Creating a Custom Field
Custom Fields represent categories of data that you capture about your contacts. This can be anything from their email address (always required), something fairly common such as their first and last name, to something specific that you collect about or assign to your contacts, such as a sales territory each contact is in.
When you import your CSV file containing your contacts, each field (column) in your file will be considered a "custom field". The goal is to add a set of custom fields to your Pinpointe database that will allow the system to map your data from your CSV file to your Pinpointe database. For example, if you have a field in your file whose header name is "First Name", then you would want to add a custom field to your Pinpointe database of the same name.
During the initial creation or subsequent editing of a database, Pinpointe provides you a drop-down list of more than 20 commonly used custom fields from which to choose. Presented below is an example of Pinpointe's Edit Contact Database page, where you can create / edit your databases including selecting those custom fields from the drop-down list you'd like to include.
In this next screen shot, you can see we have selected the "First-Name" and "Last-Name" custom fields from the list. We have also checked these two custom fields in the "Visible Fields" drop-down list so that when we view the contacts in our Pinpointe account, this data will be visible. Remember to click "Save" when you are done.
In some cases you may find that you need to add a custom field that is not included in the drop-down list. Pinpointe provides you with the ability to create as many unique custom fields as you need. To begin, select the "Resources" tab from the top nav bar, then select "Custom Fields" from the drop-down list.
You will now be on the View Custom Fields page. Click the orange "New Custom Field" button.
You will now be on the New Custom Field page. Here you will select the format / type of custom field you want (in most cases "Text Field" will be the appropriate choice - however, if you are unsure, we would be happy to assist you). Give your custom field a descriptive name and decide if you want the field to be required. When finished, click "Next>>".
On the Create a Custom Field page, you can assign a default value to the new field, choose to add this default value to existing contacts, and select the entry field length. When finished, click "Next>>".
On the next page, select the database(s) you want to apply the custom field to, then click "Save".
You will now be back on the View Custom Fields page. if you scroll to the bottom of the list, you will see your new custom field has been added.
If you return to the Edit Contact Database page for the database you added the custom field to and scroll within the "Custom Fields" drop-down list, you will see it has been added to the list and is checked. It will also have been added to the "Visible Fields" drop-down list but you must check it to add it to the visible fields.
Inserting a Custom Field Into An Email Campaign in the Drag & Drop Builder
When editing your email template within the Drag & Drop Builder, you can insert a custom field where you would like the field's data to appear. Just position the cursor where you would like to insert the custom field...
...click on Insert Customfields drop-down menu in left-hand control panel, select the custom field you want by clicking on its name....
... and the custom field will be inserted as a variable (denoted by the double "%%" before and after the field's name). Now, when you send your email, the system will pull that custom field's data value for each contact and insert it into the email.
Note: If there is no data in that particular field for a given contact, it will be left blank when that contact receives the campaign - i.e "Hi, ".
Note: To view your Custom Field with a populated value, you must send yourself a test campaign from a database or list. If you send to yourself or your cohorts as a test via the "Quick Send" button, your custom field will NOT BE POPULATED since the email is actually being sent directly from the Builder.
Inserting a Custom Field Into An Email Campaign in the WYSIWYG Editor
When editing your email template within the WYSIWYG Editor, you can insert a custom field where you would like the field's data to appear. Just position the cursor where you would like to insert the custom field...
...click on "Insert Custom Fields" drop-down menu in left-hand control panel, select the custom field you want by clicking on its name....
... and the custom field will be inserted as a variable (denoted by the double "%%" before and after the field's name). Now, when you send your email, the system will pull that custom field's data value for each contact and insert it into the email.
Note: If there is no data in that particular field for a given contact, it will be left blank when that contact receives the campaign - i.e "Hi, ".
Note: To view your Custom Field with a populated value, you must send yourself a test campaign from a database or list. If you send to yourself or your cohorts as a test via the "Preview => Quick Send" button, your custom field will NOT BE POPULATED since the email is actually being sent directly from the Editor.