An operator is a part of the Smart List that helps you get specific. It lets you describe your filter or trigger in straightforward language. The available operators are different for each type of field.
Here’s a glossary describing each set of operators.
Date Fields date-fields
When you choose an operator, the right side will change dynamically.
Operator
Right Side
Description
is
Single Date
Exact date match
is not
Single Date
Any date EXCEPT the one specified
between
Two Date Fields
Any date including and between two specified dates
in past
Natural Language Input*
See diagram below
in past before
Natural Language Input*
See diagram below
in future
Natural Language Input*
See diagram below
in future after
Natural Language Input*
See diagram below
in time frame
Presets (last quarter, yesterday etc)
Defined in picklist
after
Single Date
All records after the specified date
before
Single Date
All records before the specified one
on or after
Single Date
Same as "after" but inclusive
on or before
Single Date
Same as "before" but inclusive
is empty
None
All records without a date
is not empty
None
All records with any date
* Natural language input is cool. Here are some of the patterns you can enter:
1 hour
82 days
3 weeks
14 months
1 year
Just type the number and unit together and it’ll work!
NOTE
“In past” does include the day (up until the time, not after) you create your Smart List.
CAUTION
When you create a Smart List using a date field filter (e.g., Date of Birth, SFDC Created Date) and use the constraints before, on or before, or in past before, the Smart List will also include people who have no value in said date field.
Use the following diagram to understand the difference between the date operators.
NOTE
Example
Date fields can get tricky when you’re working with past and future events. Here are a couple of examples.
In past before
For your new promotion, use this operator to send emails only to people who have not subscribed to or renewed your service within one year or have never been subscribers.
In future after
Say you want to see customers who are up for renewal in 90 days. You would use two separate filters. First use “In Future After 90 days,” and second, “In Future 91 Days.” That would capture whomever has a date 90 days from now.
String Fields string-fields
Operator
Description
is
Exact match (not case sensitive)
is not
Anything EXCEPT exact match
starts with
First letters of string match
not starts with
First letters of string DO NOT match
contains
Any letters together in the string match (example: california, fortune, therefor)
not contains
No letters together in the string match. (reverse of "contains")
is empty
Records that have no value (NULL)
is not empty
Records with ANY value
TIP
Use positive over negative operators. “Is not” filters have to search the entire data set in your instance, which can be extremely time-consuming. Positive “is” filters can leverage more effective search algorithms.
Integer Fields integer-fields
Operator
Description
is
Exact number match ( = 0 will return both leads with 0 and NULL)
is not
Anything EXCEPT exact number match
between
Define two value to find everyone in between (inclusive)
greater than
Above the specified
less than
Less than the specified
at least
Above the specified (inclusive)
at most
Less than the specified (inclusive)
is empty
Records that have no value (NULL) - zero is a number, it is not NULL
is not empty
Records with ANY value (including zero)
As you can see, these operators make it easy to speak Marketo-ese with fluency!
