Query Builder

The Query Builder allows you to create a reusable audience by defining rules that contacts must meet. The query is created in your connected messaging platform and becomes available as an audience in SmarterSends.

Availability

The Query Builder is available when:

• Your connected messaging platform supports query-based audiences.
• The platform integration is authenticated.
• You have the Create Queries permission.

The query-based audience type may be labeled Query, Filter Definition, Connected Audience, Segment, or Audience, depending on your messaging platform.

Creating a Query Audience

1. Open Audiences.
2. Select Create Audience.
3. Enter a title.
4. Optionally enter a description.
5. Select the available query-based audience type.
6. If requested, select the source audience or data extension to filter.
7. Add and configure your criteria.
8. Select Save Query.

The new audience is assigned to your current group.

Selecting a Source Audience

Some messaging platforms require you to select an existing audience or data extension before building the query.

The query evaluates contacts from the selected source. Only contacts contained in that source can qualify for the resulting audience.

Adding Criteria

To add a condition:

1. Select Add Criteria.
2. Choose an available contact field or attribute.
3. Select an operator.
4. Enter or select the required value.

Repeat these steps to add additional conditions.

Available fields are supplied by your connected messaging platform. Your administrator may restrict which fields are available.

Understanding a Criterion

Each criterion contains three parts:

• Field: The contact property to evaluate, such as email address, state, subscription status, date, or a custom attribute.
• Operator: The comparison to perform, such as equals, contains, is greater than, or is blank.
• Value: The value against which the contact property is compared.

The operators available for a field depend on its data type and the connected messaging platform.

Entering Values

Follow the format displayed for the selected operator.

Depending on the operator, you may need to:

• Enter a single text, number, email address, date, or time.
• Enter a whole number for relative-date conditions.
• Separate multiple values with commas.
• Separate the beginning and ending values of a range with a dash.
• Select one or more values from a list.
• Leave the value blank for operators such as Is Blank, Is Null, Exists, or Today.
• Enter a distance and postal code for geographic conditions.

If the field provides a list of approved values, use the available selector. You may be able to search the list, select multiple values, select all values, or clear your selection.

Using AND Conditions

New criteria use AND by default.

AND requires a contact to meet both conditions.

Example:

State equals New York
AND
Subscription Status equals Subscribed

Only subscribed contacts in New York qualify.

Using OR Conditions

Select the AND label beside a criterion to change it to OR.

OR allows a contact to meet either condition.

Example:

State equals New York
OR
State equals New Jersey

Contacts in either state qualify.

OR criteria are indented to show how they are grouped with the preceding condition. Review the displayed grouping carefully when combining AND and OR rules.

Reordering Criteria

Use the drag handle beside a criterion to move it to a different position.

Reordering can change how combined AND and OR conditions are interpreted. Review the complete query after moving a condition.

Removing Criteria

Select the delete icon beside a criterion to remove it from the query.

The criterion is removed immediately from the builder.

Saving the Query

Select Save Query after entering the title and completing all criteria.

Before saving, SmarterSends checks that:

• A title was entered.
• Every criterion has an operator.
• Required values were entered.
• Values use the expected format.

Any validation messages appear above the criteria. Correct each issue and select Save Query again.

Processing the Audience

After the query is saved:

• SmarterSends creates the query in your connected messaging platform.
• The audience appears on the Audiences page.
• Its status may initially display as Waiting.
• SmarterSends calculates the audience size when supported.
• The status changes to Done when processing finishes.

Some messaging platforms do not provide audience-size calculations. For those audiences, size information may be unavailable.

The query can be selected for a campaign after it finishes processing.

Viewing a Saved Query

To review the criteria for an existing query:

1. Open Audiences.
2. Locate the query audience.
3. Open its Actions menu.
4. Select View Query.

The query displays its fields, operators, values, and AND or OR relationships.

Saved query criteria are read-only in SmarterSends. If you need different criteria, create a new query audience.

Group Contact Restrictions

Your administrator may configure an additional contact restriction for your group. When enabled, the restriction is automatically applied when the query is created.

This restriction may not appear as an editable condition in the Query Builder. As a result, the final audience can be smaller than expected from the visible criteria alone.

Troubleshooting

The Create Audience button is unavailable

Confirm that your messaging platform integration is configured and authenticated.

No query-based audience type is available

Your connected platform may not support query creation, or you may not have the Create Queries permission.

A field is missing

Your administrator may have limited the fields that users can include, or the field may not be available from the connected platform.

The query cannot be saved

Review the validation messages above the criteria. Confirm that every condition has an operator and that values follow the displayed format.

The audience remains in Waiting status

The connected platform may still be creating or calculating the audience. Allow additional processing time. If the status does not update, contact your administrator.

The audience is smaller than expected

Review all AND conditions, OR groupings, the selected source audience, and any group-level contact restrictions.