Basic Search Guide

Overview

The search functionality in Sila TrueTrends helps you discover specific trends, analyze patterns, and find relevant insights quickly. This guide covers the fundamentals of using search effectively.

Accessing Search

Search Entry Points

1. Main Search Bar: Available in Trends section
2. Chat Interface: Natural language search through conversation
3. Trends Dashboard: Integrated search at the top

Basic Search Operations

Entering Search Terms

Simple Search

1. Click in the search bar
2. Type your keyword or phrase
3. Press Enter or click Search
4. Results appear immediately

Search Examples

• Single word: blockchain
• Multiple words: artificial intelligence healthcare
• Phrases: sustainable fashion brands
• Questions: what is trending in gaming platforms

Understanding Search Results

Results Display

Each result shows:

• Trend Title: Main trend name
• Growth Indicator: Trending up/down
• Engagement Metrics: Social interaction level
• Preview Text: Brief description
• Category Tags: Associated categories

Results Ordering

Results are sorted by:

1. Relevance (default): Best matches first
2. Recency: Most recent trends
3. Growth Rate: Fastest growing
4. Engagement: Most discussed

Search Techniques

Keyword Selection

Effective Keywords

Use specific terms: electric vehicles instead of cars Industry terminology: machine learning algorithms Trend-specific language: metaverse platforms Consumer terms: eco-conscious fashion

Keyword Tips

• Start with broader terms
• Note successful keywords
• Use terms from trend descriptions
• Try synonyms if no results

Multi-Term Searches

How It Works

• All terms are searched
• Results match ANY term (OR logic)
• More terms = broader results
• Relevance based on matches

Examples

• AI automation robotics - Finds items with any of these terms
• sustainable fashion circular economy - Broader sustainability results
• digital health telemedicine wearables - Comprehensive health tech trends

Search Refinement

Adding Terms

After initial search:

1. Review results
2. Click "Add term" or "+"
3. Enter additional keyword
4. Results update automatically

Removing Terms

To narrow results:

1. Click X next to term
2. Term is removed
3. Results refresh
4. More focused results

Search Filters

Time Filters

Sorting Options

• Oldest First
• Newest First
• Most Popular
• Most Liked
• Most Commented

Category Filters

Available Categories

Common categories include:

• Technology & AI
• Fashion & Beauty
• Gaming & Entertainment
• Healthcare & Medical
• Finance & Crypto
• Real Estate & Construction
• Automotive & Transportation
• Sustainability & Environment
• Sports & Fitness
• Education & Learning
• Travel & Hospitality
• News & Media

Using Categories

1. Select category from dropdown
2. Can select multiple
3. Results filtered immediately
4. Clear to remove filter

Search Results Management

Interacting with Results

Viewing Details

• Click any result card
• Opens detailed trend view
• See full analysis
• Access related trends

Quick Actions

From results:

• Save: Bookmark for later
• Share: Send to colleagues
• Export: Download data
• Compare: Select multiple

Saving Searches

Save Current Search

1. Click "Save Search" button
2. Name your search
3. Access from saved searches
4. Re-run anytime

Benefits

• Track trends over time
• Share search with team
• Quick access to key topics
• Monitor specific areas

Search Best Practices

Getting Better Results

Do's

Start with clear, specific terms Use industry terminology Try different word combinations Adjust filters progressively Note successful searches

Don'ts

Use overly complex queries initially Include too many filters at once Ignore relevance indicators Overlook suggested terms Forget to clear old filters

Search Strategies

Discovery Strategy

1. Start with broad term
2. Review top results
3. Note related terms
4. Search those terms
5. Build understanding

Focused Strategy

1. Use specific term
2. Apply strict filters
3. High relevance only
4. Recent timeframe
5. Export results

Comparative Strategy

1. Search first topic
2. Save results
3. Search comparison topic
4. Compare findings
5. Note differences

Common Search Scenarios

Finding Emerging Trends

Approach:

1. Use terms like "emerging tech", "new platforms", "innovative AI"
2. Set time filter to "Last Month"
3. Look for high growth rates in social mentions
4. Check low relevance for early signals in niche domains

Researching Specific Topics

Approach:

1. Use exact terminology
2. Set relevance to "High"
3. Include related terms
4. Review all categories
5. Deep dive into top results

Competitive Intelligence

Approach:

1. Search competitor-related terms
2. Look for market gaps
3. Compare growth rates
4. Identify opportunities
5. Save for monitoring

Trend Validation

Approach:

1. Search specific trend name
2. Check growth metrics
3. Review sentiment
4. Analyze demographics
5. Assess longevity

Troubleshooting Search

No Results Found

Solutions

1. Check spelling
2. Use simpler terms
3. Remove filters
4. Lower relevance threshold
5. Try synonyms

Too Many Results

Solutions

1. Add more specific terms
2. Increase relevance threshold
3. Apply category filters
4. Use date ranges
5. Focus search terms

Irrelevant Results

Solutions

1. Refine search terms
2. Increase relevance setting
3. Use exact phrases
4. Remove broad terms
5. Apply filters

Advanced Search Tips

Search Operators

While not requiring special syntax, these approaches work:

• Combine related terms for broader results
• Use specific phrases for exact matches
• Include context words for better relevance

Quick Search Shortcuts

• / : Focus search from anywhere
• Enter: Execute search
• Escape: Clear search
• Tab: Navigate results

Mobile Search

• Tap search icon
• Voice input available
• Swipe through results
• Touch to select filters
• Pull to refresh

Related Guides

• Search Refinement
• Trends Dashboard
• Chat-based Search