How to Add and Edit Custom Fields From Imported Lists

PoliteMail 5.0/PoliteMail online

Custom Fields can be used for further Personalization options. You can either add custom fields in PoliteMail, or import them from a CSV file when creating a mailing list. It is recommended to set up your custom fields in PoliteMail before importing your lists. We're going to use the example of "Team Membership" as a custom field.

Setting up Custom Fields

1. Navigate to POLITEMAIL> Account > Custom Fields (Admin-only)
2. Click on one of the blank custom fields. The custom fields dialog box will open and you'll be able to enter in the information. You can also edit existing custom fields using this method.
3. Name your new custom field, and then place check marks in the boxes to decide whether it should be shown in the default view (when you click on the Personalization option), able to be segmented for reports, or made editable. Once you’ve finished Editing, click Save.
4. You now have your Custom Field ready to use.

As long as the custom field correlates to a field on your imported list, it will be available to use under Personalization.

Select PoliteMail Personalize > Custom and select the field. PoliteMail will automatically insert the information when the message is sent, 

These custom fields that have "Show" checked, so they are displayed in this list when you click Custom. 

Using Custom Fields When Importing a List

Your Custom Field can also be used when importing a list. Make sure you have the Custom Field set up both in PoliteMail, and as a column in Excel before exporting it as a CSV. For this example, we'll create a Team Membership Custom Field in PoliteMail and then one in Excel.

How it looks in PoliteMail:

How it looks in Excel:

When you import, you’ll be presented with an Import Contacts dialogue window. Make sure you have "Has Column Headers" checked so the imported mailing list will contain the headers you have created in Excel. You should see one for Team Membership. If it comes up as "do not import," click the pull-down menu to find the corresponding field.

When you send to this mailing list, use PoliteMail Personalize to add the custom fields.  Here's how it looks before sending:

Here's how it looks for the recipient: 

PoliteMail 4.9

Each mailing List allows you to add up to 20 Custom Fields.  If you are using PoliteMail version 4.94+, you can add unlimited fields. This can be particularly helpful when sending messages to branches in different locations, or to address recipients by their job title (managers, district managers, etc.)

Setting up Custom Fields

1. Navigate to PoliteMail >Settings> Custom Fields

2.  Click on the Custom Field you want to add and click Edit.

3.  You can type in the name for your new custom field, as well as decide whether it should be shown in the default view, able to be segmented for reports, made editable, and what sequence order it should be displayed in by ticking the boxes.  Once you’ve finished Editing, click Update.

4.  You now have your Custom Field ready to use.

As long as that field correlates to a field on your imported list, it will be available to use under the Personalization.

Simply select PoliteMail Personalize > Custom and select the field.  PoliteMail will automatically insert the information when the message is sent.

Using Custom Fields When Importing a List

Your Custom Field can also be used when importing a list.  Just make sure you have the Custom Field set up both in PoliteMail, and as a column in Excel before exporting it as a .csv.  In this example, I want to view what the Membership Status is on my list.  Create a Membership Status Custom Field in PoliteMail and then one in Excel.

How it looks in PoliteMail:

How it looks in Excel:

When you import, you’ll be presented with an Import Contacts dialogue window. On the second page, when you are asked to map your import to PoliteMail data fields, you’ll see the pull-down menu will say “Do not import” on any data field that does not correlate to one of PoliteMail’s default ones.  If you open the pull-down menu, you should see your Custom Field listed there.

For more information about importing and editing Lists, click here.