How can we help?

Using Merge Fields

Merge fields let you add personalization to your emails — things like your reader's first name, company, or any custom field from your email platform. When the email is sent, each merge field is replaced with the actual data for that recipient.

What merge fields look like

In Embellish, merge fields appear as tokens wrapped in double curly braces:

  • {{first_name}} — The recipient's first name

  • {{email}} — The recipient's email address

  • {{company}} — The recipient's company name

The exact fields available depend on your email platform.

Where you can use them

Merge fields can be inserted into three places:

  • Subject line — Personalize the inbox preview (e.g., "{{first_name}}, this one's for you")

  • Preview text — Add personal context to the preheader

  • Email body — Use them anywhere in your email content

How to insert a merge field

In the subject line or preview text

  1. Place your cursor where you want the merge field

  2. Click the tag icon next to the field

  3. Browse or search for the field you want

  4. Click it to insert at your cursor position

In the email body

  1. Place your cursor in the editor where you want the field

  2. Click the tag icon in the editor toolbar

  3. Browse or search the available fields

  4. Click to insert

The merge field selector is organized by category (contact info, company info, custom fields) and includes a search bar for quick filtering.

Selecting your email platform

The available merge fields change depending on which email platform you use, since each platform has its own field syntax and naming conventions.

To set your platform, use the platform selector in the editor toolbar. Embellish supports:

  • HighLevel

  • ActiveCampaign

  • Mailchimp

  • Kit

Your selection is remembered for future sessions, so you only need to set it once.

Tips for using merge fields

  • Always have a fallback plan. Not every contact will have every field filled in. Write your email so it still reads naturally if a merge field is empty — or use your platform's fallback/default value feature.

  • Test before sending. After exporting to your email platform, send yourself a test email to make sure merge fields are rendering correctly.

  • Don't overdo it. One or two personalization touches (like a first name in the greeting or subject line) feel personal. Stuffing merge fields into every other sentence feels automated.

  • Use them where they matter most. Subject lines, greetings, and calls to action benefit most from personalization. Mid-paragraph, it's usually unnecessary.

Embellish © 2026