Author Lists allow you to create a list of X handles or Reddit users and use the list as a filter to find documents from those handles and users. For X, you can also use the list as a filter to find X documents to those handles.

These lists can be used to help you:

Track when a specific group mentions your organization or a topic (journalists, news, industry influencers, etc.)
Track when competitors are mentioned with relevant topics, such as complaints or questions (lead-gen opportunities)
Monitor influencers and partners during campaigns to ensure mentions are on-brand and using agreed-upon assets
Monitor mentions to influencers and partners with sensitive/critical search terms e.g. to know when fans are criticizing or accusing them (racism, discrimination, bullying, violence, fraud, etc.)

This article will cover:

Creating Author Lists
Applying an Author List to a Search
Managing Author Lists

Creating Author Lists

You can create an Author List from three different places - the Explore landing page, within an Explore search, and from the Author Tab

From the Explore Landing Page

Click Explore in the left-hand navigation bar
Click Author Lists
Click Create Author List
Add a list name
Select list type
1. From is used to find documents from the specified list of authors (most popular use case)
2. To is used to find documents to the specified list of authors and works for X only
Enter a social handle
1. One handle/user per row
2. The @ symbol is not required
3. Handles are case-sensitive and must match the handle exactly (e.g. we want to use @Meltwater, not @meltwater)
4. You can enter a maximum of 5,000 handles and users per list
5. X and Reddit are supported
Click Save

Within an Explore Search

Click Explore in the left-hand navigation bar
Open an existing search or create a new one
Select the Author drop-down in the Filter Bar
To create a new list
Select Create List
Add a list name
Select list type
1. From is used to find documents from the specified list of authors (most popular use case)
2. To is used to find documents to the specified list of authors and works for X only
Enter a social handle
1. One handle/user per row
2. The @ symbol is not required
3. Handles are case-sensitive and must match the handle exactly (e.g. we want to use @Meltwater, not @meltwater)
4. You can enter a maximum of 5,000 handles and users per list
5. X and Reddit are supported
Click Save

From the Author Tab

Click Explore in the left-hand navigation bar
Open an existing search or create a new one
Click Authors
Hover over the user you want to add to a list
Click the kebab menu or select the check to the left of their name
Click Add to list
To create a new list
1. Click Create List
2. Add a list name
3. Select list type
  1. From is used to find documents from the specified list of authors (most popular use case)
  2. To is used to find documents to the specified list of authors and works for X only
4. Enter a social handle
  1. One handle/user per row
  2. The @ symbol is not required
  3. Handles are case-sensitive and must match the handle exactly (e.g. we want to use @Meltwater, not @meltwater)
  4. You can enter a maximum of 5,000 handles and users per list
  5. X and Reddit are supported
5. Click Save
To add to an existing list
1. Click the circle to the left of the existing list’s name
2. Click OK

Applying an Author List to a Search

To apply an Author List to a search, follow these steps:

Click Explore in the left-hand navigation bar
Open an existing search or create a new one
Select the Author drop-down in the Filter Bar
Select your list(s)

Note: You can select more than one list, however, the cumulative number of handles and users within the selected lists must not exceed 5,000.
Click Search

If you want to search for documents from an Author List without a keyword search, please use a single asterisk, "*", as your query (see use cases below). Do not use any other Boolean hack.

This can help you discover topics a key group is interested in!

Managing Author Lists

You can manage Author Lists from the Explore library landing page.

Click Explore in the left-hand navigation bar
Click Author Lists
Hover over a list. A menu will populate with the following options:
1. Duplicate
2. Edit
3. Delete

Learn more about Using Filters in Explore.

💡 Tip

Need more help? Feel free to reach out to us via Live Chat or check out our Customer Community.

Find answers and get help from Meltwater Support and Community Experts.