External Content Blocks

Content Blocks are containers of message content that can be reused across Campaigns. If you repeat similar content across Campaigns, then setting up that material within a Content Block can save you the time of having to enter and re-enter that content in each separate Campaign. You can instead define that content once in a Content Block, then simply assign that Content Block to each Campaign that needs it.

An External Content Block is a special type of Content Block used by clients who manage their content updates, versioning, and approvals outside of Cheetah Digital, typically through the use of a Content Management System. When using an External Content Block, the content (HTML, images, etc.) is stored remotely in the Content Management System, rather than internally within Cheetah Digital. This design allows a client to make last-minute changes to the message content without having to then bring that updated content into Cheetah Digital. The external content is retrieved during the Campaign launch process, allowing the platform to reference the most up-to-date content.

If the platform encounters any connectivity issues when trying to retrieve the External Content Block, the platform will attempt to resend messages for up to seven days (for Regular One-Off Campaigns), or for two hours (for Date-Triggered Campaigns). If the platform is still unable to retrieve the External Content Block after this time period, the Campaign status is changed to Error.

Like regular Content Blocks, an External Content Block can be used in a Campaign, in another Content Block, in a Dynamic Block, etc.

External Content Blocks are available only in the email Channel.

Note: External Content Blocks are an optional feature that must be enabled within your client account. Please speak with your Client Services Representative for more details on enabling External Content Blocks.

 

Pre-requisites

To use an External Content Block, you must have:

  • An absolute URL to the content's location. You can provide separate URLs for the HTML and Plain Text versions of the Content Block.

  • A secure location that uses HTTPS protocols (unsecured HTTP locations are not supported).

 

Subject lines

Optionally, you can insert a subject line into the HTML code of an External Content Block. This feature allows you to populate the subject line in a Campaign, without having to create an entirely separate External Content Block, just for the subject line. Instead, the platform will pull the subject line from the External Content Block's HTML code, and insert this value into the subject line field when the Campaign deploys. To use this feature, you must identify the text of the subject line using the following syntax:

 <!-- Subject: This is my subject line -->

In the above example, This is my subject line would be used as the subject line in the Campaign.

To use the subject line feature, you must complete the following steps:

  • Create your External Content Block, and insert the subject line text in the HTML code using the syntax described above.

  • Configure the External Content Block in Cheetah Digital, being sure to check the Extract subject line from HTML check box (see Create a New External Content Block below for more details).

  • On the Campaign screen, drag-and-drop the External Content Block from the Personalization Pane into the Subject Line field.

It's important that all the above steps be completed; otherwise your subject line may not populate as desired. For example, if you check the Extract subject line from HTML check box, and put the External Content Block in the Subject Line field, but then don't actually provide a subject line value using the <!--Subject: -- > tag, your Campaign will deploy with no subject line.

Access

The External Content Blocks screen is accessible via the Main menu; select Assets > Blocks > External Content Blocks

 

 Create a new External Content Block

This section describes how to create a new External Content Block through the External Content Block screen. In addition, External Content Blocks can be created through the New Item screen (see Create a New Item: External Content Block).  

To create a new External Content Block through the External Content Block screen:

  1. In the Tool Ribbon, click New External Content Block.

  2. A New Item pop-up window is displayed. In the Name field, enter a name for your new External Content Block.

  3. From the Data Source drop-down menu, select the source table for this External Content Block.

Note: You can never modify this source table after the External Content Block is created.

  1. Click Create. The Workspace is refreshed to show a blank External Content Block details screen.

  2. In the Content section, enter the URL for the HTML version of your email content. Please note that the URL must use secure HTTPS protocols.

  3. Optionally, enter the URL for the Plain Text version of your email content.

  4. Optionally, to see a preview of the externally-hosted content, click the preview button (magnifying glass icon) next to either of the URL fields. The system displays the contents of that URL in a separate browser window.

  5. If you intend to provide a subject line value in this External Content Block, check the Extract subject line from HTML check box (see above for more details on providing a subject line value, including the required HTML syntax).

  6. Optionally, you can assign one or more tags to your External Content Block. To assign a tag, click on the Add tag field in the Edit tab of the Tool Ribbon. The system displays a pop-up menu of all the existing tags. You can select one of these tags, or type in a new one and press Enter. You can repeat this process to add more tags. To remove a tag, click the X icon next to the tag label.  

  7. If your user account has been configured to use an Approval Workflow, you can submit a request to the approver to review and approve this External Content Block. In the Tool Ribbon, click Edit > Status > Request Approval. You won't be able to use this External Content Block in a Campaign until the External Content Block has been approved.

External Content Blocks support the use of Personalization. The externally-hosted content must contain the properly-formatted Merge Symbols, such as {(first_name)} for example. On the External Content Block screen in Cheetah Digital, you must select what fields are being used for Personalization.

When you launch a Campaign containing an External Content Block, Cheetah Digital will parse the content for any Merge Symbols, and translate that Merge Symbol into the corresponding value from the database field,  All Merge Symbols contained in the externally-hosted content must be selected on the External Content Block screen. If the platform encounters any Personalization errors during the Campaign deployment, the platform will stop deployment. The Campaign will remain in a Pending state until you correct the error.

  1. In the Data Source section, the Select a Data Field drop-down menu is populated with all of the fields on the source table you selected above in step 3. From this menu, select a field you're using for Personalization.

  2. Repeat step 9 as needed for each field you're using for Personalization. If you need to remove a Personalization field, click the X next to the field in the Data Source section.

  3. In the Tool Ribbon, click Save.

 

 Copy an External Content Block

To copy an existing item to use as the basis for a new item:

  1. Search for the desired item (see Search for an Item for more details).

  2. Click on the item name. The main item screen is displayed and populated with the details of the selected item.

  3. In the Tool Ribbon, click Save As. A Save as dialog box is displayed.

  4. Enter a name for the new item.

  5. By default, the new item will be saved in the same folder location as the base item. Optionally, click the magnifying glass icon to browse to and select a different folder location.

  6. Click save a copy. The system creates a copy of the selected item.

 

 View or edit an External Content Block

To view or edit an existing External Content Block:

  1. Search for the desired External Content Block (see Search for an Item for more details on the available search methods).

  2. Click on the External Content Block name. The External Content Block screen is displayed and populated with the details of the selected External Content Block.

  3. Optionally, to view detailed information about the External Content Block, click the External Content Block tab in the Tool Ribbon. The Item Details screen is displayed, showing who created the item, who modified it last, and what the last actions taken on the item were. The direct link URL to the External Content Block is available here, which can be copied to the clipboard using the Copy Link icon. This can be used to easily share and also open the External Content Block in a browser. On this screen, click Related Items in the Function Menu to see other items in the system that reference or utilize this External Content Block. When finished, click the Edit tab in the Tool Ribbon to return to the main edit screen.

  4. Optionally, you can assign one or more tags to your External Content Block. To assign a tag, click on the Add tag field in the Edit  section of the Tool Ribbon. The system displays a pop-up menu of all the existing tags. You can select one of these tags, or type in a new one and press Enter. You can repeat this process to add more tags. To remove a tag, click the X icon next to the tag label.  

  5. Optionally, to rename the External Content Block, click Rename in the Tool Ribbon. A Rename Item dialog box is displayed. Enter a new name for the External Content Block, then click save new name.

  6. Make any necessary changes to the URLs for the HTML or Plain Text versions of the content.

  7. Make any necessary changes to the Personalization fields used in the External Content Block.

  8. To save your changes, click Save in the Tool Ribbon.

 

 Delete a Dynamic Block

To delete an item:

  1. Search for the desired item (see Search for an Item for more details).

  2. Click on the item name. The main item screen is displayed and populated with the details of the selected item.

  3. In the Tool Ribbon, click Delete. A confirmation dialog box is displayed.

  4. Click delete item to confirm the deletion.

Foldered items are moved to the Recycle Bin. Non-foldered items are permanently deleted.

 

 Assign an External Content Block to a campaign

Once you've defined your External Content Block, you can use it within one or more email Campaigns.

Note: External Campaign Blocks are available only for the email Channel.

To insert an External Content Block into the email Campaign message:

  1. Navigate to the desired Campaign (see Campaigns for more details).

  2. Scroll down to the Message section, and click edit. The Advanced Editor screen is displayed.

  3. Place your cursor in the main content field. The Personalization Pane appears on the right-hand side of the screen.

  4. In the Personalization Pane, click on the Content Blocks group to expand it.

  5. Within the Content Blocks group, double-click on External Block (or, optionally, you can drag External Block from the Personalization Pane, and drop it into the content field). A Browse External Content Blocks dialog box is displayed.

  6. From the Browse External Content Blocks pop-up window, select the desired External Content Block.

Note: External Content Blocks have to be created using the same source table as the Campaign in order for them to be available as a selection.

  1. In the Clipboard section of the Personalization Pane, the system creates a new Merge Symbol for this External Content Block. A Merge Symbol is a textual representation of the External Content Block, consisting of the Block's name and Object Reference ID enclosed in double-brackets. For example: {[Logo_Header|8687]}.

  2. Place your cursor where you want to insert the External Content Block, then click the Merge Symbol for that Block in the Clipboard. The system inserts the corresponding Merge Symbol at the indicated position.

If you assign an External Content Block to a Date-triggered Campaign, you have the option of enabling a change detect feature. Please see Enable Change Detect below for more details.

 

Enable change detect

If you assign an External Content Block to a Date-triggered Campaign, you have the option of enabling a change detect feature. If enabled, the platform will identify any changes to the External Content Block from the previous date-triggered deployment, and deploy new messages only if new content is detected at the external source. In this manner, the platform will not send the same content to the Campaign's recipients.

The change detect feature is available only in Date-triggered Campaigns, and only if the message content contains an External Content Block.

To enable the change detect feature:

  1. Navigate to the desired Date-triggered Campaign (see Campaigns for more details).

  2. Scroll down to the Message section. Click the Yes radio button next to Send only if new content is found at external source.

Note: By default, the change detect feature is turned off.

  1. In the Tool Ribbon, click Save.