Custom email headers

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Custom Email Headers

Introduction

In ActiveCampaign, a custom email header is an invisible element embedded in every campaign and automation email you create. This header serves various purposes such as internal verification, tracking contacts, and managing email delivery more effectively. Though not visible to your contacts, it plays a vital role in how your email system processes incoming messages. This feature is particularly useful for organizations that need to categorize and prioritize emails based on the sender and context, such as identifying messages coming from an automated marketing platform.

For example, companies often utilize custom email headers to facilitate internal tracking. If you were to send a campaign to 10,000 internal employees, you might set up a rule on your email system to recognize and organize all emails from ActiveCampaign. A useful custom header in this instance could be: ``` Source: ActiveCampaign - %EMAIL% ``` This allows for smoother handling of emails via your organization’s email server.

How to Access This Feature

To set up your custom email headers in ActiveCampaign, follow these steps to access the feature:

1. Click on Contacts in the left menu. 2. Click on Custom Email Headers under the Manage section.

The page that appears next will allow you to create and manage your custom email headers.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps to create your custom email header:

1. **Navigate to the contacts section:**

  - Click on Contacts from the left-hand menu.
  - Select Custom Email Headers under the Manage options.

2. **Fill in the Name field:**

  - In the first field labeled Name, enter an internal name for your header. This is solely for your reference.

3. **Enter the header:**

  - In the second field titled Header Information, type the name of your header. In this article’s example, we will type Source.

4. **Set the header value:**

  - In the third field, input the desired header value. For example, you would type ActiveCampaign - and then click on the ‘’Insert Personalization Tag’’ option to select the personalization tag for email addresses (e.g., %EMAIL%).

5. **Select the applicable list:**

  - Choose the list that this header will apply to.

6. **Add the header:**

  - Once you have filled in all the necessary details, click the Add button to save your custom email header.

7. **View your headers:**

  - Your newly created custom email header will appear on the custom email header management page. To add more headers, simply click the Add button again and repeat the process as outlined.

Configuration Options and Settings

When configuring your custom email headers, consider the following options and concepts:

- **Name:** An internal reference name for your header. It should be descriptive enough for future recognition. - **Header Information:** This field specifies the name of the email header. Common examples include identifiers like Source. - **Header Value:** This is the main content of the header that you want to embed in the outgoing emails. Utilize personalization tags, such as %EMAIL%, to dynamically insert the email address of the recipient.

Best Practices and Tips

- **Be Descriptive:** Ensure that the Name you assign to your custom email header clearly represents its purpose for easier identification later. - **Consistent Formatting:** Maintain a standard format for your header values, especially if you are using them for tracking or sorting. - **Test Before Use:** Consider testing your email headers with a small segment of your audience to verify internal tracking and email sorting functions as planned. - **Utilize Personalization:** Employ personalization tags, such as %EMAIL%, wisely to make your headers more informative and easier to track.

Common Use Cases

- **Internal Tracking:** Use custom email headers to help internal systems categorize emails from ActiveCampaign. - **Marketing Campaigns:** Track separate marketing efforts by embedding specific campaign identifiers in the header values. - **Bounce Management:** Implement header values to assist with detecting bounced emails.

Troubleshooting

In case you encounter issues with custom email headers, consider the following steps:

- **Header Not Appearing:** Double-check that you have saved your custom header correctly and that it is associated with the right email list. - **Email Sorting Issues:** Ensure that your email receiving systems are correctly configured to recognize and act upon the custom headers you’ve created.

Related Features

For more information, see Manage Contacts and explore options related to email automation within ActiveCampaign.

FAQ

• Q1: What are custom email headers?

A1: Custom email headers are invisible headers included in every email sent through ActiveCampaign for various tracking and categorization purposes.

• Q2: Are custom email headers visible to recipients?

A2: No, custom email headers are not visible to your contacts; they are used for internal purposes only.

• Q3: Can I use personalization tags in the header value?

A3: Yes, you can utilize personalization tags like %EMAIL% to dynamically include recipient-specific information in your header values.

• Q4: Can I add multiple custom email headers?

A4: Yes, you can add as many custom email headers as necessary by following the same steps for each header.

• Q5: How do I access the custom email headers feature?

A5: Access it by clicking on Contacts in the left menu and then selecting Custom Email Headers under the Manage section.

• Q6: What is the significance of the internal name I set for a custom header?

A6: The internal name is for your reference, helping you identify the purpose of each custom header at a glance.

• Q7: How do I delete a custom email header once it's created?

A7: Go to the custom email header management page, find the header you wish to remove, and follow the deletion process specified in the interface.

By understanding and utilizing custom email headers in ActiveCampaign effectively, organizations can improve their email management and tracking processes. ```