Using merge tags is a great way to auto-fill student information, but you can also use them as links or buttons.
For example, maybe you want to link to a welcome pack, video, or other item personalised for each of your students. Using merge tags you can automatically generate a link specific to the student with one of the many Student ID fields available in the platform.
Creating the URL
Inside the touchpoint or campaign, type out the URL you'll be using. The, from the mail merge fields, select the ID you want to use.
In this example, we're using MIS ID, which would be your establishment's Student number, but you can also use:
CRM ID
UCAS Personal ID
Legacy ID
UUID Long
UUID Short
You could also experiment with Stage ID, Persona ID/ Short code, and many other unique identifying merge tags.
Turning it into something clickable
Once you've built your URL there are a few ways to use it:
As a link
Copy your URL and click the Link icon.
Into the URL space, paste your URL and into Display Text put the wording you want to appear:
When you preview the email, be sure to hover over the link to check it's what you're expecting. Here we can see that the MIS Code for the John Doe test record (which is miscode_12345678) is showing up correctly on the hover-over, so we know the merge has worked.
When sending a preview, be aware that unless you've set up an item URL for John Doe's ID codes, then clicking the link won't work.
As a button
Copy your URL
Click the button icon, and into the URL space put your constructed URL. Fill out the rest of the items to your liking and save.
When you preview the email, ensure you hover over the link to check it's what you're expecting. Here we can see that the MIS Code for the John Doe test record (which is miscode_12345678) is showing up correctly on the hover-over, so we know the merge has worked. When sending a preview, be aware that unless you've set up an item URL for John Doe's ID codes, then clicking the link won't work.
Behind an image
Copy the URL you built, then select the image you want to use from the Image Library.
Select the image, then click the Link icon, copy your URL into the URL area and save.
When you preview the email, ensure you hover over the link to check it's what you're expecting. Here we can see that the MIS Code for the John Doe test record (which is miscode_12345678) is showing up correctly on the hover-over, so we know the merge has worked. When sending a preview, be aware that unless you've set up an item URL for John Doe's ID codes, then clicking the link won't work.
