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What Are Custom Fields?

Custom Fields allow you to store additional information about your contacts and automatically include that information in your messages. For example, you might create Custom Fields for:
  • Past-due balance
  • Pet name
  • Service provided
  • Account number
  • Birthday
  • VIN number
  • Appointment or service details

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Example

Instead of creating a separate message for every customer:
Hi Sarah! Your current balance is $125.00.
You could create one Template:
Hi {{first_name}}! Your current balance is {{past_due_balance}}.
When the message is sent, Captivated automatically replaces the Custom Fields with the information associated with each contact.

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Set Up Custom Fields

Custom Fields are currently created with assistance from Captivated Support. To get started:
  1. Contact Captivated Support and let us know which Custom Fields you’d like to create.
  2. Our team will create the fields for your account.
  3. We’ll provide the corresponding Merge Field for each one.
For example: A Merge Field is simply a placeholder that tells Captivated which information to automatically insert into your message.

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Add Custom Field Data to Your Contacts

Once your Custom Fields have been created, you can add the corresponding information to your contacts through a CSV import. Your CSV should include the contact information needed for the import along with a column for each Custom Field you’d like to populate. For example: Use the Merge Field provided by Captivated as the column heading for your Custom Field. For instructions on uploading your CSV, see Importing Contacts.

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Use Custom Fields in Templates

Once your contact data has been imported, you can use Custom Fields in your Message Templates.
  1. Open Templates.
  2. Create a new Template or edit an existing one.
  3. Select Merge Fields.
  4. Locate the Custom Field you’d like to use.
  5. Copy and insert the Merge Field into your Template.
  6. Save your Template.
When the Template is used, Captivated will automatically populate the Merge Field with the information stored for that contact.

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Example

Your Template:
Hi {{first_name}}! Just a reminder that we’ll be treating {{pet_name}}‘s yard tomorrow. Please keep pets indoors while your technician is completing the service.
The customer receives:
Hi Sarah! Just a reminder that we’ll be treating Charlie’s yard tomorrow. Please keep pets indoors while your technician is completing the service.

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Before Sending

Always make sure your contact data is accurate before sending messages that contain Custom Fields.
If a contact doesn’t have information stored for a Custom Field used in your Template, review how the message will appear before sending it. Missing or incorrect data can result in confusing messages for your customers.

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Best Practices

  • Give Custom Fields simple, descriptive names.
  • Only create fields your team will actually use.
  • Keep your imported contact data accurate and up to date.
  • Test Templates containing Custom Fields before using them for a large Announcement.
  • Be especially careful with sensitive customer information. Only include information in a text message that is appropriate to send over SMS.
  • Review your CSV before importing to make sure Custom Field data is associated with the correct contacts.

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Need a Custom Field?

Contact Captivated Support using the Support option within Captivated or text (317) 316-3600. Let us know what information you’d like to personalize, and we’ll help you get your Custom Fields set up.