Embed Data in Universal Link.
Embedded data means passing information (such as respondent ID, age, or segment) through the survey link, so it automatically appears in the survey data.
The 'Embed Data' toggle in your 'Universal Link' channel allows you to append variables from your CRM's or Panel Partner's database directly into your survey link which you can then use to either:
- correctly ID & reward respondents (as complete, exit, etc.) AND/OR
- cut your data by the embeded variables without having to ask those questions in your survey.
You can capture variables like unique id, panelist id, age, gender, region, segment, etc.
Embeded data will be captured in your Glow response data and in your analysis filters.
How to Embed Data
To embed data:
- Click 'Create Channel'
- Select 'Universal Link'
- Hit 'Advanced Options'
- Toggle 'Embed Data' to ON.
You will see:
- Variable Name - typically identical to the variable template but without the special brackets, so no square or straight or squiggly brackets needed, e.g. RID
- Variable Template - this is the exact variable AND bracket format needed to embed your data from your CRM or panel partner, e.g. [RID]
- Duplicate ID Check - only use this for unique ID variables like UID or PID or RID. This prevents anyone with that same id from entering the survey again.
- Option to 'Add to Filters' - this adds your embedded data to your Filter 'Dimensions' which you can use to create Filters to cut your data in in analysis.
- Ability to 'Add Data' and remove data ('X' button) - use this to add more variables or remove existing ones.
See specific instructions below for how to:
Embed Data from CRM
If you're using a CRM, e.g. Campaign Monitor, Mailchimp, Hubspot, etc. to send out your emails, then...
First, import your customer data to your CRM. Here's an example of what your CRM might look like when importing customer data. Make sure all variables have a field name, e.g. BNK, RGN, GD
When uploading data to your CRM, it's recommended that you protect the anonymity and PII of your respondents by coding into numbers any data you wish to embed in your survey link, e.g. in the Gender (gd) column, 1 = Male while 2 = Female.
You should ideally also create a Data Map to convert the numbers back to the original labels.
Next, go to your CRM's subscriber list and check what each variable has been coded as in your CRM and the required bracket format (straight lines, squiggly brackets, square brackets, nothing). Here's an example of what your CRM might look like when checking your variable codes.
Note:
- Some CRMs use squiggly brackets around the value, e.g. {UID}
- Some CRMs require square brackets around the value, e.g. [BNK]
- Some demand straight lines around the value, e.g. |RGN|
- Some don't need anything around their values, e.g. GD
You must use your CRM's exact value format to successfully pipe in the value from your CRM.
In this example CRM, our variables are [UID], [BNK|, [RGN], and [GD], and we need square brackets around these. These are the values we'll use in our Universal Link.
Then, paste the CRM variables into the "Template" fields and add your own variable names in the "Name" fields. The "Name" is typically identical to the "Template" but without the brackets and is what will appear in your analysis filters and response data.
For your ID data like UID, RID, or PID, pick "Duplicate ID Check" if you want to prevent duplicates using that variable (optional).
For your segmentation data like BNK, RGN, and GD, tick "Add to Filters" if you want to create filters using these dimensions in your analysis.
Save and Start your channel and Copy the Live Link.
Paste this live link into your CRM's Button link field.
Done! 🎉
Send your CRM emails and check your responses and analysis filters to see your embedded data.
Embed Data from Panel Partner
To capture responses from Panel Partners, data needs to be embedded to both the Survey Link and the Redirect Links. Therefore:
- Toggle both Redirects and Embed Data to ON.
- Paste your partner's redirects into their respective fields for Submit, Exit, Quota, and Quality Exit.
- Paste your partner's "panelist id" variable into the Name, Template, and Forward Name fields.
- Tip: if you have the "Template", then the "Name" is likely identical to the template but without the brackets, and the "Forward Name" is typically identical to the "Name".
- Select "Duplicate ID Check" (optional) to prevent duplicates using that panelist ID variable.
Examples:
Walr
Pure Spectrum
Pure Profile
Dynata
Once your panel partner's redirects and embedded data are added, Save & Start your channel and Copy the Live Link and share that with your panel partner. Your panel partner will then test for 1 complete (and 1 exit if applicable) and should be able to successfully capture their panelist ids with the correct status (complete or exit). You can then delete these test ids by going to Capture > Responses > Batch Delete.
Response Data
Within your Response Exports, you'll find the data you piped into your survey link in the "Reporting Dimension" columns at the far-right columns in your data.
Analysis Filters
To filter respondents using the data you've embedded into your survey link, use the "Dimension" variable in your filter condition, select the "Type", e.g. "gd", then the "Value", e.g. "1" (for Males).
Analysis Charts
Once you've created your "Dimension" filters from the embedded data in your survey link, you can then add those filters into your chart and table as prefilters and/or cross filters. Below, we've added them as cross filters to our view.
