What is an Audience?
An Audience is a saved set of filter conditions that define which contacts should receive a message. When you schedule a campaign, you select one or more audiences to target.
Why Use Audiences?
Higher Engagement
Relevant messages get more clicks
Reduce Opt-Outs
Don’t over-message uninterested contacts
Maximize Revenue
Target high-value segments
A/B Testing
Test messages on specific groups
Audience Types
Dynamic Audiences
Dynamic audiences are evaluated at send time. The contacts included can change based on recent activity. Example: “Contacts who clicked in the last 7 days”- On Monday: includes 5,000 contacts
- On Friday: includes 6,200 contacts (as more people click)
Static Audiences
Static audiences are fixed at creation time. Useful for one-time campaigns to a specific group. Example: “Contacts who signed up on Black Friday 2024”- Always includes exactly 3,500 contacts
Condition Types
Build audiences using these filter types:| Category | Conditions | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time-Based | Last sent, last clicked, signup date | ”Last clicked within 7 days” |
| Count-Based | Send count, click count | ”Clicked more than 3 times” |
| Custom Fields | Any field you define | ”State equals California” |
| Revenue | Has revenue, total revenue | ”Total revenue > $50” |
| Signup | Signup method, signup list | ”Signed up via API” |
| Technical | Timezone, carrier, line type | ”Carrier is Verizon” |
AND/OR Logic
Combine conditions with flexible logic:- AND (All conditions)
- OR (Any condition)
- Nested Groups
Contact must match all conditions:Matches contacts who clicked recently, have purchased, AND are in California.
Multi-List Targeting
Audiences can span multiple sending lists. If a contact matches the audience conditions on any of the selected lists, they’re included. This is useful when:- You have contacts on multiple lists
- You want to target based on behavior across lists
- You’re running a cross-brand campaign
Audience Size
Each audience shows an estimated size:- Cached Size: Updated periodically (fast but may be slightly stale)
- Live Count: Calculated on demand (accurate but slower)
Best Practices
Start broad, then narrow
Start broad, then narrow
Begin with a simple audience and add conditions as needed. It’s easier to refine than to debug a complex audience that’s too narrow.
Test before sending
Test before sending
Use the audience preview to see which contacts match. Check that your conditions work as expected.
Name descriptively
Name descriptively
Use names like “High-Value CA Clickers” instead of “Audience 1”. You’ll thank yourself later.
Combine for complex targeting
Combine for complex targeting
Select multiple audiences when scheduling a campaign. Contacts matching ANY audience are included.