salutation, but no default or space between "Hello" & comma

[Anonymous]

I wonder if somebody has found a good solution to this problem:

When I start an email with something like:

Hello {{lead.First Name:default=Sir/Ma'am}},

Often my database might not have a name in this field, or in the last name. Instinctively, the answer is "use the default".

But what if I don't want to. Sir/madam is too formal. I'd really like to just have the result be: Hello,

But that's not what I get. I get a space between "Hello" and the comma: "Hello ,"

This may not seem like a big thing, but My proofreader would disagree. So, has anybody found a solution for having no default, but also hiding the space between hello and the comma?

Thanks!

[Grégoire_Miche2 · Accepted solution]

HI Charles,

We are using a formula field for this. We name it "email salutation". And using choices in the rule, we define exactly what it will return :

Dear Sarah

Dear Friend

Dear Madam

Dear Sir

The email then contains

{{lead.email salutation}},

Go to admin -> field management, create a new field, type formula. Once it's created you will be able to se the rules.

If you want  something event more sophisticated,  (for European countries) use string fields instead of formula fields and smart campaigns to set it up, since you will be able to use multiple-filter smart lists to set your choices. This is the solution I prefer.

-Greg

[Justin_Cooperm2]

I recommend Email Script over a formula field, as you'll see better performance of email sends at scale than a formula field. Alternatively, you can just create a salutation string field and keep it routinely updated whenever first or last name changes.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I'll give these solutions a try!

[Grégoire_Miche2]

Hi Justin,

We prefer the salutation string field, as stated in the second part of my post, because it can be maintained by marketers without any programming language skills.

-Greg

[Anonymous]

Hey Charles,

I'm not sure if you ever found a solution to your problem, but as Justin stated above, using a velocity script token would be the best bet. There's a really good article from an automation consultant that you can find here: http://jennamolby.com/velocity-scripting-in-marketo-examples/

Cheers,

Danny T.