Special links in templates

Misty Flowers

October 09, 2019 18:47

This article covers the Special Links feature in Finalsite Messages templates, including how to format the unsubscribe link, password reset link, and View in Browser link.

💡Quick answers

What are Special Links used for in Messages? Special Links let you convert highlighted text into a formatted unsubscribe link, password reset link, or View in Browser link so you control the font and size instead of using the default styling.
How do you add an unsubscribe link with custom formatting? Steps: add text to a text box, highlight the desired text, and select Special Links > Unsubscribe Link so the system uses that link instead of adding its standard one at the bottom of the message.
Why isn't the unsubscribe link required if Messages adds one automatically? Messages automatically adds a standard unsubscribe link to comply with the CAN-SPAM Act, but using the Special Link lets you control its font and size instead of using the default format.
What does the password reset special link do? It points portal users to a password reset page when they click the highlighted text, letting you customize the wording of the link they click.
When should you use a View in Browser link? Use it for long messages with many photos that risk being clipped by an email provider, so recipients can click through to a non-personalized browser view of the full message.
Why don't special links work before a site goes live? Special links will not function as clickable links during site implementation; they only work correctly once the site is live.

In Messages, there are special links that allow you to convert text into an unsubscribe link, a password reset link, or a "View in Browser" link. Having these options in the editor makes it possible for you to format these links any way that you would like.

Special Links Dropdown in the Messages text editor.

Important Note

Any Special links will not work as functioning links during site implementation. Once your site is live, these links can be clicked by readers and take them where you want them to go.

Unsubscribe link

In order to comply with the CAN-SPAM Act and other regulations, any marketing messages need to include an unsubscribe link. While Messages will add a standard unsubscribe link to any message, you can control the font and size of your message's unsubscribe link using this feature. Simply add any text to a text box, highlight the desired text, and select Special Links > Unsubscribe Link. This way, when the system checks for the unsubscribe link upon send, it will not add our standard one at the bottom of your message.

Password reset link

The password reset link can be sent to portal users to reset their account password. The special link is used to edit the text of your password reset link. Add text to the text box, then highlight the text where you want the users to click. Select the "Special Links" dropdown and click "Password reset link." When the user receives the message, they will be pointed to a password reset page on click.

View in Browser link

Occasionally, an email provider shortens an email that is too large, a process called clipping. If you have a particularly long message containing many photos, you might consider including a "View in Browser" link at the top of your message so that, if it does get clipped, your users can open a non-personalized view of the message in their browser. As with the other special links, enter text into a text box, highlight that text, and select Special Links > View in Browser Link.