Smart List Use - consistently updated?

[kleblanc71]

Hi there, I have a smart campaign I set up that will send a flow of emails between wait steps. For one of the emails I need show a different one depending on whether they have a particular data piece or not. I created a smart list to capture all leads that have a "code = 1". 

Campaign: Select all leads with status code xyz

Send email 1

Wait 5 days 
Send email 2 (if member of x smart list, send email 2a, if not send email 2b)

Smart List: Select all leads with member code =1

Does this smart list continuously update? So when we get to the third step of the flow, will it still be accurate information?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Darshil_Shah1 · Accepted solution]

Yes, smart lists are dynamic, unlike static lists that as the name suggests are static. So, to answer your question, yes when a person encounters flow step 3’s Member of Smart List choice step condition, Marketo refreshes the smart list members, checks if the person is a member or not, and based on that it will either run the choice step or the default choice step. I hope this is helpful. Let us know if you have questions. 😊 

[kleblanc71]

Amazing! Makes sense and just what I was hoping to confirm. Thanks so much Darshil_Shah1!

[SanfordWhiteman · Accepted solution]

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Does this smart list continuously update? So when we get to the third step of the flow, will it still be accurate information?

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Darshil’s on point, so just repeating for the lurkers: the SL doesn’t “continuously” update.

The database query re-runs as needed, like when you use Member Of Smart List/Not Member of Smart List, run an Email Program, have a Smart List subscription, etc. In between those events it’s not updated (that would destroy performance).