In this article, you will find everything you need to use the latest email campaign features in Zenchef — including personalization variables, text-style hyperlinks, responsive 2-column layouts, and the "View in browser" option — so you can send campaigns that feel personal and look great on every device.
Summary
Using personalization variables
New design tools: text links, responsive 2-column layout, and View in Browser
Troubleshooting & FAQs
What you need to know
These features are available on the Grow plan with the Marketing Suite Add-On
All features are available on web only
Personalization variables pull from guest data already stored in your Zenchef account
The responsive 2-column layout works on most modern email clients — note that it does not render as 2 columns in Outlook; Outlook users will see a single-column layout
1. Using personalization variables
Personalization variables let you automatically insert guest-specific information into your campaign so every email feels personal and addressed to the individual.
Available variables:
Guest first name
Guest last name
Guest civility (e.g., Mr., Ms.)
Guest email
How to add a variable to your campaign:
Open Marketing > Campaigns and open your campaign in the editor
Place your cursor in a text block where you want to insert the variable
Click the Variables option in the editor toolbar
Select the variable you want to insert (e.g., First name)
The variable placeholder will appear in your text (e.g.,
{{first_name}})-
Click Save
Tip: Use the guest's first name in your subject line or opening sentence — it's the single most effective personalization to increase open rates and make guests feel recognised.
2. New design tools: text links, responsive 2-column layout, and View in Browser
Three new design improvements give you more flexibility and make your campaigns look great across all devices and email clients.
Three new design improvements give you more flexibility and make your campaigns look great across all devices and email clients.
Text-style hyperlinks
You can now add clickable links directly within any text block — styled like regular text, not just as buttons.
In the campaign editor, select the text you want to turn into a link
Click the Link option in the inline text toolbar
Enter the destination URL
Optionally adjust the link styling (color, underline) to match your campaign design
Click Save
Responsive 2-column layout
The 2-column block now automatically adapts to mobile screens — displaying as 2 columns on desktop and stacking into 1 column on mobile.
In the campaign editor, drag a 2-column block onto your canvas
Add your content (text, images, buttons) to each column as usual
No additional setup is required — the responsive behavior is applied automatically
Click Preview and switch to the mobile view to see how it will look on a phone
Desktop Preview:
Mobile Preview :
Note: The responsive 2-column layout works on most modern email clients (Gmail, Apple Mail, etc.). Outlook users will see a single-column layout instead.
View in Browser
A "View in browser" link is now automatically included in your campaigns. If a guest has trouble viewing the email in their mail client, they can click the link to open the full campaign in their browser.
This is applied automatically — no action is needed on your side. The link appears at the top of every sent campaign.
3. Troubleshooting & FAQs
Common Issues
Variable not showing the right value: Check that the guest's data is complete in your Zenchef account. If the first name is missing for a guest, the variable will display blank. Consider adding a fallback phrase (e.g., "Hi there") in your text as a backup for guests with incomplete profiles.
2-column layout is not stacking on mobile: Make sure you are using the updated 2-column block. If you are using an older block from a previous campaign, try replacing it with a fresh 2-column block from the editor panel. Remember this layout does not apply in Outlook.
FAQ
Which guest variables are available? Currently you can use: first name, last name, civility, and email. More variables may be added in future updates.
Can I preview how variables will look before sending? No — even when sending a test, variables will not be rendered.
Why does the "View in browser" link appear in every email? It is added automatically to ensure every guest can access your campaign, even if their email client has a display issue. You cannot remove it — it is a best practice for email deliverability and accessibility.
Does the responsive layout work in Outlook? No — Outlook does not support the responsive CSS used for the 2-column layout. Outlook users will see a single-column version of your campaign. All other major email clients (Gmail, Apple Mail, mobile apps) will display it correctly.
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