13 Replies Latest reply on Jul 25, 2017 12:25 PM by Sanford Whiteman

Can I create segmentations using a custom object?

d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295 Jul 21, 2017 7:23 PM

Hello,

I would like to be able use dynamic content in emails to show people certain content if they have Travel Certificates (i.e. Air, Car, Hotel, Tour, Cruise, Land Excursions, etc.) vs. those who don't. However, the Certificate is set up as a Custom Object and not a Custom Field. As a Custom Object, we're able to choose different aspects of the Certificate to include when creating smart lists and smart campaigns such as Certificate Type (Air, Hotel, etc.), Certificate Number, Certificate Status (Active vs. Expired), etc. The only problem is we can't segment those who have Certificates from those who don't in emails using Dynamic Content.

Does anyone know a workaround for this or a way to mimic what we're able to do with Certificates as a Custom Object and apply that to Dynamic Content? For example, it would be nice to be able to drill down in an email and show people who have a Hotel Certificate certain content and people who have a Tour Certificate certain content.

Thank you!

Laura Kimball

Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?

Sanford Whiteman Jul 21, 2017 7:47 PM (in response to d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295)

The only problem is we can't segment those who have Certificates from those who don't in emails using Dynamic Content.
Use the Has Certificate filter to set a boolean HasCertificate field (or, better, an AddedToCertificate datetime field to provide more info). Then segment on that field.
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- Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
  
  d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295 Jul 24, 2017 10:39 AM (in response to Sanford Whiteman)
  
  Hi Sanford,
  
  How do I use the Has Certificate filter to set the boolean HasCertificate field?
  
  Thank you,
  Laura
  
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  - Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
    
    Sanford Whiteman Jul 24, 2017 10:49 AM (in response to d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295)
    
    A batch SC to get Has Certificate, followed by a trigger SC for Added to Certificate. The idea is to "flatten" these signals about the CO into a boolean on the lead.
    
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    - Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
      
      d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295 Jul 24, 2017 11:22 AM (in response to Sanford Whiteman)
      
      Thanks again. I'm not totally following you. So in Smart List for the first batch SC, I would pull in the Has Certificate filter and then in the Flow, would I add those people that qualify to a list? In the second SC (trigger), I would pull in the Added to Certificate trigger and from there how do I set up the Flow?
      
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      - Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
        
        Sanford Whiteman Jul 24, 2017 11:30 AM (in response to d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295)
        
        You could add to a list, but what we're concentrating on is setting a Boolean or Date field.
        
        So that's what you'd do in the flow -- Change Data Value.
        
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        Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
        
        d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295 Jul 24, 2017 3:59 PM (in response to Sanford Whiteman)
        
        Sanford Whiteman
        Got it...For the Batch Smart Campaign this is how I've set it up:
        
        A. Batch Smart Campaign:
        
        1. Smart List is Has Certificates = TRUE
        
        2. Flow is Change Data Value Attribute Added to Certificates New Value = {{system.dateTime}}
        
        B. Trigger Smart Campaign:
        
        1. For the Trigger Smart Campaign, should I use any of the Constraints or just as is?
        
        2. Flow -- Not sure how to set this up...
        
        Thank you,
        
        Laura
        
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Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?

Benjamin Jacquet Jul 24, 2017 12:15 AM (in response to d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295)

Not sure if it would work but why not creating a Smart list with the filter filter "Has Certificate" and reference it in your Segments? One would assume the Smart list gets updated when the Custom Object does.
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- Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
  
  AJ Valles Jul 24, 2017 8:42 PM (in response to Benjamin Jacquet)
  
  +1 on Creating a Smart List rather than a "Add To List" which is static
  
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  - Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
    
    Sanford Whiteman Jul 24, 2017 9:13 PM (in response to AJ Valles)
    
    +1 on Creating a Smart List rather than a "Add To List" which is static
    A nested Smart List can't be used to define Segments, so that decision is off the table.
    
    (A Static List is a faster lookup for this query, at any rate.)
    
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    - Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
      
      d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295 Jul 25, 2017 12:15 PM (in response to Sanford Whiteman)
      
      Hi Sanford,
      
      I did have a few questions still....Please see below. Thank you!
      
      Got it...For the Batch Smart Campaign this is how I've set it up:
      
      A. Batch Smart Campaign:
      
      1. Smart List is Has Certificates = TRUE
      
      2. Flow is Change Data Value Attribute Added to Certificates New Value = {{system.dateTime}}
      
      B. Trigger Smart Campaign:
      
      1. For the Trigger Smart Campaign, should I use any of the Constraints or just as is?
      
      2. Flow -- Not sure how to set this up...
      
      Thank you,
      
      Laura
      
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      - Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
        
        Sanford Whiteman Jul 25, 2017 12:25 PM (in response to d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295)
        
        The Trigger SC flow would be the same as for the Batch SC: set the Added To Certificates value to the current datetime, if it's currently empty.
        
        You don't necessarily need to run a Batch after the initial backfill for existing records. It's the Trigger that does the work going forward.
        
        However, if people may be removed from the Certificate object (i.e. have no Certificate records after initially having them) then you'd also want to do a nightly batch run against those that have non-empty Added To Certificates to see if they still should be in that cohort.
        
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Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?

AJ Valles Jul 24, 2017 8:47 PM (in response to d7881fdb1aff9f9d2d1fa2997907fee8c2876295)

Also it looks like you want to create a segment "Has Certificate", in emails using dynamic content, you would need to create this segment in the Lead Database.

Create a "New Segmentation"

And Under the Smart List filter for this segment "Has Certificate" plug in your custom object, has certificate is TRUE. Save and Approve.

You should now be able to see the "Has Certificate" Segment, in Emails that use use dynamic content.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions. aj@turnvestmarketers.com
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- Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
  
  Sanford Whiteman Jul 24, 2017 8:51 PM (in response to AJ Valles)
  
  Feel free to email me if you have any questions. aj@turnvestmarketers.com
  Is there something that can't be covered on this thread? It looks like we're doing fine here.
  
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  - Re: Can I create segmentations using a custom object?
    
    AJ Valles Jul 24, 2017 8:54 PM (in response to Sanford Whiteman)
    
    ... okay
    
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