Dynamic Messaging
The eCampaigning Tool can dynamically include a wide range of content in 'Action Messages', 'Thank You Pages', 'Thank You Emails', and 'HTML Blocks'. When used in combination with Python Scripts, this can result in a powerful and flexible way to personalise the e-action process and thus make it more effective.
By default, only a few basic variables are usable as merge data: given name and a range of edition counters. The system administrator can added any other merge data variables they choose.
- Insert variable name between square brackets in an 'HTML Block'
Note: using this feature for including dynamic content in web pages can put an added strain on your web server since the web pages are no longer 'cachable'. If you intend to use this feature, be sure you have checked (e.g. with IT staff and/or you web server hosting provider) if the server has the capacity to handle the extra load.
Ideas for Using Data Merge
- Substitute first name in the thank you page / thank you email
- Insert the latest action count figure worldwide/for their country/today (etc.)
- Based on the 'origin url' or 'origin tag' to present a visitor with a custom opt-in statement on the primary or secondary 'action step' - or a random/generic/choice of opt-in statements
- Use part of the 'action record shortname' as a user ID to append to a tracking URL in the thank-you email/page (in conjunction with the tracking system or an external system like open tracking with Google Analytics)
- Use the country selection to substitute specific info
- Identify if the person who has just completed the action has taken a previous action before (across the site) based on their email address and provide different text strings based on the results (i.e. the number of previous actions completed, the time since the last action, etc.)
- Identify what other campaigning actions / trackable activities like tell friends the person has done and promote new actions they haven't yet done
- Send different thank you emails based on if a person has/hasn't completed the address details page (step 2 of some processes) Note: more than just a script returning values - requires package changes
- If a user enters a unique ID in a form (i.e. from an offline communication), it automatically populates their details and accelerates their completion (and allows matching with an data of offline supporters) (i.e. donations, action reporting, etc.)
- If a user enters a promo ID in a form (i.e. from an offline communication), it automatically directs them to the relevant 'action'
