The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for performing search queries and for query optimization. In accordance with certain embodiments, a query from a client may be received at a server, and a default query range (e.g., a period of time, or other factor) may be applied to the query. The query may be executed in a first execution using an index comprising a category of information stored in the database and subject to the default query range. If the number of query results from the first execution is outside a predetermined range, then the query range may be adjusted to obtain a number of query results closer to or within the predetermined range. Additionally, the query may be executed in a second execution using the index comprising the category of information stored in the database and subject to the adjusted query range. The query results obtained from the second execution of the query may be sent to the client.