Use Custom Dynamic Variables

Article author
Brandan Blevins
Updated

Overview

Dynamic variables allow you to use custom fields across Apollo. When you create a custom field in Apollo, Apollo automatically generates a corresponding custom dynamic variable that you can use in sequences, emails, or AI power-ups.

 
It's in the Plan

To use custom dynamic variables, you must first create a custom field. You can create dynamic variables from contact custom fields, account custom fields, user custom fields, or AI power-ups. Access to custom fields depends on your Apollo plan.

Custom dynamic variables can be a simple field, like the name of a prospect’s competitor, or something more complicated like a sentence about a contact's blog post, or an entire email generated by AI power-ups. This enables you to send personalized emails with the help of automation.

Check out the following sections to use a custom dynamic variable.

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Use a Custom Dynamic Variable in an Email Template

To use a custom dynamic variable in an email:

  1. Launch Apollo and click Sequences.
  2. Create a sequence or click an existing sequence.
  3. Click or add an email step.

Threads

  1. Click in the email template where you want to add a custom dynamic variable, and then click { }.

Insert Snippet

  1. Select Custom fields, then search for or select the dynamic variable you want to use.

Insert Snippet

  1. Add more dynamic variables or edit the email as necessary, then select a contact to preview on a real prospect.

Preview Window

 
Seeing Red?

If data isn't available for a contact, the preview highlights the dynamic variable in red to indicate an error.

Dynamic field error

Dynamic variables without any data for a specific contact may result in Apollo moving the email for the contact to the not sent folder. To avoid this scenario, use conditional logic operators with advanced dynamic variables.

  1. If you want to use the dynamic variable in the subject line for your email template, cut and paste it into the subject.
  2. When finished, click Save.

You have now used a custom dynamic variable in an email template.

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Use a Custom Dynamic Variable in a Power-up

To use a custom dynamic variable in a power-up:

  1. Launch Apollo and click Search > People or Companies.
  2. Click Power up, then select a template or create a custom power-up.
  3. Click { } and scroll to custom fields to add a custom dynamic variable to the AI prompt.

Example dynamic variables on a power-up

  1. Click Preview to preview the power-up result on a real contact.
 
Prompt Perfection

Wondering how to write great AI prompts? Check out AI Prompt Best Practices.

You have now used a custom dynamic variable in a power-up.

 
Puzzling Prompt

If you run a power-up on a contact that's missing a value for the custom field referenced in the power-up, you may receive an error like the following:

Some dynamic variables could not be substituted: ["{{FIELD NAME}}"]

If you see this error, ensure the contact has a value for the field referenced. Check out AI Power-ups Overview to learn more.

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