Send emails that feel personal — without writing each one by hand. Merge fields are placeholders you insert into an email, text message, or template that automatically fill in with each contact's stored information when the message is sent. Instead of writing "Hi, valued customer," your message sends as "Hi, Sarah!" — automatically, for every contact on your list.

A merge field is a placeholder inserted into an email, text message, or template that automatically replaces itself with the corresponding value stored in a contact record when the message is sent. Merge fields are written in the format ~Object.FieldName~ — for example, ~Contact.FirstName~ is a merge field that inserts the value stored in the First Name field of the contact record.

For example, if you write the following in your email body:

"Hi, ~Contact.FirstName~!"

The recipient whose first name is stored as "Sarah" will receive the message as: "Hi, Sarah!" — and the recipient whose first name is stored as "James" will receive: "Hi, James!" — automatically, with no manual editing required.

How to Insert a Merge Field into an Email or Message

You can insert merge fields when drafting an email, text message, or template. Follow the steps below.

1. Open the email, text message, or template you want to edit. Place your cursor in the subject line or body text at the exact position where you want the personalized content to appear.

2. Click the [#] button in the email or message toolbar. The merge field selector opens and displays a list of available merge fields organized by category — such as Contact fields, Date and Time fields, and any custom fields configured in your account.
   

   The screenshot above shows the email drafting toolbar with the [#] merge field button visible. The button appears in the formatting toolbar above the email body text area. Clicking the [#] button opens the merge field selector panel, which lists all available merge fields organized by category. Custom fields are available through this selector in the visual email builder. In the text-only email builder, custom fields do not appear in the selector list but can still be used by typing the merge field syntax directly into the message body.

3. Select the merge field you want to insert from the merge field selector. The merge field placeholder — for example, ~Contact.FirstName~ — is inserted at the cursor position in your message. The placeholder will be replaced automatically with each contact's stored value when the message is sent.

Most Common Contact Merge Fields

The following merge fields pull values from the corresponding fields in a contact record. Each merge field is replaced automatically with the contact's stored value when the message is sent.

Most Common Date and Time Merge Fields

The following merge fields insert the current date or time values into your message at the moment it is sent. The example output column shows how each merge field appears to the recipient.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this article cover?
This article covers what merge fields are, how to insert a merge field into an email or message using the [#] button in the email builder, and a reference table of the most common contact and date merge fields. This article does not cover creating custom fields, using merge fields in automation sequences, or merge fields available for appointment or order data. To learn how to create a custom field, see How to Create a Custom Field in Your CRM. To learn how to use merge fields in automations, see How to Use Merge Fields in Automation Sequences.

What happens if a merge field has no value stored for a contact?
If a contact record does not have a value stored in the field that a merge field references — for example, if a contact has no first name entered — the merge field will be replaced with a blank space in the sent message. To avoid blank spaces in your messages, ensure that the contact fields you use as merge fields are filled in for all contacts on your list before sending.

Can I use merge fields in text messages as well as emails?
Yes. Merge fields are available when drafting email messages, text messages, and templates. Look for the [#] button in the drafting toolbar of any of these message types to access the merge field selector.

Can I use custom fields as merge fields?
Yes. Custom fields are available as merge fields in the visual email builder through the [#] merge field selector. In the text-only email builder, custom fields do not appear in the selector list but can still be used by typing the merge field syntax directly into the message body — for example, ~Contact.CustomFieldName~.

Can I type a merge field manually instead of using the [#] button?
Yes. If you know the exact merge field syntax, you can type it directly into the subject line or body of your message. Use the format ~Object.FieldName~ — for example, ~Contact.FirstName~. The merge field will function the same way whether it is inserted using the selector or typed manually.