Start by clicking Search in the menu on the left.

Enter what you want to monitor in the search field. This could be a company, brand, organization, topic, or person.

Use an asterisk (*) to include different variations of a word. For example, consum* can capture words like consume, consumer, consumption, and similar word forms.

In many cases, searching for the main search term is enough. But if you want to make your search more specific, you can use Near terms to define the context in which your search term should appear.

When you add near terms, a mention will only be included if your search term appears together with at least one of the near terms.

Example:
If you search for sustainability but only want results related to the fashion industry, you can add near terms such as textile, clothing, or fashion.

Use Exclude terms when you want to filter out results that appear in the wrong context.

Example:
If you want to search for Java as a programming language but avoid results about coffee, you can exclude terms such as coffee, beans, or café.

Click Preview to see an initial version of your results.

To refine your results, open Keywords & preferences and adjust your search terms, near terms, exclude terms, media types, or time period.

Need more options? Click Show advanced settings.

Once you’re happy with your settings, click Preview again to make sure the results are relevant before moving on.

When you’re ready to continue, click Continue in the top-right corner.

In the next step, choose whether the search should be active or inactive.

Active means the search starts collecting new mentions going forward and works as an alert.

​Inactive means the search is saved without collecting new mentions, so you can come back to it later.

To start monitoring right away, choose Active.

Read more about the difference between following and saving a search here.

Try adding an asterisk (*) at the end of your search term. This allows you to include different word endings.

If your results feel too broad or off-topic, try narrowing your search.

For example, searching for "run*" could return words like "running," "runner," and "runs," but also unrelated ones like "runway" or "rundown," depending on the context.

You can also use Nearby terms or Exclude terms, as mentioned earlier, to make your search more accurate.

1. Brand names
A common use case for media monitoring is to track mentions of your own brand. Keep in mind that brand names can sometimes be transcribed differently. Try a few variations! For instance, “Starbucks” might be transcribed as “Starbux,” while “The New York Times” might be shortened to “NYT.”

It’s also a good idea to monitor competitors' brand names to stay updated on what’s being said about them.

2. Key spokespersons
Who are the important spokespersons for your organization? It could be your CEO, head of communications, press officers, or even influencers associated with your brand.

3. Industry terms
In addition to your brand and competitors, it can be helpful to monitor keywords and phrases tied to your industry or area of expertise. This can give you even more insights relevant to your work.

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