Personalization Variables

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Quick Reference

Using URL Parameters in Content

SwapTopic allows you to dynamically personalize content using URL parameters, making your pages more engaging by including visitor-specific information.

Variable Syntax

Variables use double curly braces with an optional fallback value:

{{ parameter_name | fallback_value }}
  • parameter_name: The URL parameter to display
  • fallback_value: (Optional) Text to display if the parameter is missing

Example Usage

Basic Implementation

  1. Create a personalization rule with any rule type (First-time visitor, Returning visitor, URL Parameters, etc.)
  2. Add your targeting criteria as needed for your chosen rule type
  3. Add a variable to your content: Hey {{ name | there }}, This is a special offer just for you!

URL Structure

For the example above, your URL would look like:

https://yourstore.com/?utm_content=newsletter&name=Jane

How It Works

  • If name=Jane is in the URL, visitors see: “Hey Jane, This is a special offer just for you!”
  • If the name parameter is missing, visitors see: “Hey there, This is a special offer just for you!”
  • If you don’t need a fallback, simply omit the pipe: {{ name }}

Best Practices

  1. Always use fallbacks for critical content to ensure a good experience for all visitors
  2. Keep variables simple – use short, clear parameter names
  3. Limit to 2-3 variables per element for best performance
  4. Validate your input – SwapTopic automatically sanitizes variables for security
  5. Test with and without parameters to ensure your content works in all scenarios

Common Use Cases

  • Personalized greetings using visitors’ names
  • Location-specific offers using region or city parameters
  • Referral source messaging using UTM parameters
  • Campaign-specific content that matches your ads or emails

Technical Details

  • Variables are processed client-side for optimal performance
  • Content length is limited to 50 characters per variable
  • HTML tags are automatically stripped from variables for security
  • Variables support basic UTF-8 characters including accents and emojis