Welcome to our comprehensive guide on building filters! This article will help you create powerful targeting logic to identify the right contacts for your signals.
Understanding the Filter Interface
When you first open the Define Logic step, you'll see a two-panel layout:
Left Panel: Displays your filter logic and groups
Right Panel: Shows available fields for filtering
The interface starts with a helpful blank state that guides you through adding your first filter. Don't worry if it seems overwhelming at first – we'll walk you through each step.
Getting Started: Your First Filter
Quick Start with Personas
The fastest way to begin is by clicking the "Only suggest contacts who match buyer personas" button in the blank state. This automatically adds a persona filter with all personas selected, giving you a foundation to build upon.
Manual Filter Creation
Browse the field categories in the right panel:
Persona: Target specific buyer personas
Event: Filter based on user actions and behaviors
Company: Target by company characteristics
Contact: Filter by individual contact attributes
Click any field to add it as a filter
Configure your operator and values
Watch your filter appear in the left panel
Working with Filter Groups
Filter groups are the building blocks of complex targeting logic. Think of them as containers that hold related conditions together.
Creating Filter Groups
Click "Add Group" to create a new filter group
Each group can contain multiple individual filters
Groups are numbered sequentially for easy reference
AND vs OR Logic
Understanding the difference between AND and OR logic is crucial:
Within a Group:
AND logic: All conditions must be true (more restrictive)
Example: "Title contains 'Manager' AND Department equals 'Sales'"
Result: Only Sales Managers
OR logic: At least one condition must be true (more inclusive)
Example: "Title contains 'Manager' OR Title contains 'Director'"
Result: Anyone who is either a Manager or Director
Between Groups:
Groups can also be connected with AND/OR operators
This creates powerful combinations like: (Group 1) AND (Group 2 OR Group 3)
Configuring Individual Filters
Selecting the Right Operator
Different field types offer different operators:
Text Fields:
Equals: Exact match
Contains: Partial match anywhere in the text
Starts with: Matches the beginning
Ends with: Matches the ending
Does not equal/contain: Exclude specific values
Number Fields:
Greater than (>)
Less than (<)
Equals (=)
Between: Specify a range
Special Fields:
Personas: Always use checkbox selection
Events: Include timing configuration after selection
Entering Values
Most fields accept multiple values (comma-separated)
Persona fields show checkboxes for easy multi-selection
Use the search function to quickly find options in long lists
Best Practices for Effective Filtering
1. Start Broad, Then Narrow
Begin with broader criteria and gradually add more specific filters. This helps you understand your audience size at each step.
2. Use Persona Filters First
Personas are pre-defined ideal customer profiles. Starting with persona filters ensures you're targeting the right audience foundation.
3. Combine Behavioral and Demographic Data
Mix event-based filters (what they did) with attribute filters (who they are) for more precise targeting.
4. Test Your Logic
After building your filters, review the visual logic preview to ensure it matches your intent. Ask yourself:
Are my AND/OR operators correct?
Am I being too restrictive or too broad?
Does the logic flow make sense?
5. Use Templates When Available
Don't reinvent the wheel. If you see sample templates that match your use case, use them as starting points and modify as needed.
Common Use Cases and Examples
Example 1: Target Sales Leaders at Growing Companies
Group 1 (AND):
Persona: Sales Leader (selected)
Company Employee Count: Greater than 50
Company Growth Rate: Greater than 20%
Example 2: Engaged Users from Enterprise Accounts
Group 1 (AND):
Event: Logged in (within last 30 days)
Company Type: Equals "Enterprise"
Group 2 (OR):
Event: Created Report (within last 7 days)
Event: Shared Dashboard (within last 7 days)
Logic: Group 1 AND Group 2
Example 3: Decision Makers in Target Industries
Group 1 (AND):
Title: Contains "VP" OR Contains "Director" OR Contains "Head of"
Industry: Equals "Technology" OR Equals "Finance" OR Equals "Healthcare"
Company Revenue: Greater than $10M
Managing and Editing Filters
Editing Existing Filters
Click the edit icon on any filter card
Modify the operator or values
Changes apply immediately
Duplicating Filters
Save time by duplicating similar filters:
Use the duplicate icon on individual filters
Duplicate entire groups to create variations
Removing Filters
Click the delete icon to remove individual filters
Remove entire groups (except the last one)
Use "Clear all filters" to start fresh
Troubleshooting Common Issues
"My filters aren't returning any results"
Check if your AND logic is too restrictive
Consider switching some AND operators to OR
Verify your values are entered correctly
"I'm getting too many results"
Add more specific filters
Switch from OR to AND logic where appropriate
Use "does not contain" operators to exclude unwanted matches
"The persona filter isn't working as expected"
Ensure you've selected at least one persona
Remember that persona filters use OR logic by default (any selected persona matches)
"Event timing seems confusing"
Event timing controls only appear after selecting an event
Default is "within last 30 days"
Adjust based on your engagement recency needs
Pro Tips
Use the Search Function: Both panels have search capabilities – use them to quickly find fields and values
Resize Panels: Drag the divider between panels to adjust the view based on what you're working on
Collapse Complex Groups: When working with many filter groups, collapse completed ones to reduce visual clutter
Save Common Patterns: If you find yourself creating similar filters repeatedly, document your patterns for future use
Think in Natural Language: Read your filters out loud – they should sound like a clear description of your target audience
Need More Help?
If you're still having trouble building filters:
Try starting with a simple template
Begin with just one or two filters and gradually add complexity
Remember that you can always edit and refine your filters later
Building effective filters is a skill that improves with practice. Start simple, experiment with different combinations, and you'll soon be creating sophisticated targeting logic with confidence!
Still have questions? Contact our support team for personalized assistance with your filter configuration.