Merge tags are placeholders you add to your email subject line or body that are automatically replaced with real customer and order data when the email sends. They're what let you say "Hi Sarah" instead of "Hi there" — making automated emails feel personal and relevant.

How to use merge tags

Merge tags are written in double curly braces, like {{ customer.first_name }}. Add them directly to your subject line or email template by typing them in. When the email sends, Follow Up Email replaces each tag with the actual value for that customer.

Common merge tags

Customer tags

TagOutput
{{ customer.first_name }}Customer's first name
{{ customer.last_name }}Customer's last name
{{ customer.email }}Customer's email address

Order tags

TagOutput
{{ order.name }}Order number (e.g., #1234)
{{ order.total_price }}Order total
{{ order.status_url }}Link to order status page

Store tags

TagOutput
{{ shop.name }}Your store name
{{ shop.url }}Your store URL

Abandoned checkout tags

TagOutput
{{ checkout.recovery_url }}Link that restores the customer's cart
{{ checkout.total_price }}Cart total at time of abandonment

Using merge tags in subject lines

Subject line personalization is one of the highest-impact uses of merge tags. Examples:

Tip: Always test with a preview Before activating a campaign, use Send Test Email to preview how merge tags render. If a tag doesn't match a real value (e.g., a customer with no first name), it may display blank. Consider adding a fallback in your copy like "Hi there" as a default phrase if the first name isn't available.

Where merge tags are available

Merge tags can be used in:

The available tags vary slightly by campaign type — for example, abandoned checkout campaigns have access to cart and checkout-specific tags that aren't available in lapsed customer campaigns.