Segments

A segment groups contacts that match a set of rules. Segments let you target the right people without hand-picking them, and they keep that audience current as your data changes.

Dynamic vs static

• Dynamic segments auto-update as contacts and events change. A contact automatically enters or leaves the segment the moment they start or stop matching the rules.
• Static segments are a fixed snapshot of membership taken when you build them — useful when you want a stable, unchanging list.

Building rules

Rules combine contact attributes and event history. For example, you can target contacts where plan = pro AND who performed the purchase event at least 3 times. Create a segment under Segments → New, add your conditions, and save.

Using a segment

Once defined, a segment can:

• Act as a segment trigger that enrolls a contact into a campaign when they join or leave the segment — for example, welcome someone who enters a "new trial" segment, or start a win-back when someone drops out of an "active users" segment. See Triggers.
• Be targeted directly in a manual enrollment to send to everyone currently in the segment.

Joining and leaving

As contacts and events change, EngageApp keeps dynamic segment membership current and records each contact that joins or leaves. Those transitions are what a join/leave trigger reacts to. A few things worth knowing:

• Membership changes are picked up automatically, within a few minutes — not necessarily the instant your data changes.
• Both directions work for dynamic and static segments. Adding or removing a contact from a static list counts as a join or leave too.
• If a contact leaves a segment only because it was deleted, it won't be enrolled into a join/leave campaign — there's no one left to message.

Next steps

• Understand the fields that power rules in Contacts.
• Send the behavior that rules match against — see Events.
• Turn a segment into automation with Triggers.