Business Units

What Is a Business Unit

A business unit is a hierarchical administration structure that controls access to information and sharing of information. A business unit allows you to manage user roles for the business unit, view users who have access to the business unit, and define filter criteria for subscribers.

All items created in a business unit are accessible to all users working in that business unit. Items can be shared with other users in other business units by placing them into a shared items folder, located in the Content and Subscribers sections of the applications.

Business units manage the visibility of data within an account using a hierarchical structure, which can be organized in any way to match your business needs. Business units can mirror workflow processes, demographic and behavioral data about your subscribers, or your organization's operational structure.

You can use a landing page to create a customized home page for child business units to see when they log in to the ExactTarget application.

In Enterprise 2.0 business units are implemented in a hierarchical, parent/child structure. 

The application itself shows the hierarchy of business units, and allows you to toggle between grid view and hierarchical view. 

Why Use a Business Unit

Enterprise 2.0 allows you to control your brand while enabling access to messaging technologies. Use the hierarchical structure to control visibility of information of your users.

How to Create a Business Unit

Use the following steps to create a business unit:

1. Click the Admin tab.
2. Click Business Units.
3. Click Create from the toolbar.
   The New Business Unit workspace opens.
4. Complete the Properties section.
5. Complete the Physical Address section.
6. Complete the Unsubscribe Settings sections.
7. Click Save. 

How to Delete a Business Unit

Use the following steps to delete a business unit:

1. Click the Admin tab.
2. Click Business Units.
3. Select the checkbox next to the business unit you want to delete.
4. Click the Delete menu item.

The business unit is permanently deleted from the list of business units.

How to Manage Roles for Business Units

Use the following steps to create or change roles assigned to a business unit:

1. Click the Admin tab.
2. Click Business Units.
3. Select the checkbox next to the business unit you want to manage.
4. Click the Manage Roles menu item.
   The Roles workspace opens.
5. Select the checkbox in front of the role(s) you want to assign to the business unit.
6. Click Save. 

How to View Users Associated with a Business Unit

Use the following steps to view as user associated with a business unit:

1. Click the Admin tab.
2. Click Business Units.
3. Select the checkbox next to the business unit for which you want to view users.
4. Click the View Users menu item.   
   The View Users workspace appears with a list of users associated with the business unit.
5. Click on Business Units in the Admin browser window to return to the Business Units workspace.

How to Define a Subscriber Filter for a Business Unit

The subscriber filter determines which subscribers in your account the business unit has access to. Use the following steps to define a subscriber filter for a business unit:

1. Click the Admin tab.
2. Click Business Units.
3. Select the checkbox next to the business unit for which you want to define subscriber data filters.
4. Click the Define Subscriber Filter menu item.   
   The Subscriber Filter workspace opens. 

See the Data Filters document for more information on data filters and on how to define data filters.