How to Use Brandwatch

Getting started with Brandwatch

In this guide, you will learn how to set up your Brandwatch account and perform your first social listening task. By the end, you'll be able to gather valuable insights from social media and other online platforms.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Brandwatch's website.
2. Click on the "Get Started" button located at the top right of the homepage.
3. Fill in your details on the sign-up form, including your name, email, and company information.
4. Choose a subscription plan; Brandwatch offers a demo or free trial for new users, so check for any available options.
5. Follow the prompts to set up your account and verify your email address.

Step 2: Your first query

1. Once logged in, navigate to the "Queries" section from the left-hand menu.
2. Click on the "Create Query" button.
3. Enter keywords related to your brand or topic of interest in the search bar. Use quotation marks for exact phrases (e.g., "customer service").
4. Set the parameters for your query, such as date range and platforms (Twitter, Facebook, etc.).
5. Click "Run Query" to generate results. You'll see a dashboard with data visualisations and mentions.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine your search. For example, "Brand A" AND "review" will show mentions that include both terms.
2. Explore the "Sentiment" tab to assess how people feel about your brand. You can filter results by positive, negative, or neutral sentiment.
3. Check the "Trends" section to identify spikes in mentions over time, helping you spot emerging conversations.
4. Save your queries by clicking the "Save Query" button, making it easy to revisit later.

Pro tip

Use the "Alerts" feature to receive notifications when your brand is mentioned or when there are significant changes in sentiment. This will help you stay informed without constantly checking the platform.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid creating overly broad queries. If your keywords are too general, you’ll end up with irrelevant results. Instead, be specific with your terms and use filters to narrow down the data effectively.