Update: Custom fields overhaul
Posted by David Greiner on February 02, 2006
To compliment our list segmentation update, we also overhauled the process of creating custom fields. If you didn't already know, custom fields allow you to capture extra info on each of your subscribers. This can be anything you like. Zip code, interests, sock color - whatever you need to capture so you can better target or personalize your campaigns.
It's now super easy to create custom fields with pre-defined options. For example, you can create a custom field for Interests, with pre-defined options like Surfing, Skiing and Reading. You can also control whether a subscriber can choose multiple options, or just one. This makes it very easy to match up your user preferences when you create segments and ensures better data integrity for each subscriber.
We've also made the conscious decision to limit the number of custom fields to five (plus name and email address). There are a few reasons behind this one:
- Campaign Monitor is an email marketing tool, not a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool. We provide many ways to synchronize your subscriber lists with another database.
- After reviewing tons of sent campaigns, we confirmed that people aren't personalizing their campaigns with any more than 2 or 3 custom fields, max.
- The less we store the faster, simpler and more scalable we can keep things.
8 comments so far
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Bill Fant
wrote on February 3, 2006 06:37 AM
The new list segmentation and custom fields overhaul are fantastic! 5 custom fields are a bit limited, but makes sense for list segmentation plus I understand the need to keep it simple. Now.... I only wish you would roll out another level of service with the following:
- 10 or more custom fields
- Ability to set 'required' fields
- Ability for clients to view and/or export full subscriber list info via the Client Online Report Access.
I would gladly pay extra for these three features. Perhaps you call it Campaign Monitor Pro and charge a monthly fee per account or per client usage on top of the usual email blast fees.
Anyone else?
Joeri Decae
wrote on February 3, 2006 09:17 PM
I have used another service before that allowed me to use custom fields to personalise the send from and reply-to email addresses. Being able to send customers emails from their sales manager and replies going straight to him would be great.
Dave Greiner
wrote on February 4, 2006 10:25 AM
Bill, thanks so much for the feedback and suggestions. Glad to hear you dig the changes. In regards to your wish-list, a pro level version of the app probably isn't a direction we'll be heading. Having said that, point 2 can be easily done yourself with JavaScript, and point 3 is something we're already considering adding soon.
Joeri, another great suggestion. This is also something we've been considering and can definitely see how it would be useful.
Thanks for the thoughts guys.
James Penrose
wrote on February 8, 2006 02:53 AM
Like Bill, I agree that giving clients the ability to view and/or export full subscriber lists from Client Online Report Access would be really useful, especially if they could filter this too, for example by Custom Fields.
Guido D.
wrote on February 8, 2006 11:27 AM
Just to adhere to the feature request about the ability to view and/or export lists from the Client Access, with the addition of optionally allowing clients to add and remove subscribers.
David McDonald
wrote on February 8, 2006 12:06 PM
I would like to add my voice to the 'ability to view and/or export lists from the Client Access' feature as well.
In fact, i would like to go one step further and request the ability to edit/delete/add etc from the Client Access as well. I have clients who would like to manage their subscriber lists themselves, but at present I have to give them access to my admin account for them to be able to do this.
Dave Greiner
wrote on February 8, 2006 08:10 PM
We hear you on that Report Access suggestion. We've got a few surprises coming your way soon in that area, so stay tuned.
Bill Fant
wrote on February 10, 2006 01:00 PM
Thanks Dave & Team!
In my earlier post, point 3 (ability for clients to download subscriber data via client site) was the most important and it looks others are interested and you guys might be listening....great! I'll go with the JavaScript for the required fields as recommended. More fields as an option would be great, but I can work with it.
Thanks again..... I really think your system outshines the competition and I'll continue to recommend it to others.
Got anything to add?