SmartLink

 A SmartLink is created in the Tracking folder by clicking the +New/SmartLink button. The SmartLink can contain several links to which you can give your own names within the SmartLink. It provides an integration URL for each configured link, which can be used in different contexts. You can then define multiple forwarding URLs for each link, to which a call of the integration URL forwards.

The forwarding can be performed on the basis of target group membership. In this way you can use a SmartLink as a switch (see Application Areas).

At the same time, a SmartLink can manipulate a profile as soon as its integration URL is called, depending on profile properties. This means that certain flags, selections, or even date values can be set or removed. If profile data is to be set when a target group link is visited, this can be set for each target on the Profile tab.

The profile of each identified visitor is thus enriched with the configured data. The individual functions per target can be activated or deactivated as required. This is used, for example, to temporarily deactivate the profile update without deleting the complete target configuration.

SmartLinks can be used for intelligent link forwarding with statistical analysis and for profile manipulation.

 

Application areas

Since the SmartLink basically functions like a URL switch, all types of URLs can be used here. The following URLs in particular can be highlighted:

iFrames: The integration URL of a SmartLink can be used as the iFrame source URL of an IFrame. Depending on the target group, different iFrame content is then displayed for different profiles.

Images: You can also use the integration URL as the image source URL. The SmartLink can then output different image URLs depending on the target group.

Downloads: For PDFs or other files, the integration URL can redirect to different download URLs. This allows different files to be output depending on the target group to which they belong.

Ads: SmartLink can also be used for individual advertising banners. This is the same principle as for use with images.

 

A SmartLink as a switch

To use a SmartLink as a switch, at least one target group must be defined.
In the navigation tab Links / Targets / Target group, the URL and the target group for target A, in this case Munich, is set.
Then click on Add target and go to Save. Now you can enter another URL for target B (Frankfurt). After saving, you can enter a target group for destination Frankfurt again. As a fallback you can also enter a third target group for all profiles that are neither in the target group Munich nor in the target group Frankfurt. If you use a fallback without a target group, all non-assignable calls (even without a profile) are directed to this target.

 

The construction of a SmartLink as a switch for two target groups

Configuration for target group Munich

1. In the Links tab, the targets and profile manipulation are edited.
2. Under the Targets tab you specify the target URLs and the target groups.
3. Enter the URL for profiles of the target group Munich.
4. Select the target group for target Munich here.

 

Configuration for target group Frankfurt

5. Enter URL for profiles of the target group Frankfurt.
6. Select the target group for destination Frankfurt here.

 

Configuration for fallback target group

7. Important! A fallback link for profiles that are not available in either target group.
8. You can add further targets here.
9. You can attach further links here, because a SmartLink object can contain several links.
10. You can delete a target with a click on -.
11. To select the target groups, you must first click on Save.

 

Profile manipulation

The profile manipulation takes place in the Profiles tab. Here you first select a field from the respective pool to be manipulated and click on Add. Now you can enter a value for this field. The option Combine old and new values only applies to multiple selection fields.

 

The structure of the SmartLink for a profile manipulation

1. In the upper tab Profile you can select a pool and a pool field whose values are to be manipulated by calling the link for the respective profile, even if the profile is not in any of the target groups. If you only want to manipulate profiles that are in the target groups, you can omit this item.
2. After the profile has gone through the first step, the system checks whether the profile is in the target group. If this is the case, the profile is manipulated a second time if necessary.
3. Select the pool in which the profile is to be manipulated.
4. Select fields for profile manipulation.
5. To specify a value for the pool field, you must first click on Append. Afterwards you can enter a value for the field.
6. Add a new target.

 

Restriction by platforms and browsers

In addition to the restriction by target group, you can also restrict forwarding by platform and browser. This means that only profiles that are within the target group and additionally use the selected platform or browser will be forwarded to the target.

Only profiles that are in the target group and also use the selected browser or platform will be forwarded.

 

Configuration

Under the Configuration tab, you can change the name or enter a description of the SmartLink. Please provide a detailed description of the SmartLink for documentation purposes.

Provide a detailed description of the SmartLink to help you understand its function.

 

Integration

In the tab Integration the integration URL is available, which is finally inserted into the web page or in the eMailing.

To perform profile manipulation with a SmartLink, the User ID must be added with, u={$UID} so that the SmartLink recognizes the profile. If no UID is present, the system checks for cookies.

 

SmartLink statistics

In the statistics of a SmartLink, you can track when the link was clicked in the history diagram for a maximum of 12 months. The evaluation breaks down which target URLs were called up, or in which target groups the profiles that called up the SmartLink were located. The numbers in brackets could be assigned to unique profiles. The browsers used are also displayed as a pie chart in the percentage distribution.

In the statistical analysis you can see how many newsletter recipients were directed to the corresponding targets.

 

Link scoring

Individual scoring for links or link targets can be configured.

There is a special feature for the case that several SmartLink links are located in one SmartLink object (recognizable by several integration URLs in the tab: "Integration")