> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.podscan.fm/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Refining Alerts with Restrictions and Filters

Well-configured restrictions transform noisy alerts into precise monitoring tools. This guide covers all available restriction options and how to use them effectively.

## Accessing Restrictions

When creating or editing an alert, scroll to the **Restrictions** section to access all filtering options.

## Language Restrictions

Focus monitoring on specific linguistic markets.

**How to use:**
* Select one or more languages from the dropdown
* Only podcasts in selected languages will trigger alerts

**When to use:**
* Your brand operates in specific language markets
* You want to separate monitoring by language for different teams
* Transcript quality varies by language and you want to focus on your strongest markets

## Location Restrictions

Target geographic regions relevant to your business.

**How to use:**
* Select one or more countries/regions
* Podcasts from selected locations will be monitored

**When to use:**
* Regional marketing campaigns
* Location-specific brand presence
* Regulatory or compliance monitoring by region

## Category Restrictions

Filter by podcast genre classification — one of the most powerful restriction options.

**Two modes available:**

### Restriction Mode
Only monitor within specified categories.
* Example: Monitor "Business" and "Technology" categories only
* Use when you know exactly which verticals matter

### Ignore Mode
Monitor everything except specified categories.
* Example: Ignore "True Crime" and "Comedy" categories
* Use when a few categories consistently produce false positives

**When to use:**
* Your brand is industry-specific
* Certain categories never produce relevant mentions
* You want separate alerts for different verticals

## Podcast Restrictions

Include or exclude specific shows.

**Two modes available:**

### Restriction Mode (Include Only)
Only monitor specified podcasts.
* Enter podcast names or IDs
* Perfect for competitor tracking
* Useful for monitoring a defined media list

### Ignore Mode (Exclude)
Monitor everything except specified podcasts.
* Block persistent false positive sources
* Exclude your own podcasts from brand monitoring
* Remove irrelevant high-volume shows

**Pro tip:** From the mentions view, use "Remove and ignore podcast forever" to quickly add podcasts to your ignore list.

## Episode Count Restrictions

Filter by podcast content volume using the range slider (0 to 1000+ episodes).

**Minimum episode count:**
* Only monitor podcasts with at least this many episodes
* Filters out new/unestablished shows
* Focus on proven content producers

**Maximum episode count:**
* Only monitor podcasts with fewer than this many episodes
* Focus on emerging shows
* Find new entrants before they're established

**Use cases:**
* Enterprise brands may want 50+ episode minimums for quality assurance
* VCs might want to find emerging podcasts with fewer than 20 episodes
* Researchers can isolate podcasts by maturity level

## Audience Ratings and Reviews

Filter based on podcast quality and reach metrics.

### Audience Size
Slider from 0 to 2M+ listeners (logarithmic scale, midpoint ~250,000).

* **High-reach targeting**: Set minimum for major brands
* **Micro-influencer focus**: Set maximum to find niche shows

### Review Counts
* **Apple review count**: 0 to 500K+ (midpoint ~63,000)
* **Spotify review count**: Similar range

High review counts indicate engaged audiences.

### Rating Scores
* **Apple podcast rating**: 0 to 5 stars
* **Spotify rating**: 0 to 5 stars

Filter for quality content by setting minimum rating thresholds.

## Combining Restrictions

For most effective monitoring, combine multiple restrictions:

**Example: Enterprise B2B Alert**
* Languages: English
* Categories: Business, Technology (Restriction Mode)
* Minimum episode count: 50
* Minimum audience size: 10,000

**Example: Niche Consumer Brand**
* Categories: Health & Fitness, Lifestyle (Restriction Mode)
* Audience size: 5,000 - 100,000 (sweet spot for engagement)
* Minimum rating: 4.0 stars

**Example: Competitive Intelligence**
* Podcasts: [List of 10 competitor shows] (Restriction Mode)
* No other restrictions needed

## Testing Your Restrictions

After configuring restrictions:

1. Save the alert
2. Check the **Latest Mentions** tab
3. Review mention quality over 24-48 hours
4. Adjust restrictions based on results

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

**Too restrictive**: Starting with too many filters can miss valuable mentions. Start broader, then narrow.

**Forgetting language**: If you only care about English, set it — otherwise you'll get all languages.

**Not using Ignore mode**: If one podcast keeps producing false positives, add it to ignore rather than loosening other restrictions.

**Static restrictions**: Review and adjust restrictions quarterly as the podcast landscape evolves.

## Quick Reference

| Restriction | Best For |
| ---- |
| Language | International brands, regional teams |
| Location | Regional campaigns, compliance |
| Categories | Industry focus, noise reduction |
| Podcasts | Competitor tracking, exclusions |
| Episode count | Quality filtering, emerging shows |
| Audience size | Reach requirements, niche targeting |
| Reviews/Ratings | Quality assurance |