Email hashing is the encoding of email addresses into unique values that are used in outgoing emails. Through e-mail hashing, unknown browser cookies can be linked to known e-mail addresses in Squeezely.
The email hashing proces
The operation is as follows:
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From email address to email hash
Based on SHA-256 cryptography, Squeezely automatically creates e-mail hashes for e-mail addresses. This is a profile field. For example, email address 'support@spotler.com' will be encrypted as: d25fe29dfd45dbe35999123db90e53110afd5777f491b79ed397ba8c4f96f46c -
Incorporating an e-mail hash into e-mails
In outgoing e-mails the parameter of the e-mail hash needs to be added to URLs that lead to the website. For example, a URL in a newsletter from Mijnwebsite.com can contain the following parameter: www.mywebsite.com?email=[[data:email_hash]]. When sending emails, the individual email hash is filled in for each recipient. For 'support@spotler.com', the URL looks like this: www.mijnwebsite.com?email=d25fe29dfd45dbe35999123db90e53110afd5777f491b79ed397ba8c4f96f46c -
Linking a cookie to an e-mail address
When recipients click on the URLs in the e-mails, the URL containing the parameter of their e-mail hash is loaded into the browser. The Squeezely tracking script captures the email hash from the URL and compares it to the email hashes in the database. If Squeezely finds a matching email hash, the visitor's cookie is linked to the existing profile of the email hash. The website behavior of the cookie is then bundled with the existing profile information.
Use the email hash in your Email Service Provider
Your Email Service Provider (ESP) needs to know the email hashes, so it can be used as a parameter in the URLs in the email.
Step 1: Your ESP needs to know the email hashes
The email hashes need to be exported from Squeezely to the Email Service Provider (ESP). The export process differs per ESP:
Do you use one of our ESP connectors?
The email hashes will be exported to these ESPs automatically, if the full implementation is done. For possible exceptions, please check the specific connector documentation.
Is there no connector for your ESP?
The email hashes need to be imported into the ESP manually and periodically. Go to Audiences and create a Custom audience with the following line:
Wait for the status 'Live'. Click on the three bullets and 'Download CSV':
Import the CSV with the columns 'email' and 'email_hash' into the ESP.
Warning: Never add a static email hash to an outgoing email.
Step 2: Add the email hash as a parameter in URLs
The email hash can be added as a parameter in the ESP. Adding it differs per ESP. If you use one of our ESP connector, please check the specific connector documentation. If you don't use one of our connectors, please contact your ESP for more information.
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