Choosing between HubSpot's active and static lists can significantly impact your marketing precision and efficiency.
![Create static and active lists - HubSpot list types](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66a781e18874d64612744628_HubSpot-Active-vs-Static-list.gif)
This guide dives into the core differences and uses of each list type, helping you make strategic decisions for your campaigns.
How to create a list in HubSpot
- Go to your HubSpot account.
- Navigate to Contacts > Lists.
![In the contact dropdown menu on the upper left search for Lists and click details](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a8f99988b590af7951_66a781e195abd81308f633c1_contact-lists-1.avif)
- Click Create list in the upper right corner.
- Select Contact-based or Company-based and choose Active list.
![For the HubSpot created list chose a dynamic or static list property](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a8f99988b590af7957_66a781e1a9add2f6277bc4fa_97206iF230A4FE18AE72E1.avif)
- Set your list criteria in the left panel, such as score properties, form submissions or ads interactions.
- Click Apply filter and then click Save
HubSpot List Types
Mastering HubSpot lists can give your campaigns a significant boost. But before you dive in, it’s crucial to understand the tools at your disposal.
Within your HubSpot account, you can create lists tailored to your audience’s needs and your marketing objectives.
Let’s explore the two primary types: the constantly changing active lists and the steady static lists.
Active Lists
What Are Active Lists?
Active lists in HubSpot are dynamic list that are automatically updated based on certain criteria. When contacts meet the criteria, they are automatically added to the list. Conversely, when they no longer meet the criteria, they are removed.
Good to know : You can easily convert an active list into a static list.
![Convert active to static list property - in the actions dropdown menu select 'convert to static'](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a9f99988b590af7963_66a781e123dc1441d2fe91fd_81641i95EC65F638A085FC.avif)
Example of an Active List in Action
An excellent illustration of an active list in HubSpot is one designed to manage leads dynamically. Imagine you have a list of potential leads that your sales team needs to contact. This active list will automatically update based on the criteria you set.
![HubSpot Active Lists Example - leads to be contacted change frequently](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a9f99988b590af7973_66a781e1b53f1d34a8bf8f52_hubspot_list_intro-7c04dcda.avif)
How It Works:
- Criteria Setup: First, you define the criteria for your active list. For this example, the list includes leads who have filled out a contact form or shown significant engagement on your website, such as multiple page views or downloads.
- Automated Updates: The active list is designed to automatically update and remove leads once they have been contacted by a sales representative. This means that as soon as a sales rep logs a contact activity in HubSpot—whether it’s a call, email, or meeting—the lead is automatically removed from the active list.
Benefits of Active Lists
- Real-Time Updates: Ensures your marketing messages are always relevant.
- Dynamic Segmentation: Automatically adjusts to include or exclude contacts based on their behavior.
- Efficient Management: Reduces the need for manual updates, saving time and effort.
When to Use Active Lists
Behavioral-Based Email Sequences
Active lists are perfect for campaigns that require frequent updates based on contact behavior. If you are running email sequences triggered by specific actions, like page views or form submissions, active lists ensure your audience remains up-to-date and engaged.
Automating Workflows
Active lists are essential for your email campaigns and marketing automation. When integrating with automated workflows, lists can trigger actions like sending follow-up emails or creating tasks in real-time, based on updated contact behaviors.
![HubSpot Workflow - Remove leads from static list based on registered sales activity and add them to a new list](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a9f99988b590af7976_66a781e1c41812421a1eb4d8_90233iA83951611F8CE9DE.avif)
Real-Time Campaign Adjustments
When your marketing strategy involves continuous engagement and quick adjustments, active lists are invaluable. They allow you to dynamically adjust your target audience, ensuring your messages always reach the most relevant contacts.
Static Lists
What Are Static Lists?
Static lists in HubSpot are fixed and do not update automatically. They capture a snapshot of contacts who meet specific criteria at a certain time and remain unchanged until manually updated, meaning they don't automatically remove contacts.
![Contacts Dashboard of a static list in HubSpot](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a8f99988b590af7954_66a781e1c41812421a1eb4af_hubspot-active-and-static-lists.avif)
Example of a Static List in Action
A great use case for a static list in HubSpot is managing event attendees. Once an event has concluded, the list of attendees remains fixed, capturing a snapshot of everyone who participated.
![HubSpot Static Lists Example - group contacts and participation do not change over time](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a8f99988b590af795a_66a781e16e3a8fbe628bd150_static-list-creation-resized-600.avif)
This static list can then be used for various post-event activities like :
- Post-Event Communication: Send follow-up emails, surveys, or additional content to all attendees.
- Analysis and Reporting: Analyze the attendee data to understand engagement and gather feedback.
- Record Keeping: Maintain a record of who attended for future reference or compliance purposes.
Benefits of Static Lists
- Consistency: Ideal for one-time campaigns or events.
- Manual Control: Allows for precise control over who is included or excluded.
When to Use Static Lists
Event Invitations
For events where you want a specific group of people to receive invitations, static lists ensure the invitees remain constant. This helps in personalized invitations and tracking RSVPs, ensuring no one is left out.
Special Promotions
Static lists are perfect for special, one-time promotions where the audience does not need to change over time. They ensure your message reaches a specific, unchanging group of contacts.
Historical Analysis
If you need to track a group of contacts who met criteria at a certain time, static lists are ideal. They help maintain a record of contacts without automatic updates, which is useful for tracking past performance and analyzing the effectiveness of previous campaigns.
Advanced List Management Techniques
Mastering list management requires more than just basic setup; advanced techniques ensure your lists remain efficient and relevant.
Using Folders to Organize Your Lists
Organizing your lists into folders is a simple yet powerful technique to keep your HubSpot account tidy and efficient. By grouping similar lists into folders, you can easily locate and manage them, enhancing your workflow.
![During the list creation, add folders in the upper right based on property values to organize your lists](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a9f99988b590af7966_66a781e10fa380acc979d26e_organizing-lists-blog-2175group.avif)
For example, create separate folders for active lists, static lists, event-specific lists, and campaign-specific lists.
This organization not only saves time but also helps in maintaining a structured approach to list management, making it easier to implement changes and track performance.
Cleaning and Refining Your Lists
Regularly updating your contact lists ensures they remain effective. Whether active or static, each list deserves regular tune-ups to ensure engagement and deliverability.
![Check the date of last update for your lists in HubSpot to stay relevant within your digital marketing strategy](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a8f99988b590af795d_66a0f4f9e03fe01a88f9473d_screenshot-app.hubspot.com-2020.12.29-19_19_38.avif)
By keeping your lists updated, you avoid the issues of bounces and spam complaints, ensuring your marketing emails always reach the right audience.
List Analytics and Performance Tracking
List analytics help ensure your lists are effective. By tracking performance and engagement, you can adjust your strategies to better connect with your audience.
Monitoring Active List Health
Regularly check the health of your active lists. Analyze changes in membership and engagement levels to detect issues early and adjust your strategy as needed.
![HubSpot - Analyze your dynamic list performance in HubSpot](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a9f99988b590af7979_66a781e14462508ec49bb4ba_9cad8094-1607-4649-abdd-cb04f18cdead.avif)
Evaluating Static List Effectiveness
Review past performances of static lists to improve future campaigns. Track how these lists contribute to your efforts to identify valuable contacts and remove those who are no longer relevant.
![Track performance of your list to access the effectiveness | HubSpot](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63be4d58b6bab90fd9b0b720/66c4c9a9f99988b590af797e_66a781e1de962830dd75b1f0_cf961659-0594-4307-85da-2867a9e19677.avif)
Key Takeaways
- Active Lists are automatically updated based on set criteria, ideal for dynamic and ongoing campaigns.
- Static Lists remain unchanged until manually updated, perfect for fixed, one-time campaigns.
- Regular cleaning and refining ensure high engagement and deliverability.
- Use active lists to provide sales teams with real-time data for targeted follow-ups.
- Automate tasks and communications based on list membership to enhance campaign efficiency.
By mastering the use of HubSpot’s active and static lists, you can ensure your marketing efforts are targeted, efficient, and effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
In HubSpot what are the different types of lists?
There are two types of lists in your HubSpot account: active lists and static lists.
What is the difference between static and active HubSpot lists?
In HubSpot, static lists are unchanging lists of contacts that meet specific criteria at a given time. Unlike active lists, static lists do not update automatically when new criteria are met. You must manually update them to add or remove contacts.
Can you change a list from static to active in HubSpot?
No, you can't make a static list into an active one.
How to enroll a static list in a HubSpot Sequence?
To enroll an HubSpot list in a sequence :
- Log into your account.
- Go to Contacts > Contacts.
- Check the boxes next to the contacts you wish to enroll in the sequence.
- At the top of the contact table, click Enroll in sequence.
How do I enroll a list in a HubSpot Workflow?
To enroll a record from within a workflow:
- In your HubSpot account, navigate to Automations > Workflows.
- Click the name of a workflow.
- In the upper right, click Enroll.
- If you're in a contact-based workflow, select an option in the dialog box. To enroll a list of contacts, click Enroll from a list.