Using merge fields in emails

Key notes

• Merge fields pull data from entries submitted via your form.
• To ensure merge fields populate correctly, consider making the corresponding form fields required. An empty field shows nothing in the email.
• Do Not Modify Code: Merge fields look like {{entry.field_name}}. Altering or removing punctuation/characters will break the merge field.

Which merge fields you'll see

Available Merge Fields in the email designer shows what you can use in that email. What it offers depends on the lists the email goes to and the answer on the email's codes step.

You'll see	When
First name, last name, email address, and the Subscribe and Unsubscribe links	Always
The fields your form collects, such as address, phone, age, category, entry title and description, photo and uploaded files, plus the entry URL and vote totals for each of the three rounds	The email is connected to one list, and only for fields that list's form collects
Prize code, prize category, prize details, prize image and the QR code link	The email's codes step is set to YES — Instant Win or YES — Code List, the email has a code list attached, or the one list the email goes to has an Instant Win with a code list

To use a form field such as phone in an email, connect the email to the one list your form saves to. If the email goes to several lists, the always-available fields work for everyone on them. For prize fields, see Using unique codes in emails.

If you put the Unsubscribe merge field in your own content, your link takes the place of the standard footer in that email. See CAN-SPAM Act information.

Merge field cheat sheet

Here are the most commonly available merge fields and what they display:

General merge fields

Merge Field	Displays
{{entry.form_name}}	The name of the form, as specified in the Form Designer.
{{entry.tab_name}}	The name of the campaign, as specified in the Campaign Builder.
{{entry.created_at}}	The time and date when the entry was submitted.
{{entry.referral_url}}	The entrant’s unique Refer-a-Friend URL.
{{subscribe}}	The subscribe link for double opt-in. Fills in only on emails sent to real entrants, not test emails.

Entrant-specific merge fields

Merge Field	Displays
{{entry.first_name}}	The entrant’s first name, as submitted in the form.
{{entry.last_name}}	The entrant’s last name, as submitted in the form.
{{entry.prize_codes}}	Prize code from a code list.
{{entry.prize_category}}	Prize category from a code list.
{{entry.prize_details}}	Prize details from a code list.
{{entry.prize_code_qrcode_url}}	A web address that shows the entrant's prize code as a QR code, ready to scan at a till. Paste it as a link's URL.
<img src="{{entry.prize_image_url}}">	Prize image from a code list. Note: This will need to be added to the Source Code or use Prize Code Image from the available Merge Fields List.

If a merge field shows blank or as code

What you see	What to do
The merge field shows nothing	The entrant left that form field empty, or the form connected to the email's list doesn't have that field. Make the field required, and check the email uses the right list.
The merge field shows as {{…}} text	It was edited by hand and no longer matches. Delete it and insert it again from Available Merge Fields.
A field you added to the form isn't listed	Connect the email to the one list that form saves to. Form fields beyond first name, last name and email address appear when the email goes to a single list.
The prize code merge field isn't listed	Change the answer on the email's codes step to YES — Instant Win or YES — Code List. The prize fields then appear in Available Merge Fields. See Using unique codes in emails.

Send a test email to check your merge fields before you activate the email.

Related resources

• Using Liquid Markup in emails
• Using unique codes in emails
• Creating autoresponder emails
• How to set up an autoresponder (video)