What is a "Filter"?

A filter is a way to segment your contact list, create dynamic content, or inclusions for RFM settings, the Loyalty Program, and Shopify syncing. 

When should I use a "Filter"?

The following are examples of when you would use a filter.

• Segmenting your contacts for specific actions
• Deeper understanding of your customer base
• Picking a random winner
• Understanding your customers
• Including select customers in data analytics and the loyalty program

How do I set up a "Filter"?

Getting There:

• Go to the Contacts module of the Patch Portal.
• Select the "Filters" icon to reveal the drop-down menu.
• Select "ADD" to create a New Filter.

Setup:

• Give your filter a name
• Decide how you would like to filter your contacts
• Groups: If you utilize groups, this is a simple way to segment contacts
• Rules: This is the most common way to filter.  Using "Rules" you can filter based on any contact data field.
• Create the filter
• Select "Save & Close"

Example 1: Last seen over 30 days ago

This is a common filter created by businesses to see what customers haven't been back in a while.  

• Select the "Filters" dropdown
• Select "ADD"
• Name the Filter "Customers who haven't visited in 30+ Days"
• Using the Match ALL of these rules section select "Last Check-in Time" or “Shopify Last Order At”
• Using the second drop  menu select "Is Before"
• The third pull-down will allow you to pick a specific date or a relative date. If you want 30 days from today then you can select the relative option. In the days' box put 30 and change the drop-down that says “In Future” to “In Past”
• Save the filter.
• Use the filter drop-down to select your new filter “Customers who haven't visited in 30+ Days"
• Only the contacts that match the filter will then be shown.
  
  

Example 2: Filter based on the Last Check-In Time

Filter your contacts based on the Last Check-in Time

• Start under the box, Match ALL of these rules
• On the first dropdown that says Create a New Rule, scroll down to find the Last Check-in Time
• Based on whether you are trying to select recent check-ins or past customers you will click on the second dropdown and change it to Is After to select recent check-ins or "Is Before" to select customers that haven't been back in a little while
• On the 3rd dropdown "Create a relative or exact filter?"
• Exact Date/Time - You can click on the calendar and find a specific date and time to select
• Relative Time - Select your days and change "In Future"  to "In Past"
• The example below will select any contact that has checked in within the past 90 days

Example 3: Filter-based Shopify # Orders

Filter your contacts based on the number of Orders

• Start under the box, Match ALL of these rules
• On the first dropdown that says Create a New Rule find Shopify # Orders
• On the second dropdown, there are 3 common options used below:
  • Equal To - this will select those customers that have an exact number of orders
  • Less than - this will select those customers that have less orders than what you put in the 3rd box
  • Greater than - this will select those customers that have more orders than what you put in the 3rd box

Example 4: Filter your contacts based on the number of loyalty points

• Start under the box AND Match ALL of these rules

• On the first dropdown that says Create a New Rule and find Loyalty Points

• On the second dropdown, there are 3 common options used below:

  • EqualTo - this will select those customers that have an exact number of loyalty points than what you put in the last box

  • Less than - this will select those customers that have less loyalty points than what you put in the last box

  • Greater than - this will select those customers that have more loyalty points then what you put in the last box

• The example below will select those contacts that have 6 or more loyalty points
  

Filter Features and Locations

Features

Filter feature options vary by location. Here is a list of available options that may be seen on filters and what they should be used for.

1. Contacts matched: The number of contacts in your account that match the current filter rules. Use the refresh button to get the most up-to-date count.
2. Use existing filter: use an existing filter previously saved in the Contacts section.
3. Match ALL of these rules: Contacts must match every single rule set here to be included.
4. Match ANY of these rules: Contacts must match at least one rule set here to be included.
5. Nested Filters: Use these rules as ‘AND’ logic. This means each nested filter rule is considered part of a group and each rule within the nest/group must be met as a whole in order for the contact to match.
6. Limit to Specific Contacts: Select specific contacts to be included. Contacts must also match the filter rules.
7. Limit Matches: Limit the number of random Contacts matched to the filter rules. 

Contacts

Use this filter to create customer segments for targeted marketing. These filters can be accessed in filters where the USE EXISTING FILTER feature is available (Blasts, Automations)

How to create a new filter:

• Navigate to the Contacts page
• Click the filter icon in the top right-hand corner of the page
• Click the purple ADD button
• Name your filter
• Set filter rules
• Save your filter

There are multiple places where you can utilize a filter:

In the Blast Editor
In Step 1: Recipients

The page for Step 1 of the Blast editor includes different ways to segment contacts who should receive the Blast message.

How to use:

• Option 1: Select a Recent Blast to use the same Customer List from that sent Blast
  • Use this option to select from filters that were used in previous a Blast
• Option 2: Select filters from the Saved Filters tab
  • Use this option to select a filter that was previously saved on the Contacts page
• Option 3: Select the Filter Recipients card
  • Use this option to build a custom filter with nothing selected
  • Select from saved filters from the USE EXISTING FILTERS
    • OR Create a new global filter (click the purple + button)
• Once an option has been selected the Filters page of Blasts will load
  • By Default filter settings can include:
    • 'Phone number' / 'Email Address' is not 'empty'
    • 'SMS On'/ 'Email On'  is 'Yes'
    •  'SMS Bounce' / 'Email Bounce' is not 'Yes'
    • Only one message to each distinct phone number.
      
      
  • Set the rest of the rules with the filter

SmartOffer Editor
Step 4: Advanced > Filter

Use this to select which contacts are included in the SmartOffer.

Automations → Wizards

Some of the Automation Wizards include a filter to select which contacts should be included in the customer journey.

Depending on which Wizard you choose will give you different options to go through.

Auto Reply Editor

In the Send a reply to… section select the 'Any incoming message that passes a filter' checkbox to add filter rules to the Auto Reply.

Kiosks (non-Shopify) → Dynamic Content for Page

Use this filter to show and hide Kiosk pages based on contact data.

Loyalty Settings → Customer Inclusions

Use the filter options available here to include which Contacts in your database are eligible to automatically accrue loyalty points based on their purchases. You can select specific sets of Contacts based on Tags, Groups, or Field Values. For example, if your Contact database includes Wholesale Clients or Affiliates you can use the rule sets below to prevent them from accruing points from larger purchases to ensure your program data isn't skewed.

RFM Settings → Customer Inclusions

Use the filter options available here to include Contacts in your RFM data and insights. You can select a specific set of Contacts based on Tags, Groups, or Field Values. For example, if your Contact database includes Referral Partners, Wholesale Clients or Affiliates you can use the rule sets below to remove them from your standard customer data reporting to ensure your analytics are accurate.

How to use:

• Find the Customer Inclusions section
• Unselect the Leave this box checked to include ALL contacts checkbox
• Set Filter Rules
• Save your Filter

Shopify Settings → Customer Inclusions

Use the filter options available here to prevent contacts from being created in your account based on the customers' data in Shopify. Customers will only be created in your account if they match all rules added below.

Note: Existing contacts will continue to sync, regardless of the filter settings. To prevent existing contacts from syncing, delete these contacts from the Contacts section.

Note: This filter is only available to Shopify users.

How to use:

• Find the Customer Inclusions section
• Unselect the Leave this box checked to include ALL contacts checkbox
• Set Filter Rules
• Save your Filter

Settings → Web Push Notifications → Edit Device

Use this filter to set rules on when notifications should and should not show on the listed device.

How to use:

• Click the SUBSCRIBE ME button on the left
• Click the edit pencil on the right side of the row that should have filter rules
• Set your filter notification rules
• Save the filter rules by clicking the SAVE button

Email Editor → Dynamic Content

Email content created in Patch includes a dynamic content feature. This feature can be accessed in the Email Editor which is available in Blasts, Automations, Settings > Email Snippets, and Templates pages.

How to use:

1. Create a new email from one of the places: Blasts, Automations, Settings > Email Snippets, Templates
2. Build your email
3. Select the element on canvas that should show dynamically
4. Click the filter icon
5. Set your filter rules
6. Save the filter

Automations Filters

Filter Block

Use the filter in this block to send contacts on different journeys based on previous contact fields.  Path journey options include Match, Not Match, and Always.

Filter By Events Block

Use the filter in this block to send contacts on different journeys based on previous event data. Path journey options for the block include Match, Not Match, and Always.

Select By Events Block

Use the filter in this block to select contacts from the account that match event rules.

Select Contacts Block

Use the filter in this block to select contacts from the account that match the contact field rules.

Trigger Block Filter

The Trigger block filter is available on specific trigger blocks. It is used to include only specific contacts in the customer journey.

Available Field Types Seen in Filters

Contact Specific

Contact-specific fields include all default fields available on contacts plus any user-created fields. All fields on the account can be located by navigating to Account Settings > Fields.

Events

Event-specific fields include all events that can occur for a contact. All event types can be viewed by navigating to the Event Log page.

General

General fields are user-created fields. General fields can be created and viewed at Account Settings > General Fields for use in filters and SmartText.

Account Level

Account-level fields are data fields that include account information such as Account Name, Business Phone, and more. Account fields can be updated in the Account Settings > Account Details page. 

For further assistance with setting up an Filters or any other features, feel free to contact our Customer Success team via the TextChat widget in the bottom left corner of your Patch account or via email at success@patchretention.com