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How to Use Dynamic Fields to Personalize Emails

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Dynamic fields allow you to personalize emails by automatically inserting recipient-specific information like names into your email content. This creates a more personal touch for mass emails.

What Are Dynamic Fields?

Dynamic fields are placeholders that get replaced with actual data when the email is sent. For example, {FirstName} would be replaced with each recipient's actual first name.

Using the Add Greeting Feature

The easiest way to add personalization is using the greeting feature:

  1. When composing an email, look for the Add Greeting checkbox or option
  2. Enable it to automatically add a personalized greeting like "Dear John,"
  3. The greeting appears at the top of your email

Inserting Dynamic Fields in the Email Body

To add personalization within the body of your email:

  1. Place your cursor where you want the personalized text
  2. Look for the Insert Dynamic Field or Merge Field button in the email editor toolbar
  3. Select the field you want to insert
  4. The field placeholder will appear in your email

Available Dynamic Fields

Common dynamic fields include:

  • {FirstName} - Recipient's first name
  • {LastName} - Recipient's last name
  • {ConstituentName} - Full name
  • {Salutation} - Preferred salutation
  • {Email} - Email address
  • {OrganizationName} - Your organization's name

Using HTML Merge Codes Manually

If you are editing the HTML directly, you can type the merge codes:

  • Use the format: {FieldName}
  • Field names are case-sensitive
  • Example: "Dear {FirstName}, thank you for your support!"

Testing Dynamic Fields

  1. Always send a test email to yourself before sending to your list
  2. Verify the fields are replaced correctly
  3. Check how it looks when a field might be empty

Handling Empty Fields

If a recipient doesn't have data for a field:

  • The field may appear blank
  • Use the Salutation field which typically has a fallback like "Friend"
  • Consider using "Dear Supporter" or similar generic text as backup

Dynamic Fields in Email Templates

When creating reusable email templates:

  1. Add your dynamic fields to the template
  2. They will personalize for each recipient when the template is used
  3. Test the template before using it in production