BETA: Create a Direct Select segment

  • Updated

Direct Select segments are manually chosen, static groups of contacts in Audience Center. Use this type when you know exactly which contacts belong and want the membership to remain fixed, rather than update automatically based on changing data or behaviors. 

Beta: This article covers the beta version of segmentation in Audience Center. To request access, sign up here.

Quick Reference (Advanced Users) – Click to Expand
  • Create: Audience Center > All Contacts > ⋯ > Add direct select segment.
  • Name it: Click the header to rename.
  • Select contacts: Search All Contacts, select, then View selected > Save segment.
  • Add later: From any segment list view, select contacts > Add to direct select segment (Create new / Add subsegment / Add to existing).
  • Edit: Open the segment > select/unselect contacts > Save.

Need rule-based membership (e.g., Title, Lead Source, Industry)? Use a query segment.

Try it like this: Build a Direct Select segment for a one-off executive announcement: search for the few specific contacts (e.g., board members, key partners), add them, and keep the list fixed so it doesn’t change before you send.

Create a direct select segment

  1. Go to Audience Center > All Contacts.
  2. Click ⋯ in the upper right and choose Add direct select segment.
Add direct select segment from All Contacts More actions menu
  1. In the builder, click the header to name your segment.
  2. Search your All Contacts list, then select contacts to include.
  3. Click View selected to confirm, then Save.
Direct Select segment builder showing search and selection

Want to target by fields like Title, Lead Source, or Industry? Use a query segment.

Add contacts from any segment

You can also add contacts to a Direct Select segment from the list view of any segment (including query-based segments).

  1. Open a segment and switch to the contact list.
  2. Search/select one or more contacts.
  3. Click Add to direct select segment in the top bar.
Top bar button: Add to direct select segment

This shows three options:

Dialog with options to create new, add subsegment, or add to existing direct select segment
  • Create new segment: Creates a new Direct Select segment at the top level of your segment hierarchy.
  • Add new subsegment: Creates a subsegment under the parent you started from. If the parent is query‑based, some selected contacts might drop off later if they no longer qualify for the parent.
  • Add to existing segment: Add to any existing Direct Select segment at the top level or under your current segment.

After you choose, you can open the new or updated segment to review.

Edit a direct select segment

When editing a Direct Select segment, you’ll see the full set of contacts available to add (either from All Contacts or from the parent segment). Select or unselect contacts and click Save.

Editing a Direct Select segment with available contacts list

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