Personalizing Content with Merge Tags

Merge tags allow you to automatically personalize your emails using information stored in your contacts’ records. Instead of writing separate emails for different people, you can insert a merge tag that Transpond replaces with the correct value when the email is sent.

For example, you can include a contact’s first name, company, or other stored information. This helps you send more relevant emails while saving time and reducing manual work.

Merge tags can be used in email campaigns, templates, subject lines, and landing pages.

How Merge Tags Work

Merge tags act as placeholders in your content. When the email is sent, Transpond replaces the placeholder with the value stored for each contact.

For example, a merge tag linked to a First Name custom field will populate the email with each recipient's first name. If the custom field name is "Firstname", the merge tag would be {{FIRSTNAME}}:

Hi {{FIRSTNAME}},

If the contact’s first name is Alex, the email will display:

Hi Alex,

If the field has no value stored, the tag will normally appear as a blank space unless conditional logic is used.

Using merge tags allows you to send one email that feels personalised for every recipient.

System Merge Tags

System merge tags provide built-in functionality used in emails and landing pages. These are commonly used in email footers and compliance links.

Examples include:

Including the appropriate system merge tags ensures your emails contain the links contacts need to manage their preferences.

Custom Field Merge Tags

Custom field merge tags insert data stored in custom fields on a contact record.

For example, if you store a customers Renewal Date in a field, you can use:

Your subscription renews on {{RENEWAL_DATE}}.

When the email is sent, the merge tag will be replaced with the value stored for that contact.

Custom field merge tags are commonly used for:

• Personalised greetings
• Referencing customer information
• Tailoring messaging to different audiences

Organization Merge Tags

Organization merge tags insert information about your organization directly into your emails.

These tags typically pull information from your account settings, such as:

• Organization name
• Address
• Contact information

An example would be:

We’d love to see someone from {{org__name}} at our upcoming webinar.

Conditional Merge Tags

Conditional merge tags allow you to control what content appears depending on the data available for a contact.

For example, you may want to include a fallback greeting if a contact does not have a first name saved:

Hi {{#if (eq [FIRSTNAME] '') }}there{{else}} {{FIRSTNAME}}{{/if}},

This example displays “Hi First Name” when a first name exists, or “Hi there” when it does not, ensuring the email still reads naturally if contact data is incomplete.

Conditional merge tags are useful when:

• Contact information may be missing
• You want to show different content to different audiences
• You want to avoid awkward or blank greetings

Formatting Dates in Merge Tags

If you store dates in custom fields, you can control how those dates appear in your emails using date formatting.

This allows you to display dates in a clear and consistent format for your audience. For example, you might want a date to appear as 13 Jan 2026, January 13, 2026, or 2026-01-13 depending on the context of your message.

Formatting a Date Field

To format a date, use the formatDate   function with the field you want to display and the format you want to apply.

Example:

{{formatDate RENEWAL_DATE "MMMM D, YYYY"}}

When the email is sent, Transpond replaces the merge tag with the date stored in that field, formatted according to the pattern you specify.

Common Format Tokens

You can customise how a date appears using formatting tokens:

• YYYY   – four-digit year
• MM   – month number
• MMM   or MMMM   – abbreviated or full month name
• D   or DD   – day of the month
• dddd   – full weekday name

Using date formatting helps ensure important information, such as event dates or renewal dates, is clear and easy for contacts to understand.

Where Merge Tags Can Be Used

Merge tags can be used throughout Transpond, including:

• Email campaigns
• Email templates
• Subject lines
• Landing pages such as unsubscribe or profile update pages

By using merge tags, you can personalize emails automatically while managing a single campaign, helping you send more relevant communications with less effort.