Personalize journey messages with dynamic links and variables

There are two kinds of dynamic content that you can add to your brand’s text messages: dynamic links and variables (macros).

• Dynamic links let you personalize text messages with personalized links to pages on your website. 
• Variables let you personalize text messages with details like subscriber name, product details like name and price, discount codes, and more. Variables also support default values, which use generic, inclusive terms when personalized details (like name) aren’t available, like “friend" instead of the subscriber's first name.

Add a dynamic link or variable to a message

Follow these steps to add a dynamic link or variable to a message:

1. In a campaign text message or send text message step in a journey, move your cursor to where you want to add a dynamic link or variable, then click   .
2. In the Insert variable popup, click Variable.
3. Select a Category
   • Click Subscriber to view dynamic links and variables associated with subscribers. 
   • Click Product to view dynamic links and variables associated with product data. 
4. Click the link or variable you want to use.
5. (Optional) Add a Default value (also called a fallback). For example, if your {{subscriber.firstName}} variable has “friend” as the default value, a message will say “friend” if the subscriber’s first name is unavailable.
6. Click Insert.

Dynamic link and variable object names

You can add dynamic links and variables to a message by using the personalization button in the message editor. Dynamic links or variables added to a message use the object names listed below. If you add a dynamic link or variable by typing it out, be sure to use the current object name.

Dynamic links

{{subscriber.cartLink}}

Link to the subscriber's cart. Previously: {cartLink}

{{subscriber.signupOffer.link}}

Link that automatically applies the discount code at checkout. Previously: {couponLink}

{{subscriber.signupOffer.couponScreenLink}}

Link that directs the subscriber to the Attentive-hosted offer screen where they can copy the discount code and be taken back to their last browsed page. Previously: {couponScreenLink}

{{offer.link}}

Link that automatically applies the discount code at checkout. Previously: {couponLink}

{{triggerEvent.product.link}}

Link to a product page. Previously: {productLink}

{{triggerEvent.checkout.checkoutLink}}

Link to checkout page. Previously: {checkoutLink}

Dynamic variables

{{offer.code}}

Offer code (e.g., ATTV-OLCHY8). Previously: {coupon}

{{offer.value}}

Offer value (e.g., $10 or 10%). 

{{subscriber.signupOffer.code}}

Sign-up offer code. Previously: {coupon}

{{subscriber.firstName}}

Subscriber's first name. Previously: {firstName}

{{subscriber.fullName}}

Subscriber's full (first and last) name. Previously: {fullName}

{{subscriber.lastName}}

Subscriber's last name. Previously: {lastName}

{{triggerEvent.product.image}}

Image of the product. Previously: {productImage}

{{triggerEvent.product.name}}

Product name. Previously: {productName}

{{triggerEvent.product.price}}

Product price. Previously: {productPrice}

{{triggerEvent.product.quantity}}

Product quantity. Previously: {{productQuantity}

{{triggerEvent.product.priceDropPct}}

Price drop as a percentage. Previously: {priceDropPct}

Character counts with dynamic content

Keep in mind that when you add dynamic content, the final character count for each message varies depending on the values populated for each subscriber. See  How message character counts are calculated with Campaign Composer for more information.

Choose a default value for variables

You can choose a default value for variables. A default value is a value that appears when the variable has no value. For example, you might want to set “friend” as a default value for the subscriber first name variable. This way, if a subscriber’s first name is unknown, Attentive will populate “friend” for the subscriber first name variable instead of leaving it blank in the message.

When you add a variable to your message, enter the default value in the Default value (optional) field; then click Insert.

The variable with the default value appears as follows in the editor: 

{{variableName | default:”default value”}}

Examples

Hey {{subscriber.firstName | default:”friend”}}, we have your perfect shade in stock!

The message above appears to subscribers as follows: 

Hey Jane, we have your perfect shade in stock!

If the subscriber's first name is unavailable, the message appears to subscribers as follows: 

Hey friend, we have your perfect shade in stock!

How do you like your new {{triggerEvent.product.name | default: “item” }}? 

The message above appears to subscribers as follows: 

How do you like your new Downpour Rain Jacket?

If the product name is unavailable, the message above appears to subscribers as follows:

How do you like your new item?

Add variables to links

You can add variables to links in your text messages to send your subscribers to unique URLs. For example, you can use variables for enhanced link tracking, send subscribers to personalized landing pages, and take better advantage of certain apps. See Add variables to links in campaign messages and Add variables to links in journey messages for more information.

Use app-specific variables and links in journeys

Some third-party apps in the App Marketplace come with their own journey triggers that let you use variables or dynamic links specific to those apps.

For example, if you’ve installed the Okendo app, you can create an Okendo review request journey. You can add links and variables specific to Okendo to messages in this journey, such as {{triggerEvent.custom["Product Review Url"]}}, which links to a URL where subscribers can review a product in Okendo.

Some apps have additional custom subscriber attributes that can be added to messages as variables. For example, you can personalize messages by including subscribers’ favorite colors if that data is available from one of your installed apps.

To add a variable that uses a custom attribute from a third-party app, search for the variable in the Subscriber category in the Insert variable window. You can also scroll the Subscriber category until you find the section for the app that sends the attribute you’re looking for.

Use variables in transactional journey messages

For transactional email and text message journeys, a number of app-specific links and variables are available. You can find them by adding a variable or link to a message, then selecting one specific to the journey in the Insert variable window.

You can see examples of transactional email messages that include journey-specific variables and links in the following articles:

• Okendo
• Recharge
• Shopify

Use variables in welcome journey messages

Because subscriber data isn’t yet available at initial sign-up, only the following variables are supported in welcome journey messages:

• {{message.messageId}}
• {{message.messageName}}
• {{message.messageType}}

Use Preview Options to preview text messages

Text message previews in campaigns and journeys show you text messages as a recipient would see them. This allows you to validate the appearance and content of your messages, including dynamic content like variables and links. You can also preview how your unsubscribe message appears for AT&T subscribers.

Follow these steps to preview text messages as a subscriber would see them:

1. Go to the text message in a campaign or draft journey you want to preview.
2. At the bottom of the preview, click Preview Options. The following options are available:
   • Unsubscribe preview: Preview your message with opt-out language for AT&T subscribers. This option only appears if you send messages from a toll-free number.
   • Preview as a subscriber: Preview your message as a subscriber would see it. The preview includes resolved variables, including subscriber names and shortlinks. 
     
     For example, if the subscriber's first name is Sam, the preview shows Sam in place of {{subscriber.firstName}}. Similarly, if the name of the message in Attentive is “Spring Sale 2024,” the preview shows “Spring Sale 2024” in place of {{message.messageName}}.
     
     For offer variables and links, the preview shows a placeholder. For example, the preview shows [ OFFER CODE ] in place of {{offer.code}}.
     
     This option is turned on by default. If you turn it off, you’ll see variable names (e.g., {{subscriber.firstName}}) instead of the actual value.
3. Use the arrows below the subscriber’s name and number to preview the message as a different subscriber.
   
   If subscriber data is unavailable and the variable doesn't have a default, an informational message appears.
4. Click Send test message to send a test message using the selected subscriber’s information. You can send a test message to a specific phone number or choose to send a test message to all of the users in your company’s Attentive account.

Preview dynamic content in your email

You can preview how your campaign and journey emails will look to your subscribers. Email previews show actual subscriber data in place of variables, such as a subscriber's first name or a product name. You can also send test emails to yourself or others on your team.  See Preview and send test emails for more information.