If you’re using LinkedIn to find leads, partners, or talent, you already know how easy it is to get lost in a sea of random connections. This guide is for anyone who’s tired of wasted InMail credits or generic results, and wants to actually reach the right people. We’re going to walk through how to use Boolean search inside Zopto to build a LinkedIn audience that’s focused and relevant—without getting sucked into hype or overcomplication.
Let’s get straight to it.
Why Boolean Search Matters (and Where Zopto Fits In)
Before you start clicking around, here’s the deal: LinkedIn’s basic search is fine for quick browsing, but it’s clumsy if you want specifics. Boolean search lets you use AND, OR, and NOT (plus parentheses and quotes) to create much more precise searches. Think of it like building a filter that’s actually smart.
Zopto is a tool that helps automate LinkedIn outreach. Its Boolean search feature plugs into LinkedIn to pull exactly the types of folks you want to connect with—saving you hours of manual filtering. But, like any tool, it’s only as good as the instructions you give it.
Step 1: Get Clear on Who You Actually Want
Before you even touch a search bar, write down who you’re after. Be honest: “Tech decision makers in Chicago at companies with 50-500 staff” is a lot better than “Anyone in tech.” The more specific, the better.
- Job titles: Think through synonyms. “VP of Sales” vs. “Head of Sales” vs. “Sales Director”
- Industries: Are you after fintech, SaaS, manufacturing?
- Location: City, state, or country?
- Company size: LinkedIn lets you filter this, but you can also bake it into your search.
- Seniority: Manager, Director, VP, C-Level
Pro tip: If you’re not sure, look at a few LinkedIn profiles of people you’d love to connect with. What words/titles do they use?
Step 2: Build a Boolean String That Doesn’t Suck
Here’s the honest truth: Most Boolean strings are either too broad (you get junk) or too narrow (you get nothing). You need balance.
The Basics of Boolean on LinkedIn (and Zopto)
- AND = Must have both terms. (e.g.,
marketing AND manager) - OR = Can have either term. (e.g.,
marketing OR advertising) - NOT = Excludes a term. (e.g.,
marketing NOT intern) - Quotes = Exact phrase. (e.g.,
"business development") - Parentheses = Group terms. (e.g.,
(marketing OR advertising) AND manager)
Example Boolean Strings
"VP of Sales" OR "Head of Sales" OR "Sales Director"(developer OR engineer) AND ("machine learning" OR AI) NOT intern("customer success" OR "account manager") AND SaaS AND ("San Francisco" OR "SF")
What to watch out for: - If you get thousands of results, you’re too broad. - If you get ten results, you’re probably too clever for your own good—loosen it up.
Step 3: Plug Your Boolean String Into Zopto
Once you’ve crafted your Boolean search, it’s time to use Zopto. Here’s what that process actually looks like:
- Log into Zopto and connect your LinkedIn account if you haven’t already.
- Go to Campaigns and start a new campaign.
- Choose ‘Boolean Search’ as your audience source.
- Paste your Boolean string into the search box.
- Set additional filters as needed (location, company size, etc.). These stack with your Boolean, so don’t double up.
- Preview your results. Zopto will show you sample profiles. Click through a few—are these the right people?
- Tweak as needed. If you’re seeing interns, add
NOT intern. Too few results? Swap in broader job titles or fewer requirements.
Pro tip: Don’t expect perfection on the first try. Plan to run a few test searches and adjust.
Step 4: Clean and Refine Your Audience
Just because someone shows up in your search doesn’t mean they’re a good fit. Here’s what to do:
- Scan the sample profiles in Zopto before launching. Are there obvious mismatches?
- Exclude noisy terms. If you see recruiters when you want engineers, try
NOT recruiter. - Watch for location quirks. “San Francisco” might also pull in “San Francisco Bay Area”—decide if you want that.
- Check company sizes. If you keep pulling tiny startups or massive corporations, adjust your filters.
What Doesn’t Work
- Relying only on job titles—people use all sorts of variations.
- Assuming LinkedIn’s data is perfect. It isn’t. Some folks have outdated or odd profiles.
- Ignoring the sample results. If your first page is off, so is your whole campaign.
Step 5: Launch and Monitor (Don’t “Set and Forget”)
Once you’re happy with your audience, launch your Zopto campaign. Here’s the reality:
- Track responses and connection rates. If you’re getting ignored, your audience might be wrong (or your message might stink).
- Pause and adjust. Seeing too many bounces or “Not interested”? Go back and tweak your Boolean string.
- Iterate every week or two. Update your search as you learn who actually responds.
Pro tip: Save your best Boolean strings in a doc. You’ll use them again—and trust me, you won’t remember the exact combo off the top of your head.
What to Ignore (Unless You Like Wasting Time)
- Super-nested Boolean strings. If your search looks like algebra homework, you’re probably overthinking it.
- Chasing every LinkedIn filter. Zopto and LinkedIn both offer dozens of filters; focus on the 2-3 that actually matter for your audience.
- Trying to “hack” LinkedIn’s algorithm. There are always blog posts claiming secret tricks. Most don’t work for long.
Honest Takes and Small Gotchas
- You’ll never get perfect results. Some junk will slip through. That’s normal.
- Boolean isn’t magic. It helps, but you still need to personalize your outreach if you want replies.
- LinkedIn changes stuff. Sometimes what worked last month needs a tweak. Don’t get frustrated.
Keep It Simple and Tweak as You Go
Don’t overcomplicate things. Start with a clear idea of who you want, build a straightforward Boolean search, and actually look at your results before blasting out messages. The best campaigns are the ones you tune up over time—not the ones you try to perfect on day one.
Remember: good targeting beats clever tricks every time. Start simple, keep notes, and adjust as you learn. That’s how you actually build a LinkedIn audience that matters.