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User Guide

Merge Tags Cheat Sheet

This cheat sheet provides an overview of how to use merge tags effectively in your communications.

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Merge tags are a powerful tool for personalizing your communications in eSputnik. They allow you to use dynamic content for personalized interactions with the contacts, making each touchpoint more relevant and engaging.

Merge Tags in Messages

In messages, you can use 2 types of merge tags:

  • Standard: Default merge tags.
  • Custom: Additional fields you can create in the system.

These tags substitute the contact information from the contact card you add manually or using API.

Read this article to learn how to personalize your messages using merge tags.

Standard Merge Tags

NameMerge tagHow it works
First name%FIRSTNAME|%Inserts the contact's first name.
Last name%LASTNAME|%Inserts the contact's last name.
Full name%FIRSTNAME|% %LASTNAME|%Inserts the contact's full name.
Email%EMAIL|%Inserts the contact's email address.
SMS%SMS|%Inserts the contact's phone number.
External customer ID%EXTERNAL_CUSTOMER_ID|%Inserts the contact’s unique identifier generated in your system.
Town%TOWN|%Inserts the city or town name.
Address%ADDRESS|%Inserts the contact’s address.
Region%COUNTY|%Inserts the name of the administrative division within a country.
Postcode%POSTCODE|%Inserts the postal code.
Group name%GROUP.NAME|%Inserts the name of the segment.
Message name%MESSAGENAME|%Inserts the name of the message.

The symbol % denotes the start and end of merge tags in messages. This indicates that the text between these symbols should be replaced with dynamic content.

You can use the vertical bar (|) before the closing % symbol and add alternative text between them that will be shown to the contact if the contact field corresponding to the merge tag is empty.

Example:

Merge tag usage exampleIf the first name exists in the contact card, it will be shown in the message.

Merge tag substituted by the value in the message

If there is no first name, the alternative text will be shown.

Alternative text in the message

Custom Tags

You can add your custom tags following these instructions.

Using Merge Tags with Velocity Commands

You can pull dynamic content using the $!data.get(‘’) command. Use only the tag name without the % and |% symbols.

Example:

$!data.get(‘FIRSTNAME’)

Read this article to learn more.

Adding Combined Merge Tags

You can combine several merge tags in a message by adding the corresponding statement in the message code.

  1. Click the Code editor icon, and click anywhere outside the stripes to view the entire code.
    Code editor icon

  2. Add the statement in the following format before the first opening <tr> tag:

    <!--#set($var='%MERGETAG1|% %MERGETAG2|%')-->

    where substitute MERGETAG1 and MERGETAG2 with your merge tag names.
    You can add other characters and spaces between the tags.
    Example:

    <!--#set($var='%EVENT.NY_SALE|%: %EVENT.NY_BONUS|%%')-->

  3. Add the following statement after the last </tr> closing tag in the message:

    <!--#*end-->

  4. Type $var in the message where you want to show your combined tags.
    Adding $var in the message

When you send your message, the variable is substituted with the corresponding values of the merge tags, as in the following picture.

Resulting message with combined merge tags

Using Merge Tags in Links

Merge tags can be used in links to personalize the content for each recipient. 

Example:

In this example, %FIRSTNAME% and %EMAIL% will be replaced with the corresponding values for each recipient.

When the email is sent out, the link will look something like this for the recipient:

Updated 1 day ago