Documentation
People intelligence

Search examples and best practices

Write focused searches, choose useful signals, and check public evidence before acting.

Reviewed 2026-08-25

Use these examples as starting points. Buyer behavior differs by market, so start with a small search, review the evidence, and adjust one thing at a time.

Start with three questions

  1. Who fits? Use facts that are visible on a profile or company page, such as role, location, industry, or company size.
  2. Why might now be a good time? Choose one signal, such as a relevant post, a job opening, or a public expansion announcement.
  3. What proves it? Look for the original post, job listing, announcement, or other dated source. A signal is a clue, not proof that someone wants to buy.

Examples by search type

Search typeExample useBest practice
General SearchFind operations leaders at multi-location businesses in a specific regionUse when role, company, and location are more important than recent activity
High IntentFind people posting or commenting about opening locations, onboarding hourly teams, or keeping standards consistent across sitesUse one specific topic and prefer original posts or useful comments over a simple reaction
Job SignalFind companies hiring for work your product supports, then find the leader likely to own that workRead the job description; the title alone may not explain why the company is hiring
CompetitorFind qualified people interacting with a competitor that serves the same buyerUse a focused competitor whose audience closely matches yours
Competitor RepsSee which qualified people interact with a competitor's sellersTreat repeated, meaningful activity as stronger than one reaction
Influencer EngagementFind qualified people interacting with a trusted expert in your marketChoose an expert whose audience includes the people you want to reach
LookalikesExpand from a small group of people you already know are relevantStart with strong examples and review the new people carefully
Sales NavigatorCheck an existing search or lead list against your PersonaUse Lumnis to rank and explain the list instead of importing it without review

Use web research for public facts

Web research works best when the fact should have a public, dated source.

Good examples include:

  • a company announcing a new store or location;
  • a current job listing that describes the work being added;
  • a public grant, award, certification, or product launch; and
  • a company announcement about entering a new market.

Ask for the source and date, then check both. If the evidence is missing, treat the fact as unknown. Web research cannot reliably confirm private budgets, unannounced plans, internal dissatisfaction, or a person's readiness to buy.

Example: companies opening new locations

Goal: Find operations or finance leaders at multi-location companies that recently announced a new location.

  1. Use General Search to define the role, company type, size, and location.
  2. Add the public announcement as supporting evidence. Include a recent time range and ask for the announcement date and link.
  3. Use High Intent only if you also want people discussing a specific topic, such as store openings, site launches, or multi-location operations.
  4. Review whether the person is likely to own the expansion. The announcement proves the event happened; it does not prove that every leader at the company is involved.

Two more useful search plans

Hiring as a possible buying signal

Use Job Signal when the job description shows that a company is investing in work related to your product. Search for the likely owner, not only the person being hired. Hiring can also mean a team is busy or not ready to change, so read the job description and use the signal as context rather than proof.

A topic that buyers discuss publicly

Use High Intent for one clear topic written in the words buyers use. For example, “opening a new location” is more precise than “business growth.” Keep the topic narrow. Original posts usually provide stronger context than useful comments, and useful comments provide more context than reactions alone.

Keep the search brief focused

  • Choose one main topic or buying signal.
  • Put only clear, profile-visible facts in the required criteria.
  • Use short exclusions for obvious mismatches.
  • Put public facts in supporting research and private facts in the review step.
  • State strict location or role requirements directly.
  • Use the language your buyers use, not broad phrases such as “needs efficiency.”

Review before you act

Check fit and timing separately. Someone can care about a topic without owning the problem, and someone can fit the role without being ready to act. Review the source, date, role, company, and reason for the match. A short, well-supported list is more useful than a larger list filled with weak matches.