Saved searches in Federal Compass offer the convenience of receiving email alerts for new opportunities and enable rapid access to frequently used search criteria, eliminating the need for repetitive data entry.
This guide will provide a step-by-step walkthrough to effectively create and manage saved searches, ensuring you take advantage of every opportunity that aligns with your interests.
Configurable Criteria and Automated Alerts
Manually tracking multiple sources for new opportunities can be time-consuming and divert valuable resources away from high-priority projects. You can automate this process by utilizing saved searches within Federal Compass, significantly reducing the time and effort involved. This guide will walk you through setting up effective saved searches, empowering your team to maintain continuous oversight and receive timely notifications on opportunities that matter most.
Retrieve Frequent Searches
The saved search feature is available within the search interfaces of our Opportunities and Research components. By saving a search, users can quickly retrieve frequently accessed information without the need to remember or repeatedly input search criteria.
How to Save a Search
1. Saved Search Availability
This feature is available within both our Opportunities and Research product components.
2. Saved Search Function
The option to save a search is located in the upper right-hand corner of the search page. 
3. Enter Your Search Criteria
Enter relevant keywords and apply the necessary filters to narrow your results.
Example: To target opportunities in the IT sector, you might use keywords such as "IT services," "information technology," or "cybersecurity." Additionally, you can refine your search by adding filters such as relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 541) to focus on IT services specifically.
Check your search results to ensure they align with your goals and adjust your keywords or filters if needed.
4. Saved Search Best Practices
Begin with a broad keyword representing your field, such as "IT services." Analyze the initial results and gradually apply additional filters or keywords to enhance relevance. This method allows you to determine which keywords yield the most effective results. Starting with too many keywords at once may lead to overly restrictive results due to less effective keyword choices.
Example: When searching for cybersecurity opportunities, a broad term like "Security" could produce too many unrelated results, whereas a specific term like "Man in the Middle" might be too limiting. Words like “cybersecurity” or “network security” are more balanced approaches.
For valuable insights on effectively using keywords to create powerful saved searches, refer to our guide, How to Master Keyword Searches: A Step-by-Step Guide.
5. Save Your Search
Select the Save Search action button.
Provide a descriptive name for your saved search to ensure easy identification in the future. Select the share option if you'd like to allow others in your organization to access this search. Before finalizing, verify that all search criteria are accurate, then click on "Save Changes" to store your search.
6. Manage Saved Searches:
To manage and organize your saved searches and lead lists, navigate to the "Pipeline" menu and select "Saved Searches & Lead List."
7. Save Search Template
If you need help setting up your search, begin with a pre-built saved search template. These templates offer a customizable foundation and can help you become familiar with common keyword and filter combinations. Tailor them to suit your particular requirements and refine the setup as needed.
For more details on managing your saved searches, refer to our guide on How to Manage Saved Searches
Creating a saved search is a flexible process. Review your saved searches regularly and adjust filters or keywords to maintain relevant results. By testing and fine-tuning, you can ensure you stay informed about the most valuable opportunities.
For additional help, please contact our support team at support@federalcompass.com.