What Are Lists?
A list is a static group of subscribers that only changes when you manually add or remove someone, or when someone decides to remove themselves from the list by opting out.
How lists work:
You upload a CSV file with the subscribers you want
The list stays exactly as you created it
To change it, you need to manually edit or re-upload
Example: You could create a "Holiday 2024 Buyers" list by uploading all customers who purchased during the holidays. This list won't change automatically, it's a snapshot of those specific customers.
What Are Segments?
A Segment is a smart, self-updating list that updates itself based on pre-defined rules you set. For example, you could create a segment that automatically adds any subscribers who have purchased more than 2 items.
How segments work:
You set criteria like "customers who spent more than $100"
TxtCart automatically finds all subscribers who match the criteria
As customers meet or no longer meet your criteria, the segment updates itself
Example: Create a Segment for "High Spenders" with the rule "Total Spend greater than $100". When a customer crosses $100 in purchases, they're automatically added. If you change the rule to $200, the segment instantly updates.
Lists vs. Segments: What's the Difference?
Lists | Segments |
Manually created and static | Self-updating and dynamic |
You decide who is added | Subscribers are automatically added based on specific rules |
Stays the same until you change it | Updates itself in real-time |
Great for one-time groups | Perfect for dynamic groups and strategies |
How to Use Lists and Segments in Campaigns and Flows
Lists and Segments help you send the right messages to the right people at the right time.
In Campaigns
When you set up a Campaign, choose a List or Segment as your Target Audience. You can also choose one or more Lists or Segments to leave out using Exclude audiences.
In Flows
Target Specific Customer Groups: Use Segments in your Flow logic to send different messages based on customer behavior. For example, sending a VIP discount to a "Big Spenders" Segment.
Personalize Customer Journeys: Create Flows that adapt based on who the subscriber is. A first-time buyer might get a welcome series, while returning customers get product recommendations.
Automate Smart Messaging: Since Segments update automatically, your Flows always reach the right audience without manual work. Set it up once, and it keeps working.
Test Different Approaches: Create Segments for different customer types and see which messages perform best with each group.
Segments can also trigger a Flow directly. Choose Segment Match as your flow's trigger, then pick which Segment should trigger it, useful for recurring retention or reorder messages. Lists have their own Entered List trigger for the same purpose.
Getting Started with Lists and Segments
You'll find both Lists and Segments under the Audience tab of your TxtCart Dashboard.
Click Lists and Segments on your TxtCart dashboard.
Click the + Create New button (top right).
Choose what you want to create: Create List for a manual group, or Create Segment for an automatic group.
Uploading a List
Choose New List or Existing List, name your list or pick one, then fill out the SMS Compliance Requirements (Service and Subscriber collection tool) so TxtCart can confirm your subscribers were collected compliantly. Click Next.
Drop your CSV file (up to 10 MB), check the box confirming your subscribers were collected compliantly, then click Next to finish at the Confirmation step.
Note: TxtCart automatically pulls in any existing, valid SMS subscribers from your Shopify store, and adds them to your default TxtCart subscriber list. Subscribers added to Shopify as SMS subscribers by other apps are pulled in the same way.
These subscribers can't receive messages from Flows that require an associated cart, session, or checkout ID.
Tip: Lists can also be uploaded from the Subscribers page by clicking the Import Subscribers button in the top right. This takes you through the same import steps.
When to use a List:
You have a subscriber list from another SMS app
The group won't change often
You want complete control over who's included
When to use a Segment:
You want to target customers based on specific actions or their customer journey
The group should automatically update as customer behavior changes
You need continuous dynamic audience targeting
The Lists & Segments Screen
Your List & Segments page shows every list and segment you've created, with tools to search, filter, and manage them.
Use the search bar to find a list or segment by name, or use the All Types dropdown to filter the table to show only Lists or only Segments. Each row in the table shows:
Name: What you called it
Type: List (purple) or Segment (blue)
Subscribers: How many people are in it
Created On: When you made it
Last Activity: When it was last updated
Actions: Options to edit or delete (three dots)
You can also click Send Campaign next to any row to start a campaign for that List or Segment.
Click How It Works in the banner at the top of the page for a quick overview, and use the pagination controls below the table to change how many rows are shown per page or move between pages.
The Actions Menu
Click the three dots (...) next to any List or Segment to see more options.
For Lists
When you click the Actions menu on a List, you can:
Rename: Change the name of your list
Copy Subs: Copy all subscribers from this list to another list
Add More Subs: Add more people to this list
Overwrite subs: Replace everyone in this list with a new group
Delete: Remove the list completely
For Segments
When you click the Actions menu on a Segment, you can:
Edit: Change the rules or settings for your segment
Add More Subs: Add additional subscribers
Overwrite subs: Replace all current subscribers with new ones
Delete: Remove the segment completely
💡Tip:
Still have questions?
Please feel free to reach out to our wonderful Support team at support@txtcart.ai or via Live Chat.