HubSpot Email Loops: Fixing Empty Values in Programmable Emails

Ever sent out a HubSpot email only to find it riddled with empty fields? It's a frustrating experience, especially when you're relying on dynamic content to personalize your message. Recently, a HubSpot user ran into this exact problem while trying to loop through a list of products in a transactional email. Let's break down the issue and explore the solution based on insights from the HubSpot Community.

The Problem: Empty Values in Looped Email Content

The original poster was sending product data via the single send API, aiming to display a table of products within an email. The data structure looked something like this:

{
  "customProperties": {
    "products": [
      {
        "product_id": "PSKE",
        "product_name": "Managed Kubernetes",
        "price": "0,00&bnsp;€",
        "quantity": "1"
      }
    ],
...
  }
}

The email template contained a simple loop to iterate through the products array and display each product's details:

{% for item in custom.products %}
  
    {{ item.product_id }}
    {{ item.product_name }}
    {{ item.quantity }}
    {{ item.price }}
  
{% endfor %}

However, the resulting email showed empty values in each table cell. Why?

The Solution: Programmable Email Content

One of the community experts pointed out a crucial requirement: the email template needs to be enabled for programmable content. This feature allows you to use HubL (HubSpot's templating language) to dynamically generate content based on data.

Here's how to check if your email is enabled for programmable content:

Open the email template in HubSpot.
Go to the Settings tab.
Look for the Programmable email option.
Ensure the toggle is switched ON.

It's important to note that this feature is available only in Marketing Hub Professional or Enterprise subscriptions. If you're using a lower tier, you won't be able to utilize programmable content in your emails.

Additional Considerations

While enabling programmable content is the primary solution, here are a few other things to keep in mind:

Data Structure: Double-check that the data you're sending via the API matches the structure expected by the email template. Typos or incorrect field names can lead to empty values.
HubL Syntax: Ensure your HubL syntax is correct. Even a small error can prevent the loop from rendering properly.
Permissions: Verify that you have the necessary permissions to edit email templates and enable programmable content.

HubSpot Stripe Integration for Ecommerce

If you're running an e-commerce store and using HubSpot for your CRM and marketing efforts, integrating HubSpot with Stripe can streamline your operations. This integration allows you to track customer purchases, automate marketing campaigns based on purchase behavior, and gain valuable insights into your customer base. While this article focuses on email templates, integrating your e-commerce platform with HubSpot opens a world of possibilities for personalized communication and targeted marketing.

ESHOPMAN Team Comment

This HubSpot Community thread highlights a common pitfall when using dynamic content in HubSpot emails. The solution is straightforward – enabling programmable content – but it's easily overlooked. We at ESHOPMAN emphasize the importance of understanding HubSpot's feature limitations based on subscription level. For e-commerce businesses, ensuring your HubSpot setup aligns with your marketing goals will allow you to leverage your customer data effectively.

By understanding the requirements for programmable email content and carefully reviewing your data structure and HubL syntax, you can avoid the frustration of empty values and create engaging, personalized emails that drive results.