Ashish Mahajan Hitachi Solutions America (https://us.hitachi-solutions.com)

In CRM 2011 when we create an email template we first have to select an email template type. Basically we are picking an entity. While creating this email template we have a button to Insert/Update a data field. We are restricted to only those data fields which are in this selected entity and its related system entities like account, contact, etc.

On many occasions I need to build an email template on custom entities. When I create an email template, I should be given an option of all the entities (including custom entities) for selection. While adding data fields I should be able to select fields from that custom entity and any of its related custom entities.

So basically I should be able to use the, out of the box, easy to create Email Templates functionality for custom entities.

Hi Team,

If I go to System User entity customization, I can see that Activities check-box is not selected. That is the reason I don't see "Activities" and "Closed Activities" link on User entity. It is by design and my activities who is only a System User and not a CRM contact can be sees in the respective regarding entity records.

I was thinking it would be nice if we can have the Activity links on the System User Record. The System Users of CRM can send and receive emails in CRM 2011. It would be nice if all their emails and other activities can also be viewable on their User page. So if I go to my user page in Settings > Administration > Users, and open my page, I can see all my activities and closed activities on left hand navigation like any other CRM 2011 contacts or entity records.

Thanks.

Hi Team,

A Contact entity in CRM, has a field called as "Send Marketing Materials". The logical name of this field is "donotsendmm". It is a type “two option” field with values are "Send" and "Do Not Send".

This field is displayed in the Contact main form under the section "Marketing Information".

A contact let's say "Contact ABC" can be part of more than one marketing list. Let's say the "Contact ABC" is part of 3 marketing lists: "ML 1", "ML 2" and "ML 3". Now I can create 3 quick campaigns on the above marketing lists. Let's say I create quick campaigns "QC 1" on "ML 1", "QC 2" on "ML 2" and "QC 3" on "ML 3". All these quick campaigns are email campaigns and have “unsubscribe link”. These quick campaigns are for different reasons: "QC 1" is for advertising homes to buy. "QC 2" is for advertising homes to rent. "QC 3" is for advertising new land selling.

The contact "Contact ABC" receives an email from quick campaign "QC 1". Contact doesn't want to receive any emails on homes to buy as this contact is only interested in buying new land. This contact unsubscribes from this email link. This will set "Send Marketing Materials" == “Do Not Send”.
The problem is this will unsubscribe "Contact ABC" from all the marketing lists. The reason being as the setting is on the contact profile field "Send Marketing Materials" which is now set to "Do Not Send".

Is there a way that when we add contacts to marketing lists, we actually create a landing (intermediate) entity? This entity will bind contact and marketing list relationship. In this binding entity we should have “contact id (contact lookup)”, “marketing list id (marketing list lookup)” and a field "Send Marketing Materials". Now if "Contact ABC" unsubscribes from the email from quick campaign "QC 1", this means the contact will only be unsubscribed from that marketing list "ML 1" in future. This unsubscribe will set the field "Send Marketing Materials" == “Do Not Send” on the binding (landing) entity which has “contact lookup” == “Contact ABC” and “Marketing list lookup” == “ML 1”.

The idea of an intermediate entity (landing entity) can make this marketing campaign and unsubscribe experience quite flexible.

Thanks.

Hi Team,

A Contact entity in CRM, has a field called as "Send Marketing Materials". The logical name of this field is "donotsendmm". It is a type "two option" field with values are "Send" and "Do Not Send".

This field is displayed in the Contact main form under the section "Marketing Information".

Let's say there is a contact "Contact ABC". During a quick campaign (activity type email), this "Contact ABC" decided to unsubscribe. "Contact ABC" will have "Do Not Send" selected in the field "Send Marketing Materials".

Now if I create a new Marketing List let's say "Marketing List 1". In "Marketing List 1", I can add Marketing List members. I click on the ribbon button "Manage Members". There are various ways to add a contact as a Marketing List member. I will select the first option "Use Lookup to add members". In the "Look Up Records" window I can select any contact and add as a member to the list "Marketing List 1".

In this "Look Up Records" window I can select "Contact ABC" and add that contact as a member to the list "Marketing List 1". Since "Contact ABC" has "Do Not Send" selected in the field "Send Marketing Materials", so this contact should not appear in the contact lookup records.

It would be flexible, while adding Marketing List members, if we don't see contacts who have selected "Do Not Send". We should only be able to select contacts which have "Send" option for field "Send Marketing Materials".

Thanks.