How to use Filters to Send a Blast

Want to send a 'Blast'?
Looking to target specific contacts?
This article will show how to create and use a filter and send a blast!

Filters can be used in many areas throughout the Patch portal, but this article will focus on when it comes up sending a blast!

For more details on how to send a blast, click here.

• Go to the Blasts module and create a blast by clicking the (+) symbol in the lower right corner.
  
  
  
  
• It will ask to name the new blast. Then choose either SMS text message or Email.
  
  
  
  It will then open up to the Recipients page.
  The options available to choose from are:
  
  • All Opted-In Contacts
  • Filter Recipients
    For the sake of this article select the Orange 'Filter Recipients' button.
    
    
    
    Note that under the two main options, there are also two other options you can select from:
    • Recent Blasts
    • Saved Filters
      
      

Once you select 'Filter Recipients' it will take you to the 'Filter' page.

• At the top of this window, it will display the total contacts that match the current rule set.
• You have another chance to 'Use an Existing Filter' underneath the contacts matched number, if you have already created a filter that you want to select and use.
  
  
  
  There are 5 different sections in the filter settings.
  
  
  • 'These rules are added automatically'
    By default, a blast will include the first 4 rules. This ensures valid contacts are being filtered.
    This ensures an 'eligible' contacts are selected.
    
    
  • 'Match ALL of these rules'
    Contacts will be included in the results if ALL data field sets here match.
    
    
  • 'Match ANY of these rules'
    Contacts will be included in the results if ANY data field sets here match.
    
    
  • 'Limit to Specific Contacts'
    Use this setting to select specific contacts.
    If filter rules exist above they will also filter out contacts selected here.
    If the total number of people to target is small, this option will find those specified contacts.
    
    
  • 'Limit Matches'
    This setting allows limiting the number of 'Contacts Matched'. 
    Ex: If contacts Matched' is 5,000 and 1,500 is typed here, only 1,500 contacts will be selected at random out of the 5,000 based on all other filtering rules.
    
    

Let's walk through how to set up an example filter!
Let's say we want to target a customer who:

• Has visited within the past month (Checked in at location)
• And also is a member of a certain group (Group is = xyz)
  
  
  
  
• To search for contacts who have visited the store within the past 30 days, we will need to reference the contact field 'Last Checkin Time'.
  
  
• Under the section 'Match ALL of these rules', click on the drop-down menu, and for the first column, select the field that says: 'Last Checkin Time'.
  
  
  
  
• Once 'Last Checkin Time' is selected, the middle column will ask for modifying details.
  
  Different fields will have different options available.
  The modifier options are straightforward for how the rule is going to be utilized.
  
  
  
  This second column will determine how the selected field will be applied.
  
  For the field, 'Last Checkin Time' you can choose from the options:
  • Equal to - The field selected MUST MATCH exactly to the next chosen field.
  • Not Equal to - Selects ALL contacts who do NOT match the field exactly.
  • Date Equal to - The date for that field selected MUST MATCH exactly.
  • Date Not Equal to - Filters by ALL contacts who do NOT match the selected date.
  • Is Before - Selects all those whose Last Checkin Time is before the selected date.
  • Is After - Selects all those whose Last Checkin Time is after the selected date.
  • Is Empty - Finds those who do NOT have a 'Last Checkin Time' (Never checked in)
  • Is Not Empty - Targets those who DO have an entry for, 'Last Checkin Time', on file
    
    
    
• Once the middle modifier column has been selected, you can choose between:
  • Absolute Date / Time
  • Relative Time
    
    
    
    • Absolute Date / Time
      This will let you find and choose a specific time and date.
      (Ex: Data before, during, after, or on this date / time.)
      
    • Relative Date / Time
      This lets you choose a dynamic time frame.
      This way an existing filter can be utilized to include a rolling date range!
      (Ex. Birthdays that are tomorrow, a week from now, or in a month)
      Use the 'calendar' icon to include/exclude the year. 
      
      
      

Let's look at a few different common examples:

This example filter rule set searches for contacts who meet the rules:
SMS opted-in and checked in within the last 30 days.

• • SMS Eligible(By Default)
  • Checked in to location within the last 30 days(Last Checkin Time)
    4 contacts match these rules.
    

This example extends those rules to search for:
SMS opted-in customers that have checked in within the last month - and who have ALSO texted in a keyword.
When someone texts in any keyword, they get tagged automatically into a group.

• • SMS Eligible(By Default)
  • Checked in to location within the last 30 days(Last Checkin Time)
  • (Match ANY) And that they are ALSO in 1 of any 3 groups: (Group =)
    
    •  
    • Keyword: NINJAS
    • Keyword: NOA
    • Keyword: zKidCash TEST GROUP
      1 Contact matches these rules.
      

This example searches for contacts who meet the rules:
SMS opted-in and ALSO NO Address or Birthday

• • SMS Eligible (By Default)
  • NO address on file (Address = Empty)
  • NO birthday on file (Birthday = Empty)
    39 Contacts match these rules
    

The last two sections towards the bottom of the 'Recipients' filter page are limiting options.

• Limit to Specific Contacts
  • You can search for and select certain contacts here.
  • Once a contact has been selected, a green bubble will appear underneath the search bar.
  • You can search and select as many contacts as you would like.
    
    
    
    
• Limit Matches
  • You can specify the total number of contacts you want to send the blast to.
  • It will select this number at random.
    
    

The ability to use filters is all throughout the Patch Retention Portal!