A LiveImage is a dynamic image that gets updated in the inbox in real time based on targeting rules and real time data, such as local weather conditions, devices used.
Examples of use cases are display a Free Delivery Today Only image, Promotional updates, weather-centric imaginary, displaying loyalty points, etc.
With LiveImages you typically want to track clicks and conversions.
In this topic, we will discuss the different configuration options specific for the LiveImage as well as the preview and embed codes. Check out the topic Create a new campaign, for more information on how to create a campaign.
Once a LiveImage campaign has been created, a series of steps need to be followed:
2. Preview and test the LiveImage
1. Configure the LiveImage
Configure basic settings
The settings configured in the Basic settings section apply to all the different versions of the element, if these exist.
Integrations — Use this option if you want to use the Phrasee campaign integration with your LiveImage. With this integration you are able to automatically generate an overlay text using the first Phrasee variant text. For more information on this integration, please check out our dedicated topic.
Linking — Define if a clickthrough URL is required or only the embedded image, without the possibility to click through. The actual URL is configured further down in the settings of the image itself and can be different for each of the versions of the image. It is recommended to always set a clickthrough URL as this helps driving engagement.
Alt text — This is the text that will be displayed when the image cannot be rendered. It is recommended to always set an alt text in case openers have disabled image rendering in their email clients or for openers that use screen readers. The alt text is appended to the embed code of the element.
Click Save and Next to save the changes to the basic settings and move on to the next configuration section.
Further LiveImage configuration
When a LiveImage campaign is created, there is always a default LiveImage that will be the fallback image when the targeting rules do not apply to the opener of the email or when no targeting rules have been defined.
Start by configuring the default LiveImage.
1. First, upload the image that needs to be used. Click Upload Image, and choose an image from the Media library or from your local device. You can also use drag and drop an image.
2. Once the image has been selected, you can rename it and upload it into your element:
3. Your image is now added and a preview is displayed. Change the dimensions if needed. The change is immediately visible in the preview:
4. If you selected the clickthrough URL option in the Basic settings, you can set that URL now. This will allow viewers of the image to click it and go straight to the set URL.
Note: You can use a regular clickthrough link or a mobile deeplink. Mobile deeplinks are URLs that the mobile device will interpret as an instruction to open the app if it is installed, and go to a specific location in the app. If the app does not exist, in general it will take the opener to the location where the app can be downloaded.
Note 2: Clickthrough URLs can be personalized with ESP tags. Please check out our dedicated topic on this subject if this is something you consider doing.
5. Next, you can add an overlay text. Toggle the option on if you want to add some text to the image. The following options become available:
Overlay text — When adding an overlay text to the image, you can choose between manually entering the text to display over the image, use dynamic values or custom fields to generate the overlay text or a combination.
To make the overlay text dynamic (for example, use the opener's name), select a custom or dynamic field from the Add dynamic value selector. This will personalize the overlay text with ESP data (custom field) or with data imported into Liveclicker (dynamic values). Please read this topic on how to personalize your LiveImage for more details on all the options.
Note: You can add multiple Overlay texts to the image (for example, place one at the top of the image and one at the bottom). Click the Add Overlay Text button to add additional text boxes.
An additional tab is added where more text can be entered:
Styles — This section allows you to define the look and feel of the text such as the font, font size, font color, letter spacing, text orientation, text curving, size of the text box, etc). For more details, please read the topic on text formatting and alignment.
Note: You have the possibility to use custom fonts here, to ensure your images are in line with the corporate brand. Upload of custom fonts is explained here.
6. A preview of the image and overlay text is displayed. Make the necessary changes to your settings until you are happy with the result.
7. When an overlay text is added to the image, a fallback image is mandatory, in case the overlay text cannot be displayed because of issues with custom values used in the text, or when the text exceeds the character limit. The fallback image will also be shown when an account runs out of credit and no overages are allowed.
Simply click the Upload Image button in the Personalization Fallback Image section and upload another image.
Use the option Collapse fallback image if you do not want to display an image at all when the default one cannot be rendered. For example, if the image only makes sense when it can be rendered with overlay text and personalized information, you might not want to show anything in case it cannot be rendered.
8. Now you have finished the configuration of your first LiveImage.
At this point you can either add an alternative version of the LiveImage or move on to the targeting and testing section.
An alternative version can be used when targeting rules are implemented, presenting some of the viewers with one version, and others with another version.
9. If you want to do this, click the button Add Alternate LiveImage.
10. Provide a name and click Continue.
11. The new alternative version of your first LiveImage is added.
12. Click + to expand the configuration panel for this version and repeat steps 1 to 8 to configure the LiveImage.
13. When done with the configuration of the images, click Next to start defining the targeting rules.
Define targeting Rules and AB test
1. In this step, you can decide which subscriber should get a specific version of the image through the use of targeting rules. A targeting rule will split up the audience and only target a segment of the audience. There are 2 options:
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Define targeting rules from scratch.
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When you have already defined targeting rules for a different element in this campaign, you can re-use these targeting rules for the current element.
For more details on targeting rules, please check out the dedicated topic.
2. In addition, you can also set up AB testing for this element. With A/B testing the final version of the image shown to the remainder of the audience, is determined by the A/B test.
3. When done, click Continue. You are taken to the next element to configure, if any. Otherwise, you are taken to the Preview.
2. Preview
The Preview tab for your campaign becomes available when all elements in your campaign have been configured. It provides you with the ability to test the look and rendering of the elements in your campaign, either as a static preview or as a dynamic preview, simulating an opener. You can also send yourself or others an email preview.
For more details on how to test your elements using preview, please read the corresponding topic.
3. Retrieve embed codes
In this last step, you need to provide some estimated campaign details, such as expected opens, launch date and Expiration date, as well as the Subscriber ID field.
All this information will be used by Liveclicker to optimize resources but also to create the embed code.
For more details on the Embed codes, check out this topic.
