This feature available on the Pro Plan
Overview
You can use ShortStack to distribute unique codes via email or the Instant Win feature to entries you collect. The codes can be coupon codes, prize names, or whatever other value you'd like to distribute.
This doc will walk through attaching a unique list of codes to an email so that each email sends out a code from your list.
Creating and Uploading Your Code List
To make things easy, we provide two different templates you can download to get started creating your list. Links to these templates are provided anywhere on the site where you'd be prompted to upload your list.
For almost all cases, you'll want to use the Simple template. This creates a single-column list with all of your codes and a column header of code. For more complicated templates that instruct you to use an Advanced template, you'll use that one instead - it has multiple columns with different headers.
For both template types, you'll need to add your codes/additional data below the column headers. Once you're done, make sure you have your code list created and saved as a .csv file; you can do this in any popular spreadsheet program.
Here (shown in Google Sheets), we've set up our list, then downloaded the file in the proper format.
Once you have your .csv file, you need to upload it to ShortStack. On your Dashboard, click Other at the top, then select Code Lists.
In the Code Lists Manager, click the blue New Code List button in the upper-right corner to add your new list.
The Upload codes dialogue box will pop up. From here, you can click and drag your .csv file into the window, or you can click Select and navigate to where your .csv file is saved.
The platform will then ask you to name your prize/code list. Do so using the Name your list field, then click the blue Save & Upload button to finish uploading the list. If you'd like the prize codes to be randomized, just make sure the Randomize the order... checkbox is checked as well.
The pop-up will change to show you the status of your upload; when it's finished, click Continue.
Your new code list will then appear in your Code Lists Manager.
Building Your Email
Code lists are only able to be added to emails if you are starting from scratch; you're not able to link a code list to an existing email.
Once you have your code list in the system, attaching it to an email is easy. There are three ways to start building your email - using the button on the Dashboard, via the Emails Manager, or via the Campaign Builder:
Starting with the Dashboard:
- Log in to ShortStack.
- Click the Email button in the Create section in the top right.
- Choose the type of email you'd like to send.
Starting with the Emails Manager:
- Log in to ShortStack.
- Click Emails in the main menu at the top.
- Click New Email within the Emails Manager.
- Choose the type of email you'd like to send.
Starting with the Campaign Builder:
- Find the campaign to which you'd like to add an email, and open it in the Campaign Builder.
- Click the envelope icon
in the upper right corner of the Campaign Builder.
- Click the New Email link to the right of the list for which you wish to create an email.
Note: If you have added multiple Form or Entry Widgets to your campaign, there may be more than one list displayed. - Choose the type of email you'd like to send.
Now, no matter which way you started the email, the next steps are the same:
- After that, you'll go through the steps of Choosing a Company Profile and Selecting a List(s) to connect to the email.
- Then, you'll choose whether or not to add a code list. You have three options: using One Code for all entries, connecting Instant Win and using multiple codes, or just using a Code List without using Instant Win.
Select the option that you'd like to use, then click Continue. In the next section, you'll select the type of code setup you'd like to use.
Attaching Your Code List
Attaching codes to your email can be set up in three different ways: using One Code, integrating with our Instant Win feature, and using only a Code List.
One Code
When using a single code, there isn't actually a need to upload a code list - you'll just include your code in the content of the email itself. Select the radio button next to YES - One Code, then click Continue.
The next page will ask you to select a template - the two shown will have a spot specifically for you to add your single code in the text. You are not required to use a template. If you do not wish to use a template, click Continue to move forward without one.
To create an email from a template:
- Find the template you wish to use, and hover your mouse over it.
- Click the blue Use This Template button that appears on the template's thumbnail.
You'll then customize your email in the email designer. Our templates include sample text, images, and merge fields based on best practices for the type of email you wish to send. You'll need to manually customize the text that reads CODE: XXXXXXX so that your code is displayed instead. Aside from that, make any other copy and style changes you want.
When you're finished, click Continue.
From there, you'll finish building the email by checking the Email Details, and finally Reviewing the email - once you click Save & Activate, the email is ready to go!
For more thorough information on the rest of the building process, make sure to check out our Autoresponder, Follow-Up, or Scheduled Email help docs.
Instant Win
When using Instant Win, you will need to use a merge field in the email designer to display your code. Click the radio button next to YES - Instant Win, then click Continue.
The next page will ask you to select a template - the two shown are tailored specifically to Instant Win contests. You are not required to use a template. If you do not wish to use a template, click Continue to move forward without one.
To create an email from a template:
- Find the template you wish to use, and hover your mouse over it.
- Click the blue Use This Template button that appears on the template's thumbnail.
You'll then customize your email in the email designer. Our templates include sample text, images, and merge fields based on best practices for the type of email you wish to send. For the Instant Win templates, you'll make sure to add the messaging you want your winners to see under the {% if entry.instant_winner %} section.
Add a merge field where you want the code to appear; you can either type out {{entry.prize_codes}} or you can place your cursor in the text field where you want the field to appear and click the Prize Code merge field button on the left side.
Messaging that you want to display to non-winners should be placed in the {% else %} section, and copy that you want to display for both winners and non-winners goes in the {% endif %} section. Move forward, making any other copy and style changes you want.
When you're finished, click Continue.
From there, you'll finish building the email by checking the Email Details, and finally Reviewing the email - once you click Save & Activate, the email is ready to go!
For more thorough information on the rest of the building process, make sure to check out our Autoresponder, Follow-Up, or Scheduled Email help docs.
You still have one last bit of configuration to handle - you have to actually enable Instant Win in your campaign. Our Instant Win help doc has a complete walkthrough on doing so; just make sure that the email you set up is set to send to the same list that's connected to your form. You will connect the code list to your form (and corresponding email) during this process.
Code List
The final method of using codes in an email is by connecting a code list. You will need to use a merge field in the email designer to display your code.
Upon selecting the Code List option, a Connect Code List button will appear. Click that to open the Code List Selector. To use an existing code list, click on the list so that it's highlighted, then click Select.
If you'd like to upload a new code list, click on New Code List in the top corner and the Upload codes dialogue box will pop up. From here, you can click and drag your .csv file into the window, or you can click Select and navigate to where your .csv file is saved.
The platform will then ask you to name your prize/code list. Do so using the Name your list field, then click the blue Save & Upload button to finish uploading the list.
Once the code list has been uploaded or selected, you'll be directed back to the Will you be including codes popup, and you'll see the name of your attached code list in blue. To remove this code list and select a different list, click the trashcan icon to the right of the list's name. Otherwise, click Continue.
When using your own code list(s), we currently do not have any premade templates - click Continue to move forward without one.
Now, you'll just want to add the merge field to your email where you'd like the prize code to appear. Place your cursor where you'd like the merge field to go in the content editing window, then click the Prize Code button on the left. You'll see the merge field automatically added on the right. Alternatively, if you'd like the prize code to be displayed as a QR Code, click the Prize Code URL button to add that merge field instead.
You'll want to finish editing the rest of your email, then test and save like normal.
The three main things to remember when setting up codes to be distributed via email:
- The codes will be distributed in the order they appear on the list - so if you want the codes/prizes randomized, you'd need to do so before saving/uploading the list.
- The character length of codes can be no longer than 256 characters.
- If you want to use the same code multiple times, you can - you'd just need to include that code on the list as many times as you'd like to use it.
Which Entries Got Which Codes?
After the codes have been issued, you can see which entries got which codes by viewing each entry's details.
Pull up the list of entries that received your email in the Entries Manager, then hover over an entry you want to check and click the View Details button.
On the Entry Details screen, if you look over on the lower right, the code/prize name will appear next to a trophy icon.