language filtering for results - to easily capture the whole population of a language in a certain locale or worldwide. These location and language filters can be applied at the search set-up stage in order to hone and focus results.

Similarly, different platforms offer unique data signals. Some common examples that come up a lot in creating Pulsar searches include X enabling long-term historical tracking, while Twitch & Pinterest searches are limited to 30 days historics. Furthermore, Facebook & Instagram have varying keyword restrictions that affect the way search terms are inputted. 

Knowing these differences ensures you’re setting up your search in the most efficient and effective way for your needs. Selecting the right platforms also allows you to find the right type of conversation for your search. Tracking social platforms allow you to get into the minutia of audience conversation, while gathering broadcast radio and TV data shows a zoomed out picture of cultural sentiment and trends.

Crafting searches with confidence

Every search you set up in Pulsar should be tailored to the specific topic, platform, and location. Whether you’re tracking brand mentions, competitor activity, or industry trends, the right tools can make the difference between actionable insights and information overload.

When setting up a Pulsar search, there are multiple approaches to suit your needs. Make use of the Wizard for bulk keyword uploads and streamlined Boolean building - helpful if you’re an agency strategist responsible for building and running a multitude of different searches in parallel. If you want to speed up and get structured, detailed queries in seconds - such as capturing every possible mention of your brand or category as an in-house insights professional - turn to the Boolean Generator. You could even quickly become an expert in each method and be able to create bespoke searches swiftly, every time. These tools make social listening more accessible than ever. On top of this, consider location and language filters to ensure regional accuracy in your results. Understanding platform differences will also give you nuance in your search creation. 

Finally, always be aware that you can refine for quality - Pulsar makes it simple to clean up searches by excluding irrelevant terms and noise even after the search has been created.

If you want to learn more about what was covered in this session, reach out to your Customer Success Manager for the recording and resources - and join us for future Power Up webinars to sharpen your Pulsar skills.

To stay up to date with our latest insights and releases, sign up to our newsletter below: