Facebook Search People by location: Facebook search is a very resourceful but underused feature. Most people have no idea that Facebook search could be used for very interesting searches. You can search for just about anything you want to know with the Facebook search and you be amazed with the results you would get.
We’re going to take you through the how and why of these extremely useful searches, so you’ll be able to find just about anything.
How to Search for Friends on Facebook
Can you find someone who is not your friend on Facebook? Here’s where you can start to use some of the other search functions.
For starters, when typing in someone’s name and looking at the suggested results, Facebook will show you if you’re not connected directly to a person, as you’ll be able to add them as a friend. It would also show you how many mutual friends you have, and who those people are.
If they have a very common name, you could narrow the results down by using some of the following search tools.
How to Search by Phone Number on Facebook
You can actually search for a phone number in the regular Facebook search. This is very useful, actually.
How to Search for Posts on Facebook
This is the probably the most common Facebook search query. It’s the one where you’re looking for any news and chit-chat on a particular topic.
You can just focus on a simple keyword or you can actually make use of Facebook Graph Search to find results relevant to you. Facebook actually gives the best example of this themselves.
There is an incredible amount of information right there at your fingertips. You don’t have to limit yourself to hashtag searches when there’s so much else you can do.
How to Search History on Facebook
If you want to search just your own posts, you can use the regular search bar as above, just using “posts by me” or you can search through your activity in a different way.
Head to your activity log: https://www.facebook.com/me/allactivity
Now, you have a simple search field you can use to find things you posted, either on your own timeline, in groups or on pages. This search isn’t actually as powerful as Facebook’s graph search.
For instance, in my activity feed I could see a post I’d recently liked from a private group. I searched for a few keywords in my activity feed and it gave me no result, even though I could clearly see it right there. With the Facebook Graph Search, I threw in the same keywords and it gave me the result saying that my friend had posted about it, then took me straight to that post.
It is preferable to use the activity feed to browse, but do all of your searching in the regular Facebook Graph Search field.
How to Search for Groups on Facebook
Groups are tough, because while you can search for public or closed groups, some of the best are kept secret. They’re hidden away and you’ll never find them by searching (because they don’t want to be found).
Also, if you search for “group” followed by the topic you’re interested in, all the top suggested results will be for groups you’re already in. The best way is;
We’re going to take you through the how and why of these extremely useful searches, so you’ll be able to find just about anything.
How to Search for Friends on Facebook
- Type in your friend’s name into the search bar.
- The results will find people you’ve friended on Facebook, friends of friends, celebrities and more, hopefully in the right order for you to find who you’re looking for.
- You can also search directly for the email address of someone you know. If they’ve added that email address to Facebook and made it visible to you, you’ll find them straight away. And don’t forget that by importing your contacts Facebook will automatically suggest your friends that match those email addresses too.
How to Search for Someone on Facebook
Can you find someone who is not your friend on Facebook? Here’s where you can start to use some of the other search functions.
For starters, when typing in someone’s name and looking at the suggested results, Facebook will show you if you’re not connected directly to a person, as you’ll be able to add them as a friend. It would also show you how many mutual friends you have, and who those people are.
If they have a very common name, you could narrow the results down by using some of the following search tools.
How to Search by Phone Number on Facebook
You can actually search for a phone number in the regular Facebook search. This is very useful, actually.
How to Search for Posts on Facebook
This is the probably the most common Facebook search query. It’s the one where you’re looking for any news and chit-chat on a particular topic.
You can just focus on a simple keyword or you can actually make use of Facebook Graph Search to find results relevant to you. Facebook actually gives the best example of this themselves.
There is an incredible amount of information right there at your fingertips. You don’t have to limit yourself to hashtag searches when there’s so much else you can do.
How to Search History on Facebook
If you want to search just your own posts, you can use the regular search bar as above, just using “posts by me” or you can search through your activity in a different way.
Head to your activity log: https://www.facebook.com/me/allactivity
Now, you have a simple search field you can use to find things you posted, either on your own timeline, in groups or on pages. This search isn’t actually as powerful as Facebook’s graph search.
For instance, in my activity feed I could see a post I’d recently liked from a private group. I searched for a few keywords in my activity feed and it gave me no result, even though I could clearly see it right there. With the Facebook Graph Search, I threw in the same keywords and it gave me the result saying that my friend had posted about it, then took me straight to that post.
It is preferable to use the activity feed to browse, but do all of your searching in the regular Facebook Graph Search field.
How to Search for Groups on Facebook
Groups are tough, because while you can search for public or closed groups, some of the best are kept secret. They’re hidden away and you’ll never find them by searching (because they don’t want to be found).
Also, if you search for “group” followed by the topic you’re interested in, all the top suggested results will be for groups you’re already in. The best way is;
- Just search for the keyword of the group.
- Press enter so you get the full selection of results
- Click on the “Groups” tab of the results to filter it properly.
This way you’ll find lots of groups for whatever niche you’re after.
How to Search by Location on Facebook
If you’re searching for anything at all to do with a particular place, just using the place name as a keyword will bring up casual comments, news, events, check-ins, and the rest. That’s the first step..
You can also get a little more specific, by phrasing your search like a regular sentence. Try “Coffee shops in Minnesota” and you’ll see all two of the shops jump out at you.
But names are re-used throughout the world and can get confusing as keywords for searches. And although Facebook does try to anticipate what you mean, eventually it has to offer more results just in case you meant something else.
But you can get even more specific too: try “Hotels in New Jersey visited by my friends” or “Places in Paris visited by people who like Ryan Gosling”. I’m sure you can think of more.
Enjoy your Facebook Search.
If you’re searching for anything at all to do with a particular place, just using the place name as a keyword will bring up casual comments, news, events, check-ins, and the rest. That’s the first step..
You can also get a little more specific, by phrasing your search like a regular sentence. Try “Coffee shops in Minnesota” and you’ll see all two of the shops jump out at you.
But names are re-used throughout the world and can get confusing as keywords for searches. And although Facebook does try to anticipate what you mean, eventually it has to offer more results just in case you meant something else.
But you can get even more specific too: try “Hotels in New Jersey visited by my friends” or “Places in Paris visited by people who like Ryan Gosling”. I’m sure you can think of more.
Enjoy your Facebook Search.