Merge tag overview: All available tags and how to use them

Merge tags can be used to insert dynamic content based on each user's individual attributes. For example, you can insert the user's first name to add personalization to your email. In addition, you may want to insert dynamic product recommendations for each user that is specific to their profile.

How to use merge tags

Using merge tags for product recommendations

Full list of merge tags

Using merge tags in an email

Additional resources

How to use merge tags

Merge tags will automatically bring in product information, images, or text pertaining to the user. For example, for a user who's first name is "John", using the merge tag {{ fname }} will bring in the text "John" when that user receives the email. Simply insert a merge tag and the Retention Science platform will take care of assigning the correct text or image.

Using merge tags for product recommendations

Product recommendations are a key feature in the ReSci platform; they are tailored to each individual based on their demographics, browsing behavior, and purchasing behavior.

Product ID, Product Name, Product Image URL, and Product Page URL are all available for use when building emails. You can insert up to 10 product recommendations per template, simply by changing the recommendation number in the merge tag.

Note: Product recommendations do not work in transactional messages.

Full list of merge tags

Basic merge tags:

Merge Tag Name	Merge Tag	Notes
Email Address	{{ email }}	User's email address
First Name	{{ fname }}	User's first name
Last Name	{{ lname }}	User's last name
Full Name	{{ full_name }}	User's full name
Unsubscribe URL	{{ unsub_url }}	Unsubscribe link

Product 1 Name	{{rs_rn1}}	Name of Product 1
Product 1 URL	{{rs_rpu1}}	URL of Product 1
Product 1 Image URL	{{rs_riu1}}	Image URL of Product 1
Product 1 Price	{{rs_rp1}}	Price of Product 1
Product 1 Manufacturer	{{rs_rmfr1}}	Manufacturer of Product 1
Product 1 Description	{{rs_rdscr1}}	Description of Product 1
Product 1 Display Name	{{rs_rdspnm1}}	Display Name for Product 1
Product 1 Item Quantity	{{rs_rqty1}}	Quantity of Product 1

Product 2 Name	{{rs_rn2}}	Name of Product 2
Product 2 URL	{{rs_rpu2}}	URL of Product 2
Product 2 Image URL	{{rs_riu2}}	Image URL of Product 2
Product 2 Price	{{rs_rp2}}	Price of Product 2
Product 2 Manufacturer	{{rs_rmfr2}}	Manufacturer of Product 2
Product 2 Description	{{rs_rdscr2}}	Description of Product 2
Product 2 Display Name	{{rs_rdspnm2}}	Display Name for Product 2
Product 2 Item Quantity	{{rs_rqty2}}	Quantity of Product 2

Product 3 Name	{{rs_rn3}}	Name of Product 3
Product 3 URL	{{rs_rpu3}}	URL of Product 3
Product 3 Image URL	{{rs_riu3}}	Image URL of Product 3
Product 3 Price	{{rs_rp3}}	Price of Product 3
Product 3 Manufacturer	{{rs_rmfr3}}	Manufacturer of Product 3
Product 3 Description	{{rs_rdscr2}}	Description of Product 2
Product 3 Display Name	{{rs_rdspnm3}}	Display Name for Product 3
Product 3 Item Quantity	{{rs_rqty3}}	Quantity of Product 3

Note: Product 1 Name, Product 1 URL, Product 1 Image URL, Product 1 Price act as placeholders for dynamic product recommendations ONLY in Cortex stages that are not user or item triggered.

For example:

Ready to Buy stage: {{ rs_rn1 }} would display the name of product recommendation 1.

Cart Abandon stage (a user triggered stage): {{ rs_rn1 }} would display the name of an item left in their shopping cart that they abandoned.

Learn more about how to use merge tags in Cortex emails here.

Incentive merge tags:

Incentive Text	{{rs_itxt}}	This is the amount of the offer or incentive.
Incentive Code	{{rs_icode}}	This will populate your "one code" for everyone or "multiple codes" unique to each user.
Incentive Details	{{rs_idet}}	This is the short description like a disclaimer or statement of code expiration.
Incentive Image URL	{{rs_iimg}}	This is the image associated to your offer.

Learn more about how to use incentive merge tags in emails here.

Additional merge tags:

Merge Tag Name	Merge Tag	Notes
User Record ID	{{ rs_urid }}	Your User ID, stored in ReSci as User Record ID
Offer ID	{{rs_offerid}}	Unique email ID used for tracking
Subject Line	{{rs_sub}}	Allows use of multiple subject lines for promo blast templates, can be used to repeat the subject line in the email body.
Recommended Item Type	{{rs_rtype1}}, {{rs_rtype2}},...	Recommended Item Type
Recommended Item Price B	{{rs_rpb1}},{{rs_rpb2}},...	Recommended Item Price B
Recommended Item ID	{{rs_rid1}},{{rs_rid2}},...	Recommended Item ID
Custom String 1 Shopify Checkout Abandon URL (shopify customers only)	{{rs_str_1_usr_attr}}	Custom field (ie. unsubscribe_link)

Conditional merge tags:

Conditional Merge Tag Name	Conditional Merge Tag	Notes
First Name with greeting	Hi{% if fname == null or fname == '' %}{% else %} {{fname}}{% endif %},	Returns "Hi," or "Hi John,"
Shows a date three days from now	{{ 3 \| days_from_now \| date: '%B %d, %Y' }}
SHOPIFY CART: Send customer to a Shopify cart or to a default	{% if rs_str_1_usr_attr == null or rs_str_1_usr_attr == '' %} <a href= "www.default.com"> {% else %} <a href= "{{rs_str_1_usr_attr}}"> {% endif %}	Replace Default with the desired web address, or {{rs_rpu1}} to send to the product page

See here for more information conditional formatting and examples.

Using merge tags in an email

Merge tags can be inserted directly into a email's subject line, the HTML Editor, and the Drag and Drop Editor. In the HTML Editor, access the list of available merge tags in the upper left corner:

In the Drag and Drop editor, click on a text block and then click Merge tags:

Then, scroll through the list of available merge tags:

See the examples below of specific ways to use merge tags within a subject line and within the body of your email.

Example 1: Cart Abandon, first name merge tag in subject line

Structure the subject line like this:

{% if fname == null or fname == '' %}Y{% else %}{{fname}}, y{% endif %}ou forgot something!

So it reads like this:

You forgot something!

Firstname, you forgot something!

Example 2: Cart Abandon, showing an item left in their shopping cart

The following merge tags are used:

{{rs_rpu1}} - the URL of Product 1 left in their shopping cart.
{{rs_riu1}} - the image URL of Product 1 left in their shopping cart.
{{rs_rmfr1}} - the manufacturer's name of Product 1 left in their shopping cart.
{{rs_rn1}} - the name of Product 1 left in their shopping cart.

NOTE: Product 1 merge tags in the Cart Abandon Cortex stage will display what the user left in their shopping cart.

Here is what the email looks like in the user's inbox: