How to Run an EFFECTIVE LinkedIn Search?

LinkedIn is a goldmine for finding the right contacts… but only if you know how to use it properly! 😏 The search algorithm isn’t always great, and LinkedIn would love for you to pay for Sales Navigator.

But here’s the good news: there are simple, effective techniques to refine your searches and avoid getting irrelevant results.

Whether you're sourcing candidates or prospecting for leads, these tricks will be a game changer! 🚀

Automate your LinkedIn campaigns

1) Forget the "Keyword" Field 🤯

If you type a keyword like "marketing", LinkedIn will throw everything at you: profiles with "marketing" in their skills, past experiences, interests… Basically, way too broad and not precise at all.

Instead, use the "Title" field to target actual job positions that matter.

2) Use Job Titles for Better Targeting 🎯

When searching for prospects on LinkedIn, you’re not just looking for a random keyword—you need to find the exact role of the person within their company. Their job title is far more revealing than a generic keyword.

💡 Example:

Typing "marketing" in the search bar will bring up a mix of profiles where "marketing" appears anywhere—skills, past jobs, even in posts they’ve shared. The result? Too much noise, not enough qualified prospects.

Instead, use the "Title" filter and search for specific job positions like:

• ✅ "Growth Marketer" – To target acquisition specialists.
• ✅ "CMO" or "Chief Marketing Officer" – To reach decision-makers.
• ✅ "Marketing Project Manager" – If you’re looking for more operational profiles.

3) Boolean Operators: Your Secret Weapon 🔥

Want to refine your search even more? Use these Boolean operators:

• ✅ Quotation marks " " → Search for an exact phrase.

➡ Sales Director → Excludes results that contain only "Sales" or "Director."

• 🚫 NOT → Exclude a keyword.

➡ Marketing NOT Freelance → Avoids freelancers in the results.

For example :

• 🔗 OR → Search for multiple variations.

➡ CMO OR Chief Marketing Officer → Covers different ways a job title might be written.

• ➕ AND → Combine multiple criteria.

➡ Marketing AND Saas → Targets only SaaS marketing specialists.

• 🏗 Parentheses ( ) → Structure your search.

➡ (”Marketing NOT freelance”) OR (”CMO OR Chief Marketing”) → Combines multiple filters without confusion.

By combining these filters, you’ll get highly qualified results and prospect much more efficiently.

Automate your LinkedIn campaigns

4) Stuck at 1,000 Results?

LinkedIn limits search results to 1,000, even if your query finds way more. This means that if your search is too broad, you might be missing out on tons of valuable leads without even realizing it.

Solution? Refine your filters to stay within this limit and make sure you’re reaching the most relevant prospects.

5) Find the Right Companies 🎯

If you’re targeting a specific industry, start by identifying key companies.

Example: Looking to reach recruiters? Search for "recruitment agency" on Google, find a directory, and add those companies to your LinkedIn filters.

6) Filter by Location 🌍

If your search is too broad, narrow it down by city or region.

Example searches:

• Marketing professionals in New York
• Marketing managers in San Francisco
• SaaS marketers in Austin

Bonus: This also lets you personalize your outreach messages based on location! 😉

7) The LinkedIn Groups Hack 💡

LinkedIn Groups are a goldmine! They gather highly qualified professionals around specific topics.

➡ Join relevant groups, check out the members, and connect with them.

Bonus tip: On Waalaxy, you can extract these lists and launch ultra-targeted campaigns. 😉

Ready to Crush It on LinkedIn? 🚀

With these tips, your searches will be much more precise and effective. No more scrolling through 10 pages to find the right prospect!

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