Since the inception of the internet, Google and Yahoo have dominated consumers’ choice for search engines. But with search engine algorithms, chances are they’re churning out Web sites based on popularity. How ’bout a return on a query with a little flavor and personality? Enter Twitter‘s Search feature.
When you run a query on Twitter’s search, it’ll return tweets from Twitter users. Simple enough, and one might even ask, “What’s the use in that?” With over 90 million tweets per day, streaming-in in real-time, there is a massive amount of information to be harnessed. I like to think of this as a massive reservoir of human consciousness that pools daily tidbits, diatribes, and rants. Businesses and individuals can benefit from this information by searching the ‘buzz’ going around their targeted audience, or how its audience is reacting to relevant current events. With 90 million tweets circulating everday, becoming fluent with Twitter’s Advanced Search fields will help sort through pointless babble. Even individuals can have a little fun with it for personal use.
Twitter’s Advanced Search has traditional search fields such as focusing on keywords and date ranges, but they also feature fields that leverages Twitter‘s interface, such as narrowing your search to include retweets or positivie/negative attitudes, i.e. smilies.
Here is one fun way that individuals can use the information available on Twitter. Let’s say you have a friend that’s an avid tennis player. His birthday is coming up but you don’t know anything about tennis – use Twitter’s Advanced Search for gift ideas. Type in the following words in the following fields:
All of these words: gift
Any of these words: tennis
Tweets with those 2 keywords will come up and offer excellent gift ideas.
Caution
College students beware. While Twitter is a great go to place to see what the buzz is about something, be cautious in extrapolating hard, solid facts. This word of caution goes for everyone. Instead, try this tactic: at the very bottom of Twitter’s Advance Search, in the ‘Others’ section, click ‘containing links.’ Your search will return tweets that contain links, which are great leads to more credible sources of factual information. Remember, follow these leads but don’t use them in lieu of concrete information.
Checking the buzz around your business and getting gift ideas are just two ways of capitalizing Twitter’s Advanced Search. You can even use it to get great travel and sightseeing ideas to places you’ve never been. Please share ways you’ve used Twitter’s Advanced Search.
Written By: Jaszver Bauzon