Why it matters
Advanced search helps you find contacts based on detailed criteria across contact fields, tags, and custom data. Use it to build complex queries, verify data, or prepare audiences before creating segments or lists.
Key Concepts
Advanced Filters: A search mode that allows multiple conditions.
Logical Operators:
AND: All conditions must be true.
OR: Any condition can be true.
Resources: Data categories you can filter by, such as contacts or tags.
Properties: Specific fields within those resources, like name, tag value, or custom fields.
Step-by-Step: Build an Advanced Search
Go to Data → Contacts.
Click Add Filter at the top of the page.
Select Advanced Filter from the dropdown.
Choose the resource you want to search (for example, contacts or tags).
Select a property to filter by.
Choose a comparison operator such as Is exactly or Is not exactly.
Enter the value you want to match.
Click Add Filter to add another condition.
Pick a logical operator (AND or OR) to define how conditions combine.
Repeat as needed to build a multi-condition query.
Tips and Best Practices
Use AND when narrowing down results (for example, tag = VIP and default channel = SMS).
Use OR when expanding results (for example, tag = VIP or tag = Returning Customer).
Keep filters simple when possible to avoid confusion and ensure predictable results.
Review each condition carefully before applying multiple rules.
Convert a successful query into a segment if you need a dynamic audience.
Troubleshooting
Issue | Possible Cause | Fix |
Too many results | Filters combined with OR instead of AND | Review logical operators and adjust |
No results found | Conditions too restrictive or mismatched values | Test filters individually to identify the issue |
Wrong field returned | Incorrect property selected | Reopen the filter and choose the correct property |
Advanced Filter option missing | Not in the Data → Contacts view | Navigate to the correct page and retry |