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Michael_Loop8
Michael_Loop8
Level 2
December 28, 2016
Solved

Dynamic Map (or other Address) Snippet

  • December 28, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 2873 views

Hi there,

Has anyone ever populated a Marketo email with a snippet or section that can be made dynamic by an address field?

I'm looking to build a dynamic map which shows the US and then lays points of interest on the map dynamic to the addresses or zip codes found in the field.

Similar to this:

https://www.smashingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/points-of-interest-map.jpg

Thanks for any tips!

Best answer by SanfordWhiteman

Following on from Justin: the objective doesn't relate to Marketo, really.

The question is whether you have a service that can generate the static image you want based on a simple HTTP GET from an <IMG> tag (i.e. non-JavaScript-assisted, since emails can't run scripts).

In general such concepts are widespread (we use LiquidPixels, for example, for dynamic product images) and surely there's a GIS/mapping service that can do this. Even if there's not a direct <IMG> server available, with so many mapping APIs out there, you can build your own (compositing dynamic ➴ widgets with a preset map of the US is easy for a developer).

Alternately, you could call a webhook to pre-generate images and populate a URL field on the lead (this would be notably faster at open time, esp. if you're building your own image server and the server isn't equipped for massive real-time traffic).. Though still basically the same idea on the back end.

4 replies

Justin_Cooperm2
Justin_Cooperm2
Level 10
December 28, 2016

The only way to do this would be to have a web-based service that took in query string parameters (like zip code, for example) and then generated an image dynamically when requested. This would allow you to, in a Marketo email, insert an <img> element in your email with a dynamic "src" value like <img src="myimageservice.com/showUSmapwithdots?zip1={{lead.zip1}}&zip2={{lead.zip2}}" >

J
Julz_James
Level 8
December 28, 2016

Hi,

I've never done it using an address field, but by using segmentations based on country.  Could you build similar segmentation based on location/city etc?  It might take a little while to out but once its done it will be easy to manage?

Thanks

Julz

SanfordWhiteman
SanfordWhitemanAccepted solution
Level 10
December 28, 2016

Following on from Justin: the objective doesn't relate to Marketo, really.

The question is whether you have a service that can generate the static image you want based on a simple HTTP GET from an <IMG> tag (i.e. non-JavaScript-assisted, since emails can't run scripts).

In general such concepts are widespread (we use LiquidPixels, for example, for dynamic product images) and surely there's a GIS/mapping service that can do this. Even if there's not a direct <IMG> server available, with so many mapping APIs out there, you can build your own (compositing dynamic ➴ widgets with a preset map of the US is easy for a developer).

Alternately, you could call a webhook to pre-generate images and populate a URL field on the lead (this would be notably faster at open time, esp. if you're building your own image server and the server isn't equipped for massive real-time traffic).. Though still basically the same idea on the back end.

Michael_Loop8
Michael_Loop8Author
Level 2
December 28, 2016

Thanks for the responses all.  I agree Sanford.  That's the route we were thinking of going down.  Just wanted to pose to the community to see if there were any pre-built widgets or experiences to leverage. 

We'll let you know how we go.

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