> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://kb.botdog.co/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Using Custom Merge Tags / Custom Fields in Botdog Campaigns

**Note:** Custom merge tags are currently only available for CSV imports.

# Quick video example

We're going to use the customFields to send a message like this:

```
Hey David! What's up? How's work at Google in New York?
```

It will look like this in Botdog:

```
Hey ##{{FirstName}}! ##{{Personalization}} How's work at ##{{companyName}} in ##{{location}}?
```

The best part: it's super easy!

# Step 1: Import and Map Your Data

1. **Start Your Import:**

* Click on "Start a new campaign"
* Choose "CSV Upload" as your import method
* Upload your CSV file
* Map the "LinkedIn Profile URL" - it's the only field that's required

[![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/c/6/3/f/c63f3c53b467a800/3a0c2039-5a1e-4573-b258-42dadc_dbary1.jpg)](https://botdog.intercom-attachments-7.com/i/o/ualk7kdk/1659616036/ce80048d6e31dc471cde7915ec7d/cQXu1dkQ8ea1WZ4jkDSW?expires=1770638400&signature=0750add4413a3442f93b160d249c5042204b8c671fac6429467f0370055c4204&req=dSYiH89%2Fm4FcX%2FMW1HO4zcKQjkfOBPOfdgb0GvpRk%2Bl%2FtS2ZtyWVHk%2BKZaEx%0AYTpuTizuN3wqOM2QlZM%3D%0A)

# Step 2: Use Custom Attributes in Your Campaign

[![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/8/5/a/c/85ac53dc33e62800/9c257e11-7e6d-4810-8785-41dc3e_yp70mb.jpg)](https://botdog.intercom-attachments-7.com/i/o/ualk7kdk/1659616039/34f19bab7bd87c54577b35086993/Ps9yNwqNRPSHRMEMqzeO?expires=1770638400&signature=5dbe4e68d6825e64eb1198c93c2d2cb4867a4212ab8b60a3ea3c8e50a7c794af&req=dSYiH89%2Fm4FcUPMW1HO4zXQxgUy0jRuTNK5FYw1UX2XZG2FLTfwDGFPIDmoi%0Ar9GOKh67qP4lESNrcDs%3D%0A)

1. **Design Your Sequence:**

* Click 'Add Step' to create your outreach messages
* In your message, click on "Attributes" to see all the Custom Attributes coming from your CSV file
2. **Set Default Values (optional):**

* Click on the merge tag in your message
* In the popup, set a default value to use if the field is empty for any contact
* This ensures your message always makes sense, even if some data is missing

# Examples and Advanced Use Cases

1. **Personalizing with Data providers:**

* Use a CSV generated from a data provider like Apollo or RecruiterBot to personalize based on company, location, industry etc.
* Example: "I noticed you're based in ##{{customField1}} and working in the ##{{customField2}} industry."
* _Note: Use this with care as this can feel like a case of "fake" personalization, that your users will see through_
2. **Adding Custom Snippets manually:**

* Import the CSV into a spreadsheet
* Add a column for personalized snippets or entire sentences - it's much faster to do this in a spreadsheet
* Re-import the modified CSV into Botdog
* Example: "##{{customField3}}" could contain a unique insight about each prospect's company like "I see you're a team of 30 people but no in-house recruiter"

**Important:** For invitation messages, ensure the total character count remains below 300, or the invitations won't send.
3. **AI-Powered Personalization:**

* Use a CSV extract with a tool like [GPT for Sheets and Docs](https://workspace.google.com/marketplace/app/gpt_for_sheets_and_docs/677318054654)
* Generate AI personalizations based on the CSV information directly in a spreadsheet (for instance say "Generate a short, friendly snippet based on the role and location")
* Import the enhanced spreadsheet into Botdog

# Common Pitfalls and Best Practices

1. **Check the data:**

* Always verify and clean your data before importing
* Watch out for placeholder text in your CSV, e.g., "Company, Inc." or "Maternity Leave"
* Example of what to avoid: "How are things at Maternity Leave?" or "Hope all is well at Company, Inc."
2. **Punctuation and formatting:**

* Be mindful of punctuation around your merge tags
* Incorrect: "Hey ##{{firstName}}, ##{{customField1}}. How can I help?"
* This could result in: "Hey Daniel, How are you doing?. How can I help?"
* Correct: "Hey ##{{firstName}}, ##{{customField1}} How can I help?"
3. **Default values:**

* Always set meaningful default values for your merge tags
* This ensures your message makes sense even if a field is empty
4. **Character Limits:**

* Remember the 300-character limit for invitation messages
* If the final message is too long, the invitation won't be sent by Botdog - so make sure you have a margin of error

Personalizing your outreach can **significantly** improve your response rates. Experiment with different custom fields and personalization techniques to find what resonates best with your audience!