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No Code and Multi-Map Merge Tags

Enhance your personalization workflow with simplified tag management and multi-platform compatibility.

No Code Merge Tags

Personalizing emails in Knak no longer requires viewing or editing raw code.

Merge tags appear as visual pill-shaped elements instead of raw code like {{##FirstName##}}.

This keeps your emails clean. It also makes editing easier.

Visual merge tag displayed as a pill inside the email editor instead of raw code syntax.

Multi-Map Merge Tags

Use multiple sets of merge tags across platforms without changing your workflow.

How It Works

Each platform-specific tag maps to a single pill in Knak. When you sync the asset, Knak translates it into the correct syntax for each platform automatically.

Merge tag section on the admin side of the platform displaying token values for multiple Marketing Automation Platforms.

Example

If you use both Marketo and Pardot, Knak outputs the correct merge tag syntax for each platform from the same email.

Key Benefits

  • Create once

  • Deploy everywhere

  • No manual syntax updates

  • Scale across business units

Create and Edit Merge Tags

Use merge tags to personalize your content with dynamic data from your integration.

Create a New Merge Tag

  1. Go to Admin > Integrations > Merge Tags.

  2. Click Create Merge Tag.

  3. Enter the token values in the input fields.

    Create Merge Tag form showing input fields for platform token values

If you use Marketo and plan to add this merge tag to a dynamic section, enter the Velocity script syntax in the Velocity Script Token field. Velocity script is Marketo’s scripting language. It controls how dynamic content displays.

Edit a Merge Tag

  1. Go to Admin > Integrations > Merge Tags.

  2. Click the merge tag name or Edit icon.

  3. Update the token values.

  4. Click Save.

Manage Your Merge Tag List

Use the Merge Tags page to keep your available tags organized.

  • Remove unused tags: Click the trash icon to remove unused system fields.

    Merge Tags list showing trash icon used to remove unused system fields.

  • Rename tags: Change tag names to match your terminology.

    Merge Tag edit screen showing tag name field available for renaming.

  • Control permissions: Use role permissions to control access.

    • Available merge tag permissions include:

      • View merge tags.

      • Create, update, and delete merge tags.

      • Override default merge tag values.

Add Merge Tags to Your Content

Add your Merge Tag to Your Email Body

  1. Open your asset in Studio.

  2. Add or select a text box.

  3. Click the Tag menu.

  4. Select your merge tag.

Add a Merge Tag to a Subject Line or Preview Text

  1. Open the Subject Line or Preview Text field.

  2. Type the # symbol.

  3. Begin typing your merge tag name.

  4. Select the merge tag from the list to insert it.

    Merge tag dropdown menu in a subject line in an email.

You can use this method in the Theme Builder and Email Builder.

Preview Merge Tag Values in Studio

Note: This feature is currently in Alpha testing. Please reach out to maral.artang@knak.com if you would like to participate.

Set sample values for merge tags to see how personalized content will look before you send your email.

For example, set the preview value for Lead Country to Canada. Studio displays Canada when you preview content that uses the Lead Country merge tag.

Preview values are only used for previews. They do not sync to your Marketing Automation Platform (MAP).

Set a Default Preview Value

  1. Go to Admin > Integrations > Merge Tags.

  2. Create a merge tag or select an existing merge tag.

  3. Enter a value in the Preview Value field.

    Preview value field highlighted in the edit merge tag page.

  4. Click Save.

The value becomes the default preview value for that merge tag. You can override the default for an individual asset.

Preview Merge Tags in an Asset

  1. Add your merge tags to the asset.

  2. Click Preview.

  3. Choose how you want to display the merge tags:

    • Highlight merge tags

      Highlight merge tag setting toggled on in the email preview screen.

    • Show preview values

      Show preview values setting toggled on in the email preview screen.

    • Highlight both merge tags and preview values

      Highlight merge tag and show preview values settings toggled on in the email preview screen.

  4. Enter a new value in the preview field to change the value for the current asset.

  5. Click Update.

  6. Click Reset to restore the default value.

    Preview panel showing a custom preview value entered for an asset, with Update and Reset buttons visible to manage preview values.

Use these options to confirm your personalization and formatting before you publish or export your asset.

Note: This example value is used when previewing emails that contain merge tags, this value does not sync over to your Marketing Automation Platform.

Use Merge Tags for Links

You can add merge tags to links in the Link Review section to make your UTM parameters dynamic.

Add Merge Tags to UTM Fields

Use this method to dynamically populate tracking parameters.

  1. Open your email or landing page

  2. Click Link Review in the Actions Menu

  3. Choose how you want to apply the parameter:

    • Select a single link to update one URL

    • Use the Global UTM section to apply parameters to all links

  4. Enter your merge tag using this format:
    ​{{!tag name!}}

Link Review panel with a UTM field showing a merge tag

Example

  • Merge tag name: Campaign_Name

  • UTM field value: {{!Campaign_Name!}}

In Knak, your link will appear as:
​https://example.com?utm_campaign={{!Campaign_Name!}}

At send time, Knak replaces the merge tag with the actual value. For example:
​https://example.com?utm_campaign=spring_sale

Add Merge Tags Directly in a Link

Use this method when you want the merge tag inside the URL path or as a custom parameter. This option is available in the link editor, not in the Link Review section.

  1. Open your email or landing page

  2. Select the link in the editor

  3. Open the Insert/Edit Link settings panel

  4. Click the Merge Tag icon in the link field

  5. Select your merge tag from the list

  6. Insert the tag into your URL

Link settings panel with merge tag icon.

Example

If your merge tag is user_id, your link may look like:
​https://example.com/profile/{{!user_id!}}

At send time, the merge tag is replaced with the actual value. Example:
​https://example.com/profile/12345

Troubleshooting

If a merge tag inserts an email address or URL, it will not appear clickable in Studio.

Use a Special Link to apply correct link formatting.

Need more help? Contact support via live chat within Knak using the chat bubble in the bottom right corner or email support@knak.com.

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