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How to Set Up Salesforce Marketing Cloud Dynamic Content

How to start building SFMC dynamic content in Knak

Updated yesterday

Enable Dynamic Content for Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Before you can create dynamic content, enable the feature in your Salesforce Marketing Cloud integration.

Steps

  1. Go to Admin.

  2. Click Integrations.

  3. Select Platforms.

  4. Edit your Salesforce Marketing Cloud integration.

  5. Enable Dynamic Content.

SFMC integration settings with Enable Dynamic Content checkbox visible.

Add Merge Tags for Dynamic Attributes

Merge tags allow Knak to access subscriber data. These attributes are used to create segments.

Steps

  1. Go to Admin.

  2. Click Integrations.

  3. Add the attributes you want to use for segmentation.

Example:

  • %%country%%

  • %%city%%

  • %%industry%%

Merge tag configuration screen.

Repeat this step for all attributes used in your dynamic segments.

Add Dynamic Content to an Email

Dynamic content can be applied to individual elements or sections in your email.

Steps

  1. Open the email builder.

  2. Select the element or section you want to personalize.

  3. Click the purple Add Dynamic Content icon in the content attributes panel.

Add dynamic content button

Section level dynamic content for SFMC is now in beta testing! If you are interested in joining testing, Please reach out to spencer@knak.com if you would like to participate.

Note: If section-level dynamic content is applied to a section that already contains dynamic elements, the existing dynamic content will be overridden.


Use Existing Segments in Your Email

You can apply segments that were already created in Knak to your dynamic content block. These are usually global segments that can be reused across emails.

Steps

  1. Select the content block you want to make dynamic.

  2. Click the Dynamic Content icon in the attributes panel.

  3. Click the Settings (cog icon).

  4. Press the + sign to select an existing segment from the list.

The selected segment will now appear as a variant in the block.


Create Dynamic Segments

Segments define which audience sees each content variation.

Create a Segment

  1. Open the Variants panel.

  2. Click the Settings (cog icon).

  3. Click Create a new segment.

    Segment settings modal.
  4. Select your SFMC integration.

  5. Add a segment name.

  6. Choose whether conditions must match any or all rules.

  7. Define your conditions and select a Variable.

  8. Select different strings based on your condition sets.

  9. Click Save.


Hide Content by Default

Use Hide content by default when content should only appear if a segment condition is met. If this option is enabled, the content block will not appear unless a recipient matches a segment rule.

Example Use Cases

  • Exclusive offers for specific customers

  • Regional promotions

  • Partner-only announcements

How to Enable

  1. Select the dynamic content block.

  2. Open the Variants panel.

  3. Check Hide content by default.

Hide default variant toggle enabled.

Edit Content Variants

Each segment can show different content.

Steps

  1. Select the variant from the variants panel.

  2. Edit the content for that segment.

    Dynamic segment configured to be separate from the default setting.

Example:

Variant

Content

Default

Generic product message

Lead City

Location specific message to that region


Preview Dynamic Content

Preview allows you to test how the email appears for each segment.

Steps

  1. Open Preview Mode.

    1. Without toggling specific segmentation views, this will show you the default settings.

  2. Toggle the segment selector.

  3. View the email as a matching recipient.

Default:

Default segment preview.

City is Ottawa:

Dynamic variant preview.

Manage Dynamic Content Permissions

Control who can create or edit dynamic content.

Steps

  1. Go to Admin.

  2. Click Roles.

  3. Select the role you want to edit.

  4. Scroll to Dynamic Content permissions.

Available permissions:

  • Manage dynamic content variants

  • Manage global segments

  • Manage local segments

More details on the specific permissions can be found on our Dynamic Content overview article.

πŸ” Tip: Global segments can be reused across emails. Local segments are for one-time use.


Demo Video:


You are now ready to use dynamic content. If you have any questions, reach out to support at support@knak.com or the chat bubble in the lower right corner.

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