Targeting basics
The following general targeting information can be used to plan how to target recipients for different types of alerts.
- User-based targeting provides one or a combination of ways to select users:
- By Groups: Target users who belong to one or more groups selected by the operator. Groups can be defined as organizations, shared attributes, or distribution lists. For more information, see Target groups in alerts or alert templates. You can also block groups from receiving the alert. For more information, see Block groups and distribution lists from receiving a notification.
- By Users: Target individual users. You can also target dependents of sponsor users. Operators can also block specific individuals within a group from receiving the alert. For more information, see Block a user from receiving a notification.
- By Advanced Query: Target users based on standard or user attributes or delivery devices. Select this option to perform customized targeting for an alert. For more information, see Target or block users by advanced query.
- By Location: Target users based on their geographical location. For more information, see Target by location.
The administrator can restrict the organizational nodes and distribution lists that each publisher can access. As a result, a publisher might be able to target only a fraction of the total available organizations and distribution lists.
- Use Fill Count to specify a certain number of responses before ending an alert. This option is useful when you need confirmation that the alert has been received by a certain number of users.
- Enable Escalation to control the order in which users are contacted. Use escalation options to control the delivery order by groups or specific individuals.
- You can add a group escalation path based on user attribute values and priority. You can also specify a sequence that targets individuals, one-by-one, until enough users respond. After the fill count is met, the alert is ended.
- Blocking a recipient always takes priority during targeting. If a user is excluded, theywill notreceive an alert, even if they belong to a group, organization, geographical area, or distribution list that has been targeted to receive the alert.