CampusESP allows you to personalize your outreach to families and supporters using mail merge variables in emails (including welcome emails and custom newsletters!) and text messages. You can use any profile fields configured in your portal as a mail merge value.
Understanding default values
Default values are used when a user does not have a value for a selected merge field. Since not all users will have complete profile data, every merge field requires a default value to ensure your message still displays correctly.
When a merge field is empty, the system inserts the default value instead. This prevents messages from appearing incomplete or awkward (for example, “Hi ,”).
If you insert a merge field for First Name, like “Hi {First Name} default value: there,” your message will become:
with a value → “Hi Alex,”
without a value → “Hi there,” (using `there` as the default value)
When choosing a default value, make sure it fits naturally within your message and maintains proper grammar.
Personalize subject lines in emails
When creating an email, welcome email, or custom newsletter, you can add merge fields directly into the subject line. While drafting your subject line, click the Merge Field button to open the “Merge Field” modal window. From here, you can select a profile field to insert into your subject line.
Personalize the body of emails and text messages
To add a merge field within the body of an email or text message, click the Merge Variable button ({𝑥}) and select a field from the “Merge Field” modal.
You’ll see a list of all custom profile fields configured in your portal. Select the field you want to include in your message.
You must add a default value when inserting merge fields. If you try adding a merge field without a default value, you'll see an error message.
Preview your personalized content
Use the "Send Preview" link on an email, or the "Send yourself a test message" link when creating a text message to preview your personalization. Remember that the default value will display if the profile field you selected as the merge value is blank!
💡 Pro Tip: Enter the email of another user in the portal to get a preview of how it will be personalized for them. Using someone else's email in the Send Preview area won't send to them, you'll just receive a copy of what their specific email will look like.