---
title: Introduction to target groups
slug: campaign/docs/introduction-to-target-groups
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:45:35.864Z
---

A target group is a subset of recipients defined by specific rules and conditions. Each target group may contain several rules and conditions and a logic relation between them. Use target groups to send a mailing to a predefined group of recipients (such as *recipients in the US*) or to create dynamic content and subject lines. Dynamic paragraphs let you show, for example, different items to male and female recipients. You can use dynamic subject lines to create specific attention even before a recipient has opened the mailing.

You can define a target group using the following classes of conditions:

- **Action-based conditions**. Criteria based on an action or event (such as *click*, *open*) that a recipient has performed. Those conditions apply only after a mailing is sent. An example for an action is: *Recipient has received a specific mailing and has clicked on a specific link in it*.
- **Recipient list-based conditions**. Determines whether recipients are contained in specific recipient lists.
- **Recipient data-based conditions**. Criteria based on any field of the recipient list (such as *City* or *Interest*).
- **Optimizely Campaign-based conditions**. Determines whether recipients are currently passing through or already passed through Marketing Automation campaigns.
- **Target group-based conditions**. Determines whether recipients are contained in another target group.

If your client is configured for post-click tracking, you can track actions that are made on your website. For example, *select recipients who have bought a certain product* from your shop or *have spent a certain amount* in your shop. To configure a target group with post clicks, select **Actions** from the first drop-down list and then **has created one or more post clicks**.

**Example**: Define a target group that contains *male recipients in the US*. You may now vary this target group by adding further rules, such as *recipients who clicked on a specific link in the last mailing they received*. Use this target group to send a special offer or a promotional email to selected recipients. If you apply the target group to the whole mailing, only the target group receives the mailing. If you apply it to a paragraph, it is shown only to these recipients, while the others receive the regular mailing.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

If you want to see the matches of a target group in the [recipients overview](docId\:VMzatoDq75F2ROgHPxj2h) and the selected target group contains user-based data (for example, user actions), you get an error after clicking **Apply**. Due to data privacy reasons, you are not allowed to analyze a single user's data. When using this target group to send a mailing or to create dynamic content, it will work properly, though.
:::

:::hint{type="info"}
**Tip**

You can use real-time segments from ODP as target groups (see [below](docId\:fyUCvFswwt7cmTBr2k8Nk)).
:::

## Managing target groups

To manage target groups, open the Optimizely Campaign[ menu](docId\:PmNPgvNucBrAG5Rw8f41f) and select **Recipients** > **Target Groups**. Existing target groups appears. If you click a target group, its definition appears in the bottom of the window. Every target group definition is made up of one or more rules. For example, *The email address contains "@example.com"* or *The first name is "Mark"*.

![Image: Target groups overview](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/ueYuIvQpZ3mvtEoWl56g3-20260720-145303.png "Image: Target groups overview")

:::hint{type="info"}
**Tip**

You can organize target groups in [folders](docId\:qLoKRy4iLqAa2e8lCWeEK).
:::

## [introduction-to-target-groups.mdx](docId\:fyUCvFswwt7cmTBr2k8Nk)Creating target groups

You can create a new target group from scratch or [based on an existing target group](docId\:fyUCvFswwt7cmTBr2k8Nk).

### New target group

1. Click **Create** > **New…**.
2. In the **Client** drop-down list, select the client for which you want to create a target group.

   ![Image: Select target client](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/OQBCEO8qSMaF3ktWFUNQk-20260720-145303.png "Image: Select target client")
3. Under **Target Group Definition**, define the rules and conditions for the target group by clicking **+** and performing steps described in [Defining a target group](docId\:PN6ZOMAxejB5LX3ahzVln).
4. Optionally, you can execute a target group [analysis.](docId\:qFam7wX2RV8-griYu6Kbt)
5. Click **Properties**.
6. Select the folder where you want to save the target group. See also: [Lists and folders](docId\:qLoKRy4iLqAa2e8lCWeEK).
7. Enter a name and an optional description for the new target group.
8. Click **Create**.

### [introduction-to-target-groups.mdx](docId\:fyUCvFswwt7cmTBr2k8Nk)From existing target group

1. Click **Create** > **Copy…**.
2. In the **Source Client** drop-down list, select the client of which you want to use a target group as template.

   ![Image: Select source client](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/sJY3TX1jrG4aA-T8qDzR8-20260720-145303.png "Image: Select source client")
3. In the **Target Group** drop-down list, select a target group.
4. In the **Client** drop-down list, select the client for which you want to create a new target group.
5. Under **Target Group Definition**, define the rules and conditions for the target group by clicking **+** and performing steps described in [Defining a target group](docId\:PN6ZOMAxejB5LX3ahzVln).

   :::hint{type="info"}
   **Note**

   If you select a different target group template afterwards, the target group definition is overwritten.
   :::
6. Optionally, you can execute a target group [analysis.](docId\:qFam7wX2RV8-griYu6Kbt)
7. Click **Properties**.
8. Select the folder where you want to save the target group. See also: [Lists and folders](docId\:qLoKRy4iLqAa2e8lCWeEK).
9. Enter a name and an optional description for the new target group.
10. Click **Create**.

## [introduction-to-target-groups.mdx](docId\:fyUCvFswwt7cmTBr2k8Nk)Copying target groups

1. Select a target group you want to copy and click **Copy…**.
2. In the **Client** drop-down list, select the client to which you want to copy the target group.
3. In the **Target Group Definition** area, define the rules and conditions for the target group by clicking  **+** and performing steps described in [Defining a target group](docId\:PN6ZOMAxejB5LX3ahzVln).
4. Optionally, you can execute a target group [analysis](docId\:qFam7wX2RV8-griYu6Kbt).
5. Click **Properties**.
6. Select the folder where you want to save the target group. See also: [Lists and folders](docId\:qLoKRy4iLqAa2e8lCWeEK).
7. Enter a name and an optional description for the new target group.
8. Click **Create Copy**.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

**Recipient field does not exist in target client**

If the target group you want to copy contains a recipient field based on a rule that uses a recipient field that does not exist in the recipient lists of the target client, the respective name of the field is shown like this: *???Name???*. You can still copy the target group. Next, open the target client and select the copied target group. Change the field name by selecting a field from the drop-down list and save the target group.
:::

## [introduction-to-target-groups.mdx](docId\:fyUCvFswwt7cmTBr2k8Nk)Editing target groups

1. Select a target group you want to edit and click **Edit…**. The **Edit Target Group** window opens.
2. In the **Target Group Definition** area, edit the rules and conditions or add new ones for the target group. To edit a rule, click it and perform steps described in [Defining a target group](docId\:PN6ZOMAxejB5LX3ahzVln).
3. Optionally, you can now execute a target group [analysis](docId\:qFam7wX2RV8-griYu6Kbt).
4. Click **Properties**.
5. You can change the name or description of the target group, or add and edit rules and conditions.
6. Click **Save**.

## [introduction-to-target-groups.mdx](docId\:fyUCvFswwt7cmTBr2k8Nk)Using real-time segments as target groups

If you use ODP on your website, real-time segments can be used like target groups in [Smart Campaigns](docId\:R5uUa03fN0LjqmSAh30Ol) and [Marketing Automation](docId\:rH-CVuXsKjRWjl4DSmNsl). To do this, add a *segment* node in the campaign editor.