Placeholders

Overview: What are Custom Placeholders?

Custom placeholders are dynamic tags you can insert into your outbound email templates to automatically personalize each message with data from your campaign contacts. When you send your campaign, these placeholders are replaced with the corresponding values from the selected data table columns, making your emails feel more tailored and relevant to each recipient. Using placeholders simplifies template management and boosts engagement by adding a personal touch without manual effort.

Creating and Mapping Custom Placeholders

To use custom placeholders effectively, you first need to create them and map each placeholder to a specific column in your data table. This ensures that when the email sends, the placeholder pulls the right information for each contact.

How to Create Custom Placeholders

1. Navigate to the Sidebar and click on Campaigns.
2. Select the Placeholders tab within the campaign editor.
3. Click the Insert new placeholder button.
4. Enter a placeholder name that clearly represents the data it will pull, such as firstName or company.
5. Map this placeholder to the corresponding column in your selected data table.

Once created, you can use your placeholders by wrapping the placeholder name in double curly brackets, like this: {{ firstName }}.

Using Placeholders in Email Templates

Inserting placeholders into your email templates personalizes each message dynamically. This process is simple and flexible, making it easy to craft emails that resonate with your recipients.

Tips for Using Placeholders

• Always wrap your placeholder names in double curly brackets, for example, {{ company }}.
• Placeholders can be used anywhere in the email body, subject line, or signature.
• You can combine multiple placeholders to create highly personalized emails.

Preview and Test Placeholder Output

Before sending your campaign, it’s important to test how placeholders render with actual data. The campaign editor provides a preview feature that shows you how the email will look for different contacts.

1. Within the campaign editor, click the Preview button.
2. Select a contact from your data table.
3. Review the email to ensure all placeholders display the correct information.

This step helps you catch any mapping errors or missing data before your campaign goes live.

Best Practices for Personalization with Placeholders

Personalizing outbound emails effectively can significantly improve response rates and engagement. Here are some best practices when working with custom placeholders:

1. Use Soft Messaging: Avoid aggressive sales pitches. Instead, address specific pain points related to the recipient’s role or industry.
2. Keep It Short: Aim for concise messages under 100 words, as many recipients read emails on mobile devices.
3. Persona-Specific Messaging: Tailor your placeholders and content to different personas within your target audience for better resonance.
4. Focus on One Product or Service: Use placeholders to highlight one key offering per email to avoid confusion.
5. Highlight Relevant Points: Use placeholders to emphasize challenges or needs your product solves rather than just pitching features.

Troubleshooting and Common Use Cases for Placeholders

Sometimes you may encounter issues or want to explore different ways to use placeholders in your campaigns. Below are common scenarios and solutions.