How To: Create Smart Lists

Video: Creating and Sharing Smart Lists Made Easy

What This Solves

Smart Lists let you organize your contacts into live, automatically updating groups. Instead of manually sorting people, Smart Lists update based on rules you set, such as tags, activity, form submissions, or guest status. This keeps communication targeted and prevents sending the wrong message to the wrong people.

What You’ll Learn

Where to create a Smart List
How to build filters using tags, activity, or contact fields
How Smart Lists update automatically as your database changes
How to save, edit, or delete a Smart List
How Smart Lists work with workflows and follow-up systems

Quick Steps

1) Create a Smart List

Click Contacts in the left-hand menu.

In the top-left corner, click Smart Lists.

Click Create Smart List.

2) Build Your Filters

Use the filter options to define who belongs in the list.

You can filter by:

Tags, such as Visitors, Volunteers, or Ministries
Contact fields, like email, phone, or name
Activity, such as form submissions, email opens, or link clicks
Lead stage, such as New Visitor, Connected, or Member

Add as many filters as needed.

As you build, the list updates instantly.

Use the preview on the right side to confirm the correct contacts are included.

3) Save Your Smart List

Click Save.

Give your Smart List a clear, simple name, for example:

First-Time Guests
Women’s Ministry
Kids Check-Ins
Christmas Event Registrants

Click Save Smart List to finalize.

4) Edit or Use a Smart List

Smart Lists refresh automatically as contacts meet or stop meeting your criteria.

Click any Smart List to:

Send texts or emails
Apply workflows
Take bulk actions

To edit a Smart List:

Open the list
Adjust filters
Click Save Changes

To delete a Smart List:

Open the list
Use the menu in the top corner

Notes

Smart lists work best for ongoing groups like guests, volunteers, ministry teams, and follow-up stages.
Targeted communication works better than blasting everyone. Smart Lists make that easy.
For visitor follow-up and automation, Smart Lists are one of the most powerful tools in the system.