---
title: "Advanced Segmentation Guide"
slug: "advanced-segmentation-guide"
description: "Master advanced segmentation in Beamer to target users effectively, track interactions, and create custom segments for personalized messaging."
updated: 2025-07-23T23:37:02Z
published: 2025-07-23T23:37:02Z
canonical: "help.userflow.com/advanced-segmentation-guide"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.userflow.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Advanced Segmentation Guide

## How to use advanced segmentation

Much like basic segmentation -using text filters-, advanced segmentation allows you to send targeted messages to specific groups of users. But the real power of advanced segmentation comes from the ability to create segments directly in Beamer from your user base. **Segments** are essentially queries applied directly over your Beamer user base. You can combine different filters using AND & OR logic. Once you choose your desired set of filters you can save that query as a segment and all users will be tagged with that segment. Then, when you create new posts you can choose to show them only to these users that comply with all the filters required.

For example, you could create a segment with all users that signed up on your site during the last month, or one that includes users that have completed your onboarding process, or another segment that matches both those filters (see example below). The possibilities are endless!

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(184).png)

## Tracking user data

Your Beamer user base is built from your users’ interactions with your newsfeed and with our embed script. Whenever one of your users opens your newsfeed or visits a page in your website where our embed script is present, we’ll store some information in order to identify each individual user and associate it with all interactions done with Beamer (such as post views and clicks). This will later allow you to track views on your posts, for example, and also to build user segments.

While it’s not necessary for you to send any information from your users to Beamer, it’s highly recommended for two reasons:

1. To accurately track each of your user’s interactions with your newsfeed.
2. To create more precise user segments.

### Standard user attributes

There are four standard user attributes that you can directly pass into your embed script, which are **user_firstname**, **user_lastname**, **user_email** and **user_id** (as described in our [Developer Docs](/beamer/docs/developer-documentation)). As you can guess, these attributes represent your user’s first name, last name, email and your internal app’s ID, if available. All of these attributes are optional, and you can send any or all of them.

#### Accurately identify your users with user_id

The **user_id** standard attribute has a special value for your analytics and segments. This **user_id** should be a **unique identifier** for each of your real users. If you are using Beamer on an application where users have to log in, then you almost certainly have some sort of unique identifier associated with the user that’s currently in session – you can simply pass this value into the **user_id** parameter of your embed script.

While **user_id** is also relevant for other features, such as **multi-device synchronization** and **single-user notifications**, it holds a significant value for your analytics as it allows you to track a real user across different devices and sessions. Even if other attributes of your user (such as name or email) change over time, having the same **user_id** will keep your analytics consistent.

Although this attribute is optional, we highly recommend using it if available.

### User records

If tracked, all user interactions will be recorded. To access a user’s full history of interactions just click on their names. You’ll se a screen that includes a profile with all the user’s tracked data and relevant segments, and a feed with all their interactions in chronological order.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(185).png)

To search for a particular type of interaction (e.g. views, feedbacks, reactions or clicks) click on the button on the top right. There you can filter by one or multiple types at the same time.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(186).png)

## Custom user attributes

Together with advanced segmentation, we’re introducing the option to send additional custom attributes for each of your users. Apart from the standard attributes described above, you can now send extra information for each of your users to later use when creating segments.

You can for example send the account name of your user, signup date, age and bio, and any other information available to you.

### How to send custom user attributes

To send custom user attributes for your users, you only need to add the extra key/value pairs to the **beamer_config** object in your embed script. So, as an example, your embed script could look something like this:

Custom user attributes must comply with a few conditions:

- The attribute must be a valid JSON key-value.
  - **Key names** are case **insensitive** and can only contain letters (‘a’ to ‘z’), numbers (0 to 9) and underscores (‘_’).
  - **Data values** can be strings, numbers or booleans. Arrays can be sent as a string of semicolon-separated values (‘value1;value2;value3’). JSON objects, arrays or any other type of values other than those mentioned here are not supported.
  - **String values** can be up to **256 characters** long.
  - In order to send **date** values:
    - The **key name** must end with ‘**_at**’, so we can recognize it as a date (e.g., ‘signed_up**_at**’).
    - The **data value** can be either a **UNIX timestamp in milliseconds** (e.g., signed_up_at: 1548806400000) or a **date with the** [**ISO-8601**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601) **format** (e.g., signed_up_at: ‘2019-01-30T00:00:00Z’).
  - Key names for your custom attributes must be different to those of standard user attributes, and must also differ from the embed script parameters defined in our [Dev Docs](/beamer/docs/developer-documentation).

In order to clear an existing attribute, you can send an empty string (as the value of the attribute to clear).

### Sending data through the API

Together with advanced segmentation, we introduced the new **/users** endpoint to our API. With this endpoint, you can **create new users** for your Analytics, as well as **retrieve**, **update,** and **delete** your users’ data.

**Custom user attributes** can be sent following the same conditions described in the previous section. For more details on how to use the /users endpoint, check our [API Docs](https://www.getbeamer.com/api).

## How to create segments?

**Segments** are created and managed through the [Segments section](https://app.getbeamer.com/segments?_gl=1*16p2nk0*_gcl_au*MjE3NzQ0MTE5LjE3NTIxNjY0Mjc.*_ga*MjAwMzcyNzM0Ny4xNzUyMTY2NDI3*_ga_W10MJ4KRHK*czE3NTMzMTEyNjgkbzE1MSRnMSR0MTc1MzMxMjUyNiRqNjAkbDAkaDEwMDYwNTMyOTg.) in your dashboard. In this section, you can create, edit and delete your segments, and also see the list and count of users that match each segment.

You can think of segments as a query on a database. In this case, the database would be your user base in Beamer, and the filters of the segment would be the conditions you want these users to match.

For example, you can create a segment called ‘**New users**’ that matches only users that signed up in the last 7 days. Here you’ll begin to notice the power of sending custom user attributes, as you’ll be able to create filters for them – as well as for standard fields.

For each segment, you can combine several filters with **AND** and **OR** connectors. To add a new filter, just click on the **Add filter** button in the **segment creator**, at the top of your **Segments** section. To switch between **AND** and **OR** connectors, just click on any of the connectors shown in the segment creator.

When you add a new filter, a drop-down will show up listing all the available attributes on which you can apply a filter. This list includes the standard and custom user attributes, as well as a few additional attributes that are calculated by Beamer.

Depending on the attribute you select, you’ll then be able to apply different types of conditions. If this condition is true for a user, then the filter is matched. If all the filters of the segment are matched, then the user is considered to be matched by the segment. For more complex filtering, you can also add inner filters. To add an inner filter, just click on the + button at the end of each filter in the segment creator. Filters are groups of one or more **inner** filters, which allow you to combine different types of connectors. For example, take the following segment:

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(187).png)

If you were to represent this segment as text, it would look something like this:

**(Firstname has any value OR Lastname has any value) AND Lastseen < 7 days ago**

These grouped conditions work much like any database query or mathematical operation.

In the example, a user would match the segment if:

1. Either the **first name** or **last name** attributes (or both) have any value.
2. And the user was last seen less than 7 days ago.

All users for whom its attributes match all the conditions of this segment, will be counted as a match.

## How to use segments?

Once you have created a segment, you can start making use of it right away (even if none of your users match it yet!). Much like our basic [text segmentation filters](/beamer/docs/how-to-use-segmentation), you can use segments to show a certain post only to some of your users – and hide it from the rest.

In your **post editor**, as soon as you click on the **Segment filters** input, an autocomplete dropdown will show up listing all available segments for your account. You can then select one or more of these segments to apply for this post. You can still use **text segmentation filters** as well if you prefer!

Once you publish the post, it will only become visible for users that match the segment you set for the post (this also applies for push notifications, if enabled). Keep in mind that if you set more than one segment filter or text segmentation filter for a post, it’s sufficient for a user to match **any** (or several) of these to see the post. Only if none of the segments are matched will the post be hidden from the newsfeed for that user.

## How to use linked segments?

*Available for Changelog Scale and Custom customers.*

Build segments that work smarter, not harder, using **Linked Segments**. Instead of manually updating your segment configurations, simply reference an existing segment and choose whether to include or exclude its users. Whenever the original segment changes, your linked segment updates automatically.

### Create and Link Segments

1. **Create a New Segment:**

Select **Create Segment** in the **Users** section. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(189).png)
2. **Select the Segment Filter**:

Select **Add filter>Segment** from the dropdown menu. This allows you to reference another existing segment as part of your new one. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(191).png)
3. **Choose Your Logic:**

After selecting a segment to reference, choose whether you want to:

**Include ("is")** all users from the selected segment. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(192).png) **Exclude ("is not")** users from the selected segment. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(193).png)

Then, select the segment you want to reference and click **Done** to apply the filter.
4. **Save Your New Segment:‍‍** After selecting your filters, click **Save segment**, enter a **Segment name**, and click **Create New Segment**.

Once your segment is saved, it will stay in sync with the referenced segment dynamically—no manual updates are needed.

## ​​Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What happens if a referenced segment is deleted?**

A: You’ll get a warning before deletion. If you proceed, your linked segment will be updated, and the reference will be removed. Notifications using that segment will also get updated based on the updated segmentation, so confirm before you delete.

**Q: Can I link more than one segment?**

A: Yes! You can combine multiple filters, including multiple segments, using “is” and “is not” to build complex audience rules.

**Q: What is a circular reference?**

A: It’s when a segment references itself directly or indirectly (e.g., A references B, and B references A). We block this to avoid infinite loops.

**Q: How fast do linked segments update?**

A: Instantly. As soon as a referenced segment is updated, your linked segment reflects the change.

## How to import users via CSV?

*Available for Changelog Scale and above & NPS Scale and above customers*

Streamline user management and segmentation by bulk importing users via CSV upload to Beamer, ensuring personalized updates reach precisely the right audience for maximum engagement and impact. Import up to 20,000 users simultaneously into a custom segment within seconds. Beamer’s built-in validation ensures data integrity by checking required fields and automatically updating existing user records if a matching **userEmail** or **userId** is found—preventing duplicates while preserving personalized user data. This approach makes it easier than ever to manage segmentation and deliver targeted updates.

### Create a CSV file and upload user data

To begin importing user data, download the sample CSV file from the Import modal or use an existing CSV file you already have. When preparing your data, note that each user record must contain a unique identifier—either userEmail or userId is required. The sample CSV file includes the following column headers *(case-sensitive)*: **userId**, **userEmail**, **userFirstName**, **userLastName**, **filter**, **language**, **ip**, **browser**, **os**, **city**, and **country**. If you need to include additional information beyond these standard fields, any other column of data will automatically become a [custom attribute](/beamer/docs/advanced-segmentation-guide#custom-user-attributes) in Beamer. You can upload a maximum of 20,000 users at a file size of up to 10 MB.

1. From the **Users** section, click **Import from CSV.** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(194).png)
2. If using the sample CSV, download it from the Import modal.
3. (Optional) Enter a segment name. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(195).png)

‍*The segment will automatically be created in Beamer and include the uploaded users. If the segment name already exists, the upload will be rejected.*

1. Drag and drop or upload the CSV file.
2. Click **Start Upload**. A success confirmation displays when complete. If a segment was added in the upload, the users will be included in the new segment. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/image(196).png)