Create and save segments

This article explains how to create and save a segment using the segment builder. Learn how to get started with segments to ensure you’re familiar with using segments in ActiveCampaign.

Take note

• When scheduling a campaign, the segment will include all contacts in your account who meet the segment conditions when the campaign is sent. Not at the time the campaign is scheduled
• Updated segment names or conditions are reflected in all past campaign reports. We recommend creating a new segment instead of editing a current one for campaign sends so that your reports remain accurate
• If a segment is deleted, all its data is permanently removed and cannot be restored. It is no longer visible in campaigns or anywhere else in the ActiveCampaign platform.

Segment condition limitations

There are limitations around the number of conditions you can use when creating a segment:

• Segments can have up to 20 conditions
• Segments can contain up to five “Action” conditions(This includes any condition listed under "Actions" in the segment builder)
• The "Contains" operator can be used for up to three conditions

How to create a segment

Step 1: Navigate to the segment builder

The segment builder can be found in multiple features within ActiveCampaign. For the purposes of this article, we’ll focus on the segment builder available with the Segments Overview page, Advanced Search, and Campaign creation.

Create a segment on the Segments Overview page

1. Click Contacts > Segments on the left menu.
2. Click the “Create a Segment” button.
3. On the “Create a Segment” page, type in a “Segment Name” and a “Description” (optional).

Create a segment in Advanced Search

1. Click Contacts to go to the Contacts Overview page.
2. Click the "Search contacts" field, then click "Advanced Search."
3. The segment builder will appear at the top of the page.

Create a segment during campaign creation

1. Click Campaigns to get to the Campaigns overview page.
2. Click the “Create a Campaign” button or click on an existing campaign.
3. In the “Recipient Selection” section, click the checkbox next to the lists you want to send to.
   
   

     You can also quickly use Saved Segments or a tag as a segment during campaign creation. Learn how to create and send a campaign.

4. Click the “Send to” field, then click “Send using custom conditions.”
5. The segment builder will open in a modal where you can set your conditions.

Other areas where the segment builder is located

In addition to the areas mentioned above, you can also find the segment builder when creating:

• Contact and deal scores
• Automation triggers
• Automation actions:
  
  • If / Else
  • Wait (until conditions are matched)
  • Goal

Step 2: Build and save your segment conditions

Once you are in the segment builder, you can use it to create and save your segment conditions:

1. Click the left field that says "(Select a condition)." This will display a dropdown of condition categories.
2. Click any category, then click the segment condition you want to use.
3. Depending on the condition you select, you may or may not need to choose an operator when defining your criteria. To choose an operator, click the middle field and click the operator you would like to use.
4. Next, you'll need to provide a value for your segment condition. To do so, click the right field and click one of the options listed.
   
   Here is an example of the “Segment Conditions” filled out:
   
   
5. (Optional) If you are in the Advanced Search or Campaigns segment builder, click “Save as a new segment” on the bottom left to save your segment to the Segments Overview page. On the “Save as a new segment” modal, type in a “Segment Name” and a “Description” (optional).
6. Click “Save.” Saved Segments can be found on the Segments Overview page.

Step 3: (Optional) Add multiple conditions to your segment

You can add multiple conditions to your segment. When adding another condition to your segment, you can decide if the segment should look for contacts who match all or one of the requirements.

To add another condition to your segment, click "+ Add another condition." This will display another row to define another condition.

Note that there is a toggle to specify whether the additional condition is added with "And or Or" logic:

• "And"
  This option looks for contacts who match all conditions.
• "Or"
  This option displays contacts who match any condition.

Learn more about using "And" and "Or" logic with searches and segments.

Step 4: (Optional) Create condition groups

Condition groups let you combine multi-dimensional conditions with "And” and “Or" logic. You will want to use condition groups to mix "And and Or" statements when creating an Advanced Search or Segment.

For example, you might have one condition group that pulls contacts who have a specific tag and are subscribed to a particular list and another condition group that looks for contacts who went through a certain automation or visited a page on your site.

To add a condition group, click the "Add Condition Group" button. Then, follow the steps above to create the segment conditions.

Step 6: (Optional) Use Saved Segments

At the bottom of the segment builder, under “Saved Segments,” you can access and apply the conditions of a saved segment to apply or build upon existing segments. This can help you maintain consistency and save time.

For example, let's say you use the segment “Tag exists Newsletter AND Tag exists Engaged” to send a weekly newsletter to engaged contacts. After the segment is saved, you can click “Use conditions” to copy or add the correct conditions to the weekly newsletter campaign from “Saved Segments” rather than build a new segment each week.

Note that using a segment from the “Saved Segments” section will add the conditions below the segment you are working on. It will not replace the condition fields.

In the “Saved Segments” section of the segment builder, you can also:

• Use the search bar to quickly find your saved segments
• Hover over “Preview conditions” to see the conditions of a saved segment
• Hover over the contact count to see the number of active and total contacts that meet the conditions of the saved segment

To apply the saved segments:

1. Create a segment or open an existing segment.
2. At the bottom of the segment builder, click the dropdown next to “Saved Segments.”
   
   
3. Click the “Use conditions” button under the segment you want to use.
   
   
4. The segment conditions will appear in the segment builder above. If you add the segment conditions to a segment you are building, they will be added with “AND” logic. You can toggle this to “OR” logic based on your segment needs. Learn more about using "And" and "Or" logic with searches and segments.
   
   
5. Review your segment and logic to ensure you’re targeting the right group of contacts before proceeding.