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Adding Merge Variables to Emails

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Leya Wood
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You can personalize your messages is by using merge variables in SharpSpring. Personalized communications increase engagement, resulting in improved conversions. 

A merge variable can be used to merge information about each recipient, so you can customize each email to make it look like you are sending a personal email to each person on your list.

This article will detail how to add merge variables to emails.


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Adding Merge Variables

You can add merge variables to emails.

To add merge variables, do the following:

  1. Click Email in SharpSpring's left toolbar.
  2. Create or edit an email.
  3. Double-click the text of the email. 
  4. Click the Merge drop-down menu in the Content Editor toolbar that appears.
  5. Select the desired merge variable from the available merge fields.
  6. Enter in the placeholder text in the Default (optional) field.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Click Save.

Optionally, after adding a merge variable, you can send the email as a Smart Mail to your own lead record to see how the variables look in the email.

Preview emails do not show populated merge variables.

 

Available Merge Fields

The merge fields available for use in emails are as follows:

  


Click to enlarge.
 
Important: Do not use the following characters in the same lines of an email as merge variables: #, ##, #*, $

Using those characters in the same line will break the merge variable.
 
Note: Unsubscribe addresses cannot be edited in emails. They can only be edited in the Company Profile.
 
Note: Unsubscribe Fields and Global Merge Variables do not use a default field.
 
     
Field   Description

Custom
Fields


The available list of created custom fields.

Recipient
Fields


These are fields dealing with a recipient's personal information.

Lead Owner
Fields


Name, phone number, and email information fields for the lead
owner. 

Unsubscribe
Fields


Unsubscribe links.

Link Merge
Variables


View in browser link. 

Global Merge
Variables


Variables that apply across any email, like the From Address.
Miscellaneous


Other assorted fields, including the number of bounces and the
date.

 


Using Merge Variables for Customized URLs

You can create customized URLs by using merge variables in a link within your email. 

To use merge variables for custom URLs, do the following:

  1. Click Email in SharpSpring's left toolbar.
  2. Create or edit an email.
  3. Double-click the text of the email.
  4. Click the Link icon in the Content Editor toolbar that appears.
  5. Enter your desired URL in the URL text box.
  6. Enter the URL followed by the merge variable in the Text to Display box.
  7. Click Save.
  8. Click Save again.
  


Click to enlarge.

 
Note: You can see how the links look in the finalized email by sending the email to a test list that includes your email address. 
 

As an example, if your URL is https://sharpspring.com, and you want the customized URL to say https://sharpspring.com/Gregg, then you will want to add https://sharpspring.com/{$firstName} to the Text to Display box.


Customizing Unsubscribe Link Text

You can customize unsubscribe link text for a more personalized touch.

To customize unsubscribe link text, do the following:

  1. Click Email in SharpSpring's left toolbar.
  2. Create or edit an email.
  3. Insert a merge variable.
  4. Highlight the {$unsubscribeLink} text.
  5. Copy the {$unsubscribeLink} text.
  6. Click the Link icon in the formatting toolbar.
  7. Paste the {$unsubscribeLink} text in the URL field in the modal window that appears.
  8. Enter the text you want to display in the Text to Display field.
  9. Click Save.
  10. Click Save again.
  
Click to enlarge.
 
Important: Alterations to unsubscribe links that violate any anti-spam or informed consent law by attempting to obfuscate the unsubscribe option can result in immediate account termination.
 


Adding Merge Variables to Subject Lines

You can add merge variables to email subject lines.

To add merge variables to subject lines, do the following:

  1. Click Email in SharpSpring's left toolbar.
  2. Create or edit an email.
  3. Insert a merge variable into the email body.
  4. Copy the merge variable.
  5. Click  email.png  Send Settings in the Email Designer panel.
  6. Paste the merge variable in the Subject text box.
  7. Complete the email subject line as you see fit around the merge variable.
  8. Click Save.
   Click to enlarge.

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