How to segment contacts by tags and behavior on GetResponse

intermediate 8 min read Updated 2026-03-19

Quick Answer

GetResponse allows you to create advanced segments by combining tags and behavioral data through the Contacts section. You can filter contacts based on email engagement, website activity, purchase history, and custom tags to create highly targeted email campaigns.

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Prerequisites

Active GetResponse account
Existing contact list with subscribers
Tags and tracking already set up on your campaigns
Basic understanding of email marketing segmentation

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access the Contacts Section

Log into your GetResponse dashboard and navigate to the Contacts section in the main menu. Click on Search and manage to access the contact segmentation tools where you can create custom segments based on various criteria.

Make sure you have sufficient contacts in your lists before creating segments for meaningful results

Create a New Segment

Click the Create segment button or Advanced search option. Select Create new segment and give your segment a descriptive name like "Engaged subscribers with purchase history". Choose the contact list you want to segment from the dropdown menu.

Set Up Tag-Based Filters

In the segment builder, click Add condition and select Tags from the dropdown. Choose your filtering logic: Has tag, Does not have tag, or Has any of these tags. Enter or select the specific tags you want to include or exclude, such as "VIP customer" or "Downloaded ebook".

Use multiple tag conditions with AND/OR logic to create more precise segments

Add Behavioral Filters

Click Add condition again and select Email engagement or Website activity. For email behavior, choose options like Opened email, Clicked link, or Did not open. Set the time frame (last 30 days, 3 months, etc.) and specify which campaigns to include. For website activity, select Visited page, Made purchase, or Abandoned cart.

Combine recent engagement (last 30 days) with longer-term behavior patterns for better insights

Configure Advanced Behavioral Criteria

Add more specific behavioral conditions by selecting E-commerce or Autoresponder activity. For e-commerce, filter by Purchase amount, Product category, or Purchase frequency. For autoresponder behavior, choose Completed sequence, Currently in autoresponder, or Stopped at message X.

Use purchase amount filters to identify high-value customers for premium offers

Combine Conditions with Logic Operators

Use the AND and OR operators to combine your conditions logically. For example: "Has tag 'VIP' AND opened email in last 30 days OR made purchase over $100". Click the logic dropdown between conditions to change from AND to OR as needed.

Preview and Save Your Segment

Click Count contacts or Preview results to see how many contacts match your criteria. Review the contact list to ensure your segment is capturing the right audience. If satisfied, click Save segment and give it a memorable name for future use.

Save multiple variations of successful segments as templates for future campaigns

Apply Segment to Campaigns

To use your segment, go to Email marketing and create a new campaign. In the recipient selection step, choose Use saved segment and select your newly created segment. You can also export the segment data or use it for automation triggers in your autoresponder sequences.

Regularly update and refresh your segments as contact behavior changes over time

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Segment shows zero contacts despite having tagged subscribers

Check that your tag names match exactly (case-sensitive) and verify the time frame settings. Ensure the selected contact list contains the tagged subscribers you're looking for.

Behavioral data not appearing in segment options

Verify that website tracking and e-commerce tracking are properly installed on your website. Allow 24-48 hours for behavioral data to populate after initial setup.

Segment results are much larger or smaller than expected

Review your AND/OR logic carefully - using OR typically increases segment size while AND decreases it. Check date ranges and make sure you're filtering the correct contact lists.

Cannot find specific tags in the segment builder

Ensure tags are properly applied to contacts first. Go to Contacts > Tags to verify your tags exist and are assigned to contacts before using them in segments.

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