Twitter as an Advanced Search Engine

April 11, 2009 By 16 Comments

twittersearchAs Twitter continues to grow at an alarming rate more and more people are discovering how it’s a great platform to engage in meaningful conversations.  However, the real power of Twitter is in it’s function as a search engine.  A lot of people use Twitter Search to monitor trending topics and conversations around hashtags while at conferences, events or chatting about a specific topic.  But, one of the features that I don’t hear a lot of conversation around is the Advanced Search feature in Twitter Search.

Advanced Search isn’t a new feature but it’s not very prominent on the website.  The option sits at the bottom right just below the advanced-twitter-search-optionssearch box on the Twitter Search site.  Once you click on it, it opens a ton of advanced search options that allows you to really discover the power of Twitter as a search engine.  Options include the ability to search different languages, search within geographic areas, filter based on whether a tweet contains a link, and a whole bunch of other ways to dig deep into Twitter to extract data.

Why is this important?  Because of the sheer amount of conversations which are taking place on the service on a daily basis.  According to BuzzGain, there are an average of 1.9 million tweets per day.  This breaks down to 83,394 tweets per hour and 1,350 tweets per minute.  Who wouldn’t want to search all of that data?  I know I use Twitter Search at least 2-3 times per day.  Usually, I will search Twitter before going out to Google.  I think this trend will continue to grow as more people discover the power of Twitter Search and/or until the Google acquisition rumors ring true.

If you use Twitter Search, how do you use it?  Do you find it useful?  Have you tried using the advanced features yet?

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to receive future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Filed Under: Social Media, Twitter Tagged With: ,
  • http://twitter.com/justinlevy justinlevy

    What are your thoughts on Twitter as an advanced search engine? http://is.gd/rXGH

    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • http://www.donaldlafferty.com/about Don Lafferty

    I couldn’t agree more.

    Hashtags are great when following savvy Twitter users who want their stuff to be found, but I like the idea that I can pick up terms like “dog”, “zombie” or “GLAAD” being used by people talking about those things that really define a specific interest.

    Context takes a little decoding sometimes: there’s a big difference between the way Randy Jackson and Martha Stewart use the term “dog”, but that easy enough to sort through for access to fresh conversations about the things you’re monitoring by people who represent the pulse of the conversation.

    Don Lafferty’s last blog post..Jonathan Maberry and Harvey Finkel

  • http://www.donaldlafferty.com/about Don Lafferty

    I couldn’t agree more.

    Hashtags are great when following savvy Twitter users who want their stuff to be found, but I like the idea that I can pick up terms like “dog”, “zombie” or “GLAAD” being used by people talking about those things that really define a specific interest.

    Context takes a little decoding sometimes: there’s a big difference between the way Randy Jackson and Martha Stewart use the term “dog”, but that easy enough to sort through for access to fresh conversations about the things you’re monitoring by people who represent the pulse of the conversation.

    Don Lafferty’s last blog post..Jonathan Maberry and Harvey Finkel

  • http://www.gpexperience.com Tim Hayden

    Nice post, Justin. While Google and other third-party search engines (including “listening”) tools) have always yielded some Titter posts in a search, we have found on campaigns for Dell and Bacardi that there is no substitute for Twitter itself. Very true, with so many conversations criss-crossing and splitting into nfresh directions of discourse, Twitter is THE conversation to watch, search and learn from.

  • http://www.gpexperience.com Tim Hayden

    Nice post, Justin. While Google and other third-party search engines (including “listening”) tools) have always yielded some Titter posts in a search, we have found on campaigns for Dell and Bacardi that there is no substitute for Twitter itself. Very true, with so many conversations criss-crossing and splitting into nfresh directions of discourse, Twitter is THE conversation to watch, search and learn from.

  • http://twitter.com/Build_A_Tribe Build_A_Tribe

    Twitter as an Advanced Search Engine | Justin R. Levy http://bit.ly/44sdP1

    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • http://twitter.com/justinlevy justinlevy

    Did you drop by yet to let me know what you think about Twitter as a search engine? – http://is.gd/rYMO

    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • http://www.mikefrizzi.com Mike Frizzi

    Twitter is quickly becoming all things to all people. While I have not used the search function much, and I don’t see it becoming a player in that space any time soon, I can see the power and precision it offers. Still, good informative piece. Thanks for the tip!

  • http://www.mikefrizzi.com Mike Frizzi

    Twitter is quickly becoming all things to all people. While I have not used the search function much, and I don’t see it becoming a player in that space any time soon, I can see the power and precision it offers. Still, good informative piece. Thanks for the tip!

  • http://twitter.com/hannibal_panzer hannibal_panzer

    better than google? http://tinyurl.com/c4fdbe #searchengine

    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • http://twitter.com/justinlevy justinlevy

    @mwalsh I was just thinking about Twitter as search engine – http://is.gd/rXGH -looking fwd to SF in a cpl weeks! :)

    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • http://www.hyperarts.com/blog/ Analisa

    I had never even noticed that option before, thanks! When will Twitter put a search option on everyone’s homepage? It would be so convenient and I know they have thought about it, so what’s the hold up?

    Analisa’s last blog post..A Tweet a day keeps the followers away?

  • http://www.hyperarts.com/blog/ Analisa

    I had never even noticed that option before, thanks! When will Twitter put a search option on everyone’s homepage? It would be so convenient and I know they have thought about it, so what’s the hold up?

    Analisa’s last blog post..A Tweet a day keeps the followers away?

  • http://twitter.com/globalpatriot globalpatriot

    How many of you use Twitter as a search engine? Question based on a great post from @JustinLevy – http://twurl.nl/vfq7qf

    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • http://GlobalPatriot.com Global Patriot

    I find myself using Google for depth of information while using Twitter for the immediacy of up to the second knowledge. 140 characters vs. unlimited and now vs. last indexed create very different pools of data. Together it’s a very powerful source of insight that didn’t exist just a few short years ago.

    Global Patriot’s last blog post..Global Social Venture Competition

  • http://GlobalPatriot.com Global Patriot

    I find myself using Google for depth of information while using Twitter for the immediacy of up to the second knowledge. 140 characters vs. unlimited and now vs. last indexed create very different pools of data. Together it’s a very powerful source of insight that didn’t exist just a few short years ago.

    Global Patriot’s last blog post..Global Social Venture Competition