Previewing Segment Size
Test your segment rules before saving
Previewing Segment Size
Before saving a segment, Mailnaptic lets you preview how many contacts currently match your rules. This ensures your targeting is correct and prevents sending campaigns to unexpectedly large or small audiences.
How the Preview Works
As you build or edit a segment, the contact count preview appears at the bottom of the segment editor. Each time you add, modify, or remove a rule, the preview recalculates automatically. The count displayed reflects the number of contacts in your account that match all current rules at this moment.
Using the Preview Effectively
- Start broad, then narrow. Add one rule at a time and observe how the count changes. This helps you understand the impact of each filter.
- Check for zero matches. If the preview shows zero contacts, review your rules for mistakes — a common cause is an overly strict combination of AND rules or a misspelled value.
- Compare against expectations. If you expect roughly 5,000 contacts in a segment but the preview shows 500, one of your rules may be too restrictive.
- Verify after logic changes. Switching from AND to OR (or vice versa) can significantly change the count. Always re-check after toggling logic mode.
What the Preview Counts
- Only subscribed contacts are included in the preview count. Unsubscribed, bounced, and suppressed contacts are excluded even if they technically match the rules.
- The count reflects current data. Since segments are dynamic, the actual count at send time may differ if contacts have been added, removed, or updated since you last previewed.
Troubleshooting Low Counts
- Too many AND rules — each AND rule further restricts the audience. Try removing a rule to see which one is most restrictive.
- Typos in values — ensure tag names, custom field values, and URLs match exactly what is stored in your contact data.
- Missing data — if you filter on a custom field that most contacts don't have populated, the count will be low.
- Engagement window too short — filtering for opens “in the last 3 days” will naturally return fewer contacts than “in the last 30 days.”
Tips
- The preview runs a live query against your contact database, so it always reflects the latest data.
- For very large accounts, the preview may take a moment to calculate. A loading indicator will appear while the query runs.
- Use the preview as a sanity check before every campaign send — review your target segment's current size to avoid surprises.