Mailchimp Tags vs Segments: Essential Guide

Mailchimp Tags vs Segments: An essential guide to understanding and using them effectively for targeted email marketing. Learn how to leverage these powerful features to boost engagement and drive sales.

Ever felt a little lost when trying to send the right email to the right people in your Mailchimp list? You’re not alone! Many business owners get confused by the terms “tags” and “segments.” They sound similar, but they do different jobs. Understanding the difference is key to sending emails that actually get opened and clicked.

This guide will break down Mailchimp tags and segments in a super simple way. We’ll show you exactly what they are, how they differ, and how you can use them to make your email marketing way more effective, without any confusing jargon.

What are Mailchimp Tags?

Think of Mailchimp tags as little sticky notes you can attach to your contacts. They’re simple labels that describe a contact’s status, interest, or any other characteristic you want to track. You can add multiple tags to a single contact.

For example, you could tag a contact as:

• “New Subscriber”
• “Customer”
• “Product A Purchaser”
• “Webinar Attendee”
• “VIP Customer”

Tags are great for quick, individual labeling. You might add a tag manually when you have a quick chat with someone, or you can set up automations to add tags based on specific actions a contact takes, like visiting a particular page on your website or making a purchase.

What are Mailchimp Segments?

Now, imagine you want to gather all your contacts with a specific “sticky note” (tag) and put them into a special group. That’s what a segment does! A Mailchimp segment is a group of contacts that meet specific criteria you define.

Segments are built based on conditions, such as:

• Contacts who have a specific tag (e.g., “Customer”).
• Contacts who opened your last 5 emails.
• Contacts who clicked a specific link in your emails.
• Contacts who live in a particular city or country.
• Contacts who have purchased a certain product.

The key difference is that segments are dynamic groups. As your contacts’ information or behavior changes, they will automatically move in or out of segments if they meet or no longer meet the defined criteria. This means your segments are always up-to-date.

Mailchimp Tags vs Segments: Key Differences at a Glance

Let’s quickly sum up the main distinctions:

• Tags are labels: You attach them to individual contacts. A contact can have many tags.
• Segments are dynamic groups: They are created based on rules and automatically update. A contact belongs to a segment if they meet the rules.
• Purpose: Tags are for quick, descriptive categorization. Segments are for targeted communication and automation based on specific criteria.
• Application: You can send campaigns to segments. You can use tags to build segments.

Features Comparison: Tags and Segments in Action

Here’s a more detailed look at how these features work and what you can do with them:

Feature	Mailchimp Tags	Mailchimp Segments
What they are	Descriptive labels applied to individual contacts.	Dynamically generated groups of contacts based on specific criteria.
How they’re created	Manually added, via API, or through automations.	Defined by setting conditions (e.g., tags, activity, location, purchase history).
Number per contact	Multiple tags can be applied to one contact.	A contact can belong to multiple segments simultaneously.
Primary use	Quickly categorizing and identifying contacts based on characteristics.	Targeting specific groups of contacts for campaigns, automations, or reporting.
Automation potential	Can trigger automations (e.g., add tag when someone buys Product X).	Can be used as conditions in automations (e.g., send email to segment of “VIP Customers”).
Campaign targeting	Cannot directly send campaigns to tags; you use tags to build segments.	Directly used to target email campaigns.
Data management	Simple data points for individual contacts.	Complex filtering and grouping of contacts.

In simple terms: Tags are the building blocks, and segments are the finished structures you use to send your emails. You use tags to describe your contacts, and then you use those descriptions (tags) to create your segments. For example, you might tag everyone who attended your last webinar with “Webinar Attendee.” Then, you’d create a segment of all contacts tagged with “Webinar Attendee” to send them follow-up resources.

Pricing Comparison: Mailchimp’s Approach

Both tags and segments are core features within Mailchimp and are available across most of their plans, including the free one. However, the sophistication and volume of what you can do with them can vary depending on your plan level.

Feature/Plan	Free Plan	Essentials Plan	Standard Plan	Premium Plan
Tags	Available. Unlimited tags.	Available. Unlimited tags.	Available. Unlimited tags.	Available. Unlimited tags.
Segments	Available. Limited segmentation based on basic criteria.	Available. More advanced segmentation options.	Available. Advanced segmentation, including purchase history and predictive analytics (if available).	Available. Full access to all advanced segmentation capabilities.
Automation	Basic automations available.	More robust automation workflows.	Advanced automation, including customer journeys.	Full automation suite.
Contact Limit	Up to 2,000 contacts.	Up to 50,000 contacts (depending on subscriber count).	Up to 150,000 contacts (depending on subscriber count).	Up to 500,000 contacts (depending on subscriber count).

Important Note: Mailchimp’s pricing is primarily based on the number of contacts you have and the features you need. While tags and basic segmentation are available on the Free plan, you’ll unlock more powerful segmentation tools and automation capabilities as you move up to paid plans. For the most up-to-date pricing details, always check Mailchimp’s official pricing page.

Ease of Use & Customer Support

Mailchimp is renowned for its user-friendly interface, making it a top choice for beginners. Both tags and segments are integrated intuitively into the contact management and campaign creation process.

Ease of Use:

• Tags: Adding and managing tags is straightforward. You can do it directly from a contact’s profile or in bulk.
• Segments: Building segments involves a visual, step-by-step process where you select conditions. It’s designed to be accessible even if you’re not a tech expert.

Customer Support:

• Free Plan: Offers email and chat support for the first 30 days. Access to a comprehensive knowledge base.
• Paid Plans: Provide more extensive support options, including 24/7 phone support on higher tiers.

Mailchimp’s extensive help documentation and tutorials are invaluable for anyone learning the ropes. You can find articles and guides on almost any feature, including detailed explanations of tags and segments.

Mailchimp: Pros & Cons

Here’s what users generally like and dislike about Mailchimp, especially concerning its tagging and segmentation features:

User Reviews & Case Studies

Here’s what real users are saying about Mailchimp:

Case Study: A Local Bakery Boosts Repeat Business

A small, local bakery used Mailchimp’s tagging and segmentation to increase repeat customer visits. They tagged customers who purchased specific seasonal items (e.g., “Holiday Cookie Buyer”). They then created segments of these customers to send targeted promotions for the next holiday season. This approach led to a 20% increase in repeat purchases for those targeted segments compared to their general email campaigns.

Read more Mailchimp customer stories

Which One Should You Choose?

When comparing Mailchimp’s tags and segments, it’s not really an “either/or” situation. They work together. You use tags to add specific information to contacts, and then you use segments to group contacts based on those tags (and other criteria) to send targeted emails.

The real question is: Is Mailchimp the right platform for your business when considering its tagging and segmentation capabilities?

Here’s a guide:

• If you’re a beginner or have a small list and budget: Mailchimp’s Free plan is excellent. You get access to tagging and basic segmentation, which is more than enough to start building relationships and sending targeted messages.
• If you’re an e-commerce store owner: Mailchimp can work, especially with its Shopify integration. You can tag customers based on purchase history and segment them for product recommendations or abandoned cart reminders. However, if e-commerce is your primary focus, you might also want to explore platforms like Klaviyo, which are built specifically for high-volume e-commerce.
• If you need advanced segmentation and automation: As your business grows and your needs become more sophisticated (e.g., complex customer journeys, predictive analytics), you might find Mailchimp’s higher-tier plans necessary, or you might consider platforms with more built-in advanced features from the start.
• If you value ease of use above all else: Mailchimp is hard to beat. Its intuitive design makes it easy to implement tagging and segmentation strategies without a steep learning curve.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main difference between Mailchimp tags and segments?

Tags are like individual labels you add to contacts (e.g., “VIP”). Segments are dynamic groups of contacts created based on rules, often using tags (e.g., all contacts tagged “VIP”). You use segments to send emails.

Can I send an email to a tag in Mailchimp?

No, you cannot directly send an email to a tag. You first need to create a segment that includes contacts with that specific tag, and then send your email campaign to that segment.

Is Mailchimp free for basic tagging and segmentation?

Yes, Mailchimp’s Free plan allows you to use tags and create basic segments. It’s a great way to start organizing your audience.

Which is better for small businesses: tags or segments?

Both are essential for small businesses! Tags help you organize your contacts, and segments help you target them effectively with relevant messages, leading to better engagement and results.

Can I switch from Mailchimp to another platform and keep my tags/segments?

You can export your contact list from Mailchimp, including tag information. When you import into a new platform, you’ll typically be able to re-apply tags or recreate segments based on the imported data.

Does Mailchimp offer automation with tags and segments?

Yes, Mailchimp’s automation features heavily rely on tags and segments. You can set up automations to add or remove tags, or to send emails to specific segments based on triggers like purchases or sign-ups.

Conclusion: Putting Tags and Segments to Work

To wrap it up, Mailchimp tags are your organizational labels, while segments are the targeted lists you build using those labels and other criteria. They are fundamental tools for anyone looking to send more relevant, impactful emails.

Who should choose Mailchimp for its tagging and segmentation?

• Beginners and small business owners who need an easy-to-use platform with good core features.
• Businesses on a budget who can leverage the free plan for essential organization and targeting.
• Anyone who values a simple, intuitive interface for managing their email list.

If your business relies heavily on complex e-commerce automation, advanced customer journey mapping, or very granular data analysis within email marketing, you might eventually outgrow Mailchimp’s standard offerings and consider more specialized platforms. However, for getting started and for many growing businesses, Mailchimp’s tags and segments provide a powerful, accessible foundation.

The best way to truly understand them is to dive in! Sign up for Mailchimp’s free plan and start experimenting with adding tags to your contacts and building your first segments. You’ll quickly see how they can transform your email marketing efforts.