Email Connect is a feature that allows you to build custom links in your newsletters. It works together with Copy Link so that, with every email you send, you have the opportunity to better monetize every outbound click.
Here's how Email Connect works
When you are linking out to different posts within your newsletter, you'll want to use a link that includes Grow's Copy Link AND the specific Email Service Provider email tag.
Using both lets you identify your existing email subscribers that have been with you all along AND any subscribers that created a Grow account when they signed up, increasing the value of both types of subscribers.
- Currently Email Connect will only identify readers located in the United States.
Identified users can mean higher CPMs and more money in your pocket!
Links Toolkit in Grow Publisher Portal
Links Toolkit allows you to select your Email Service Provider and copy your full custom link straight from Grow. You’ll find the Links Toolkit in the siderail:
Note: You are still able to access the Links Toolkit from the Grow Widget when logged into Grow.
Building Custom Links in Grow Publisher Portal
Step 1: Choose the page you want to link using the search box. Once you’ve found the page you’d like to link, click Select Page.
Step 2 (optional): Continue customizing your link.
In this section, you can choose your Email Service Provider and add UTM tracking parameters to your custom link. Changes made here will be applied to the link when you click the Copy My Custom Link button.
As this step is optional, just selecting the page will generate a Grow URL without an Email Service Provider’s email tag or UTM tracking parameters. These Grow URLs are just like those provided by the Copy Link button, where clicks from your Grow Custom Link can identify only readers who have previously submitted their email to Grow on any site.
If you are trying to identify newsletter subscribers who have not entered their email addresses into Grow or add custom tracking, you will need to customize your link by choosing a vendor and/or entering campaign information.
Step 3: Copy your Custom Link.
After you’ve finished customizing your Custom Link, you’re ready to click the Copy My Custom Link! Button and paste your Custom Link in your newsletter.
If you need to create more Custom Links to finish your newsletter, you can click the Replace Selection button to choose a different page to link. This will update the Grow URL portion of the Custom Link, but should retain your chosen Email Service Provider and UTM parameters.
Past Generated Links
After you’ve grabbed all the Custom Links you need for your newsletter and sent it to your mailing list, you can return to the Links Toolkit section of Grow Publisher Portal to reference your most recent Custom Links.
If you feature the same link frequently, you can click Pin to Top to save and keep the Custom Link even as more are generated. You can also use the Copy Link button to grab any of your recently generated links and easily share them again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Email Connect
Where do I put Custom Links?
Grow’s Custom Links should be used in place of the direct URL that you’d typically copy from the address bar. You can use them in the same way you’d insert any link into your email draft or social media post.
When should I choose my Email Service Provider and when should I copy my Custom Link without my ESP?
When you’re including Custom Links in your Email Service Provider newsletter, you should choose your ESP to add their email tag to your Custom Links. This will help Grow identify your email subscribers who have not submitted their email addresses to Grow.
If you are sharing Custom Links outside of your email campaigns – like on social media posts – choosing your Email Service Provider will not provide any additional benefit. It is best to share the Custom Link with only the Grow URL outside of your email campaigns.
Why isn’t my Email Service Provider an option in the Links Toolkit?
At this time, we have tested and verified the current Email Service Providers work with Email Connect as intended. We are working to expand Grow’s Email Service Provider integrations. You can always submit a feature request to let us know which Email Service Provider you would like to use with Grow!