Dynamic content is one of the key features of Campaign Enterprise. Pulling information out of, and putting information into your database helps you target your email marketing in order to make the most of your contact list. In prior versions of Campaign, dynamic content could get somewhat confusing. Campaign Enterprise version 12 allows for more functionality of the dynamic content features.
Built-In Merge Field
The built-in merge field is similar to that in the past, but adds % signs inside the curly braces { } that were used in the past. The number of percentage signs surrounding the field name differentiate the type of merge being used. Built-in merge fields are those that are provided by the Campaign system to be used in various places in your message, subject line, or write back strings. The basic construct is {%Unique_ID%}.
Examples:
{%UNSUBSCRIBE_URL%}
{%UNIQUE_ID%}
{%CAMPAIGN_NAME%}
{%CAMPAIGN_ID%}
{%VIEW_AS_WEBPAGE_URL%}
Basic Merge Field
The basic merge field, that pulls information from the database to which your campaign is connected, uses two percentage signs inside the curly braces. Using the basic merge field, you can personalize your message to each individual record in your list. For example, you can include the {%%FirstName%%} field in your subject line, or salutation line in the message body, it will pull that data from the table and insert it where the merge field is located. The basic construct for the basic merge is {%%FieldName%%}. Please note that the field name comes from your table, and will need to be changed and modified accordingly.
Merge Functions
The newest merge functions can also be considered message content programming. Using these functions you can modify the message, based on individual data stored in your table, as the message is generated. The delimiters for merge functions contain three percentage signs inside the curly braces. A basic example shows a replacement for a blank first name field, to a default value.
Dear {%%%=NZ(Firstname,"Valued Customer")%%%}. In this instance, if the Firstname field specified happens to be blank, the term Valued Customer will be used in its place.
There are a number of basic functions available, and great flexibility to modify and create more.
NZ <column name>,<defalut text>
FormatNumber <column name>,<format string>
FormatDateTime(<ColumnName> or SYSTEM_TIME,<FormatString>)
FormatCurrency(<ColumnName>)
Select(<ColumnName>,<MatchValue1>,<ReplaceValue1>,<MatchValue2>,<ReplaceValue2>,...)
If(<ColumnName>{conditional}<Constant>,<TrueValue>,<FalseValue>)
IncludeTextFromURL(<URL>)
IncludeTextFromFile(<FilePath>)
More information on the available string can be found in the Campaign Enterprise 12 documentation, starting at page 54.
Start making the most out of the information you collect, to create highly targeted and desirable emails that get responses.
If you have any questions on this subject please email us at sales@arialsoftware.com
Campaign Enterprise is a scaleable enterprise-level email distribution system that runs on your own in-house computers connecting directly to your database or CRM in real-time, and using your own mail server. Visit http://www.arialsoftware.com for more information.