For example, a business can write: "Hi, {{ person.first_name }}!" When Sarah gets the email, it says "Hi, Sarah!" When John gets it, it says "Hi, John!" It feels personal. It feels like the business knows them. This makes customers feel important. It makes them more likely to open and read emails.
Shortcodes also help prevent mistakes. If you had to type every name, you might make typos. Shortcodes pull information directly from Klaviyo's records. This means the information is usually correct. It helps emails look professional. So, shortcodes make email marketing much easier and much more effective.
They allow businesses to send messages that truly connect. A personalized email grabs attention. It builds a stronger bond with the customer. This bond can lead to more sales. It can also lead to more loyal customers. Therefore, shortcodes are essential for smart email campaigns.
What Exactly Are Klaviyo Shortcodes?
Klaviyo shortcodes are also known as Klaviyo variables or dynamic tags. They look like words wrapped in special curly brackets. For example, {{ person.first_name }} is a shortcode. The text inside the brackets tells Klaviyo what information to find.
Klaviyo stores lots of information about each person. If You need any business campaign related database please visit our main website latest mailing database.This includes their name. It also includes their email address. It knows what they bought. It knows what products they looked at. This information is called customer data. Shortcodes are the way Klaviyo uses this data in emails.
When Klaviyo sends an email, it goes through the message. It spots all the shortcodes. Then, for each person, it grabs their specific information. It puts that information where the shortcode was. The email you see is the final, personalized version.
It's like filling in the blanks. Klaviyo has all the answers. The shortcodes are the questions. The result is an email that feels unique to you. This powerful feature makes Klaviyo very useful for businesses. It helps them talk to customers in a very direct way.
Basic Shortcodes for Personalization
The simplest and most common shortcodes are for a person's name.
{{ person.first_name }}: This shows the person's first name. So, "Hi {{ person.first_name }}" becomes "Hi Sarah".
{{ person.last_name }}: This shows the person's last name.
{{ person.email }}: This shows the person's email address.
These basic shortcodes are super useful. They make emails feel friendly. They immediately grab the reader's attention. When you see your own name, you know the message is for you. This makes you more likely to keep reading.
Businesses can use these in many places. They can use them in the subject line. "A special offer just for {{ person.first_name }}!" This makes the email stand out in an inbox. They can use them in the email body. "We hope you enjoy your new product, {{ person.first_name }}!" This adds a nice touch.
Using even these simple shortcodes makes a big difference. It shows that the business cares. It shows they are paying attention. This builds a positive feeling. This positive feeling can lead to more purchases. Therefore, basic personalization is a must-do.
Image 1: A visual representation of an email draft on a computer screen. One section shows the raw shortcode {{ person.first_name }} in the draft. Another section, next to it or below, shows the "preview" of the email, where {{ person.first_name }} has been replaced with a generic name like "Sarah," demonstrating the personalization in action.
Advanced Shortcodes for Smarter Emails
Klaviyo's shortcodes go beyond just names. They can pull much more detailed information. This is where emails become really smart. For example, shortcodes can show what someone bought.
{{ event.item_name }}: This could show the name of the last item they bought.
{{ event.total_price }}: This could show the total amount of their last order.
These are called event properties. They are linked to things people do. Like buying something. Or looking at a product. Businesses use these for specific messages. For instance, after you buy a product, you might get an email: "Thanks for buying {{ event.item_name }}! We hope you love it."
Another powerful shortcode is for abandoned carts. If you leave items in your online shopping cart, a shortcode can list them.
{{ cart.items }}: This can show a list of items left in the cart.
This is very helpful for reminders. "You left these items in your cart: {{ cart.items }}." This makes it easy for you to finish buying. It helps businesses get back lost sales. These smart shortcodes make emails highly relevant.
Shortcodes for Dynamic Content
Klaviyo shortcodes can also change whole parts of an email. This is called dynamic content. It means different people see different things in the same email. For instance, a business might have a new product for dog owners. And a different new product for cat owners.
Using shortcodes, they can show the dog product to dog owners. They can show the cat product to cat owners. All in one email template! This saves time. It makes sure each person sees what they are most interested in. This is much better than sending two different emails.
It uses what Klaviyo knows about each customer. For example, if Klaviyo knows someone bought a dog toy before, it will show them dog-related content. If they bought cat food, they will see cat-related content. This advanced use of shortcodes makes marketing super efficient.
This helps businesses sell more. It also makes customers happier. They only see things that matter to them. This makes emails feel less like spam. It builds a stronger connection. So, dynamic content powered by shortcodes is very effective.
Using Conditional Logic with Shortcodes
Sometimes, you want a shortcode to appear only if certain information exists. This is called conditional logic. It's like saying, "IF this is true, THEN show this."
For example: {% if person.first_name %} Hi {{ person.first_name }},{% else %} Hi there,{% endif %}
This means: If Klaviyo knows the person's first name, use it. If not, just say "Hi there." This prevents an awkward "Hi," if the name is missing. It makes emails look polished. It handles missing data gracefully.
Another use is for different messages based on behavior. "If a person bought X, then say A. If they bought Y, then say B." This makes emails even more targeted. It ensures the message is always correct for each customer.
Conditional logic makes shortcodes incredibly flexible. It allows businesses to create one email that adapts to many different situations. This is a powerful way to make email campaigns smarter. It also ensures a good customer experience every time. This advanced technique helps businesses be truly precise.
How to Find and Use Shortcodes in Klaviyo
Finding and using shortcodes in Klaviyo is pretty easy. When you are writing an email, you can click on a special button. It might be called "Preview" or "Personalize." Klaviyo will show you a list of common shortcodes. You can just click to add them.
Klaviyo also has a lot of help guides. If you are looking for a specific shortcode, you can search their help articles. They explain what each shortcode does. They show you examples of how to use them. This makes it simple for businesses to learn.

When you add a shortcode, you will see it in the email editor. It will look like {{ person.first_name }}. But when you send a test email, or when real customers get it, the real information will show up. It's important to always test your emails. Send them to yourself first. Make sure all the shortcodes are working correctly.
This testing step is very important. It helps catch any errors before you send emails to thousands of people. A small mistake in a shortcode can look bad. So, careful testing ensures perfect emails every time.
Shortcodes and Your Data
Shortcodes are powerful because Klaviyo holds so much customer data. The more information a business collects about its customers, the more personalized its emails can be. This means good data collection is key to using shortcodes well.
When someone signs up for your email list, ask for their name. When they buy something, Klaviyo automatically collects purchase data. All this information feeds into the shortcodes. It makes them smarter. So, managing your customer data is very important.
Businesses should also make sure their data is clean. If a name is spelled wrong in Klaviyo, the shortcode will use the wrong spelling. "Hi Srah!" would look strange. So, keeping your customer profiles accurate is crucial for effective shortcode use.
Klaviyo lets you easily update customer profiles. This helps maintain good data quality. Good data leads to better personalization. Better personalization leads to happier customers and more sales. Thus, clean data is the foundation of powerful shortcode use.
Image 2: A close-up of a Klaviyo email editor interface. One part highlights a button labeled "Insert Property" or "Personalization Tags." Another part shows a dropdown list appearing with options like "First Name," "Last Name," "Last Purchased Item," indicating easy selection of shortcodes.
Common Mistakes with Shortcodes to Avoid
While shortcodes are amazing, businesses can make mistakes. One common mistake is having missing data. If you use {{ person.first_name }} but Klaviyo doesn't have the person's first name, it will just show up empty. "Hi ," looks bad. Use conditional logic to avoid this problem.
Another mistake is using the wrong shortcode. Typing {{ first_name }} instead of {{ person.first_name }} won't work. Klaviyo needs the exact correct code. Always double-check the spelling and format. Small errors can stop the shortcode from working.
Sometimes, businesses might use too many shortcodes. An email that is just full of personalized bits can feel strange. It can feel like the business is trying too hard. Use personalization wisely. Focus on a few key places where it makes a real impact.
Finally, not testing emails with shortcodes is a big mistake. Always send a test email to yourself. See how the shortcodes look. Make sure they are pulling the right information. A quick test can save a lot of embarrassment. These tips help ensure smooth and effective shortcode usage.
The Future of Personalization with Shortcodes
Klaviyo shortcodes will only get smarter. As Klaviyo collects more data, and as technology improves, personalization will become even more detailed. We might see shortcodes that recommend specific products based on very complex data.
For example, a shortcode might predict what you want to buy next. "Based on your recent purchases, we think you'll love {{ predicted_product }}!" This would make marketing incredibly targeted. It would make emails even more helpful to customers.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) might help businesses use shortcodes better. AI could suggest which shortcodes to use. It could even help write personalized sentences around the shortcodes. This would make it easier for businesses to create amazing emails.
Shortcodes are a core part of modern email marketing. They allow businesses to be efficient. They allow them to be personal. They help build strong customer relationships. As Klaviyo evolves, its shortcode capabilities will grow. This means even more exciting ways for businesses to connect with their customers. They are truly the magic behind smart email communication.