Dynamic Groups are a way to automatically segment your members based on the data in their profiles. Unlike standard groups where you manually add or remove members, Dynamic Groups update themselves — if a member's data matches the group criteria, they are included. If it no longer matches, they are removed. This makes it easy to maintain organized, up-to-date segments without manual effort.
How Dynamic Groups Work
Dynamic Groups are defined by rules based on your contact fields. The group continuously evaluates all contacts in your account and includes those who match the criteria.
Example: If you import a spreadsheet with both members and staff in the same file, and the spreadsheet includes a column identifying each person's role, you can create two Dynamic Groups:
- A "members" Dynamic Group that includes members where the role field equals "member."
- A "Staff" Dynamic Group that includes members where the role field equals "Staff."
As new members are imported or existing members are updated, they are automatically sorted into the correct group.
When to Use Dynamic Groups
Dynamic Groups are most useful when:
- You have a single contact list that includes multiple types of people (members, staff, prospects, vendors) and need to communicate with each type separately.
- You want to automatically identify members who are missing important information — for example, members without an email address or without a birthdate on file.
- You need groups that stay current as member data changes over time.
How to Create a Dynamic Group
Step 1: Navigate to members
Click Contacts in the left-hand navigation and locate the Groups or Dynamic Groups section.
Step 2: Create a New Dynamic Group
Click Create Dynamic Group and give it a descriptive name.
Step 3: Define the Rules
Set the criteria that determine which members belong to this group. Rules are based on member field values. Common rule examples:
- Role = "member" — includes all members tagged as members.
- Email is empty — includes members who do not have an email address, useful for running a data capture campaign.
- Status = "Active" — includes only active members.
- Member ID is not empty — includes contacts who have a member ID, separating them from general contacts.
Step 4: Save and Review
Save the Dynamic Group and review the members it has included. Verify that the right people appear in the group by checking a few records.
Use Case: Automatically Requesting Contact Details
One powerful use of Dynamic Groups is identifying members who are missing key information and reaching out to collect it.
Example flow:
- Create a Dynamic Group for members where Birthdate is empty.
- Send a campaign to that group asking members to reply with their birthdate.
- As members reply and their birthdates are captured, they are automatically removed from the Dynamic Group because they no longer match the criteria.
- The group naturally shrinks as data is collected, giving you a clear view of how many members still need follow-up.
Tips & Best Practices
- Use your spreadsheet columns strategically. When preparing data for import, include columns that will power your Dynamic Groups — role, status, department, membership type, or any attribute you want to segment by.
- Combine Dynamic Groups with campaigns to automate data collection. Target members who are missing information and let the group update itself as responses come in.
- Review Dynamic Group membership periodically to make sure the rules are still relevant as your data evolves.
- Keep group names clear — include the criteria in the name if it helps, like "members - No Email" or "Staff - Active."
Common Questions
What happens when a member's data changes?
If a member no longer meets the criteria for a Dynamic Group, they are automatically removed. If they later meet the criteria again, they are re-included. This happens in real time as member data is updated.
Can I combine Dynamic Groups with standard groups?
Yes. You can use both types of groups in your account. Some campaigns may target standard groups, while others target Dynamic Groups. members can belong to both types simultaneously.