Audience Data Fields 101
Walkthrough
Did you know?
While there are several standard data fields, you can create an unlimited number of data fields to store proprietary information about each contact.
The rule of thumb is only to add data fields you need for segmentation, personalization, dynamic content, and journey logic. We are always concerned about security and risk mitigation. Therefore, keep data to a minimum, if possible.
Each data field has an associated merge tag used to insert data into a campaign, form, confirmation page, and more. You can let Tarvent assign the merge tag or specify it yourself.
The description of the data field is displayed when adding or editing a contact to help provide context.
Private data fields, such as an internal ID, cannot be mapped to a form question. Private data fields can only be populated manually, via a data import, or using the Tarvent API.
You can specify a default value for each data field. The default value is not stored in the contact's profile. When merging data into a campaign, for example, the default value is returned if the contact has no value.
FAQs
Do I have to import the required data fields?
No. Data fields flagged as required only apply to forms since you can import data from several sources at different times to complete a contact's profile data.
What is the difference between a contact profile and data fields?
Data fields define the data you can capture for each contact. Each contact's data field values make up the contact's profile.
Can I format data in each data field?
Yes and no. While you can't format data when stored, you can control the data format when displayed in a campaign, form, or confirmation page using our various template editors. Don't worry; we have a wizard, so you don't have to remember which helpers are available and how to use them.
Can I import date or date/time data in any format?
No. Dates are tricky since various languages format dates differently. When importing or adding dates manually, you must use the format YYYY/MM/DD for dates and YYYY/MM/DD HH:MM AM/PM for date/time data.
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