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Pardot requires the email body to contain {{{EmailPreferenceCenter}}} before it will send the email. I already have an external preference center page on my website that I would like to use. Is there a way in Pardot to define my existing external page as the {{{EmailPreferenceCenter}}} instead of a Pardot landing page? 

 

If I insert the merge field tag into the body of the email then link it to my external url, it works. However the merge field displayed in the delivered email is very long and not meaningful. This reference (https://www.salesforceben.com/the-drip/pardot-email-preference-center-best-practices-updated-2020/) under stap #3 indicates I can edit the vanity url, but that function doesn't seem to be working in my instance and doesn't appear to allow for an external url anyway.

 

If I make an href with the merge field as the link, it will only go to the Pardot preference page. 
4 answers
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  1. Jun 2, 2021, 10:55 PM
    Kathi,

     

    You're correct that the vanity URL won't really work for your situation (doesn't allow you to set an external URL). Pardot requires either an unsubscribe or email preference center link in order to keep emails CAN-SPAM compliant.

     

    If you're using an external page to handle your email preferences, you can circumvent the Pardot page by including the merge tag, but not necessarily showing it in the email. This is only acceptable if you have another way for users to unsubscribe. CAN-SPAM compliant emails must include a way for recipients to manage email preferences, including unsubscribing. It sounds like you do, so I'll move forward under that assumption.

     

    If you go to the section of your email where your custom unsubscribe link will be, you can place a link without text in the HTML editor. This will allow you to send the email, while still using your custom page link. Here is what the code might look like:

    <a href="%%email_preference_center%%"></a>

    Embedded in the HTML editor:

     

    Kathi, You're correct that the vanity URL won't really work for your situation (doesn't allow you to set an external URL).

     

    Pardot will see the email preference center link in the email, and allow you to proceed with sending. The viewer of the email won't see anything, since the link tag contains no text. You can then link your own text to the URL of your choice. You don't have to do that piece in the HTML editor. You can use the standard WYSIWIG builder to create the text and link. Then switch to HTML in order to add the blank tag.

     

    Let me know if that works for you, or if I can help with anything else.
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