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How does advanced keyword search work in Outreach?

This guide explains how advanced keyword search works

Written by Cision

Use keyword search in Outreach to quickly find relevant contacts based on key information such as name, email address, or biography. You can use either a simple search for quick queries or an advanced search to build more detailed, targeted searches across multiple fields.

Simple Search

The search bar allows you to add multiple keywords as tags. Each tag represents a keyword and is clearly separated for easy visibility and control.

Key features

  • Add up to 10 keyword tags in a single search.

  • Choose how keywords are applied:

    • Search Any – returns results matching any of the keywords (OR logic)

    • Search All – returns results containing all keywords (AND logic)

  • Keywords are automatically matched across all available fields, including:

    • Name

    • Email

    • Bio

    • Other indexed profile fields

Notes

  • Once 10 keywords are added, the search field becomes unavailable until a tag is removed.

  • All keywords entered in simple search are applied across the same combined set of fields.

Advanced Keyword Search

For more precise targeting, you can use Advanced Keywords to define how and where each keyword is applied.

Open advanced search

  1. Select Advanced Keywords next to the search bar

  2. The advanced search panel will open

Using the Advanced Search Panel

Each search starts with a keyword set that allows you to define three elements:

1. Keyword Type

Select the field you want to search within (for example, name, email, or bio).

  • You can add multiple keyword types within the same set

  • Press Enter after each keyword to add it

2. Keyword Entry

Enter the keyword(s) you want to search for within the selected field(s).

3. Search Logic

Choose how the keywords in the set are applied:

  • Search Any – matches results containing any of the keywords (OR logic)

  • Search All – matches results containing all keywords (AND logic)

Using Multiple Keyword Sets

You can add additional keyword sets to expand your search.

  • Each keyword set groups related search conditions

  • Separate sets are combined using OR logic

  • This allows you to target different combinations of fields and keywords within a single search

Applying the Search

Once your keywords and logic are configured:

  1. Apply the search

  2. The Advanced Keywords button will display the number of active terms

Search Behaviour

  • When an advanced search is applied, it takes priority over any keywords entered in the simple search bar

  • Simple search is automatically disabled while advanced search is in use

When to Use Each Option

  • Simple Search
    Best for quick lookups using a small number of keywords across all fields

  • Advanced Keyword Search
    Best for building detailed searches that target specific fields and combine multiple keyword conditions

This approach gives you flexibility to move from quick discovery to highly targeted searches, depending on your needs.

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