How to use MailerLite to Automate Emails with Custom Fields and Unique RSS Links

You can send unique subscription emails to your JustCast listeners through MailerLite by using custom fields and automation. Here’s how it works.

1. A new listener is added to your feed.
2. JustCast passes their subscription link to MailerLite.
3. You send an email to the listener from your email address with a custom design and message along with a unique link to your JustCast.

For example, you can create a subject line that reads “Thank You, John!” by typing “Thank You {$first_name}!” in MailerLite. This code will pull details from their contact information to populate custom emails. To view a complete list of codes, navigate to the “Fields” tab (nestled under the “Subscribers” tab in the left side menu).

How to View and Add Custom Fields in MailerLite

After linking your MailerLite and JustCast accounts, JustCast will automatically add custom fields to your MailerLite account. Under the “Fields” tab (nestled under the “Subscribers” tab in the left side menu), you can view all current fields.

You should be able to see unique JustCast codes in your MailerLite account that look like {$justcast_show_42093_rss_feed} or {$justcast_show_42093_web_player_url}.

On this page, you can also add new fields by clicking the “Create field” button.

How to Automate Emails with Unique JustCast Subscription Links in MailerLite

Automation makes private podcast management much easier, and after linking JustCast and MailerLite, you can automate emails that contain the unique links users need to access the podcast.

Step 1: Create the Automation Workflow

1. In MailerLite, select the “Automation” tab in the left side menu.
2. On the “Automations” page, select the “New automation” button.
3. Enter automation name. Click the “Start building” button.
4. Select a workflow trigger. Choose “When subscriber joins a group” from the drop-down menu.
5. Select a group from the drop-down menu.
6. After reviewing your choices, select the “Save” button.
7. Now, you should see “When subscriber joins a group {group name}” in the center of your screen. Underneath that, click the “+” button to add an action.
8. MailerLite will prompt you to “Add a next step to your workflow.” Select “Email.”
9. On the right side menu, enter the name of the email and the subject line. Edit the sender information if necessary. To continue, select the grey “Design email” button.

Step 2: Design Automated Email Template

1. On the right side menu, select “Drag & drop editor.”
2. Inside the editor, you can make various customizations to the body of your email.
3. For example, if you hover over the logo at the top, you can select the trash icon to delete it.
4. To change the header text, click on it. On the right side menu, customize your email header. For example, “Thank you for subscribing to our podcast.”
5. You can continue to edit the body of the email, but we suggest deleting everything on the page except the header and footer.
6. Then, add unique links to your email by selecting the drop-down menu on the top left side. It may say, “All blocks.” In the drop-down menu, find and select “Buttons.”
7. Drag and drop “2 Buttons” into your email template. These buttons will allow your listener to click directly into the app to import and listen to your unique podcast feed.
8. To create a button destination, click on the button. Rename the button “Apple Podcasts.”
9. Open a new tab on your web browser. Navigate to the “Fields” page (nestled under the “Subscribers” tab in the left side menu). Find the unique link to your JustCast Feed on Apple Podcasts. It should look like ${justcast_show_42093_apple_podcasts_link} with your unique podcast ID number. Copy this field.
10. Paste the field into the hyperlink text box for the “Apple Podcasts” button in your Email template editor. If there is no text, it should read “Enter URL.”
11. Repeat steps 8-10 to create a button for Google Podcasts.

Step 3: Add Unique RSS Feed Data

1. In the drop-down menu on the top left side (where we found “Buttons” earlier), select “Content.” In the left side menu that appears, drag and drop a “Text” section under the buttons section.
2. Change the text to Add the following URL to your favorite podcast player and select “Save.”
3. Under the “Content” left side menu, drag and drop a “Text Box” section beneath the “Text” section we just added.
4. Delete the placeholder text from the text box and select the variable icon. It looks like {x}.
5. A “Variable” window will pop up. Select your podcast’s unique RSS feed variable. It looks like {justcast_show_42093_rss_feed}.
6. Now your unique RSS feed field should appear in the email template. Select the “Done editing” button in the top right corner.

Step 4: Activate Automation Workflow

1. When you’re satisfied with the workflow automation and email template, you must activate your automation. To do this, toggle the switch at the top of the page to live. Then, select the “Save” button on the lower right.

You’re done! Now, your MailerLite and JustCast integration is working hard, so you don’t have to. Your new listeners will automatically receive a unique link to your private podcast in a customized email directly from your email address.