Customer Attributes

Rachael Norris
Rachael Norris
  • Updated

You can set up Customer Attributes to collect and store extra information about Customers on your Spektrix system.

In this article, we’ll provide an example use case and cover how to create a Customer Attribute.

Before getting started with Customer Attributes, take a look at:

VIDEO: If you're new to Customer Attributes, take a look at our Contact Preferences, Tags and Customer Attributes concept video.

Why use Customer Attributes?

You can use Customer Attributes to collect and store extra information about Customers.

When creating new Customer Records, Customer Attributes will display as additional fields. You can even make the Attribute required to ensure this information is always completed. 

You can apply Customer Attributes retrospectively by updating a Customer Record, or at the time of creating a new Customer Record.

Once a Customer Attribute is applied, it can be used to power:

 

Example use cases

Customer Attributes are commonly used to store extra information about Customers which aren’t available in the default fields.

For example, you may collect the official First Name and Last Name of a Customer, but you could use a Customer Attribute of ‘preferred name’ to capture this information if the Customer prefers to be referred to by a different name. 

This could be useful to know for Front of House teams or workshop facilitators.

 

How to create a Customer Attribute

To create a new Customer Attribute, navigate to the Settings Interface > Attributes > Customer.

TIP: You'll need the Settings Administrator user role to create and edit Attributes. If you don’t have this permission, ask the administrator in your organisation.

Click the New Attribute Definition button.

 

Attribute Definition

Next, you’ll be asked to input information to define the parameters of your Attribute.

Complete the following information.

  • Name: Give the Attribute a clear and descriptive name. Attribute names cannot include special characters (, . - & ! / etc.). Your Attribute name cannot be longer than 50 characters.

TIP: Consider if your Attribute will be visible to customers on your website when choosing the name of your Attribute. You cannot change the name of an Attribute once you have created it.

WARNING: If you plan to sync your Attribute into Dotdigital, your Attribute name cannot exceed 16 characters.

  • Type: Choose the Attribute Type.

  • Description: Use this field to make it clear to other members of your team what the purpose of this Attribute is. This description will only be visible in the Sales or Opportunities Interface.

  • This Attribute is visible in your API integrations: Check this box to make this Attribute available to the API.
  • This Attribute is visible in your iframe integrations: Check this box to let Customers fill this Attribute Value in in your website integrations. Your web team can also use this Attribute as part of your iframe integration – more information on using Attributes in iframe integrations can be found in the Filtering iframes article. 
  • This Attribute can be edited in your iframe integrations: Check this box to make this Attribute editable by Customers in iframe integrations. This option will be unavailable unless the previous checkbox is checked.
  • This Attribute is always required: Check this box to make this Attribute mandatory.

    Required Attributes will appear with a red line. You’ll need to enter information in order to proceed:

  • This Attribute is protected: Checking this box will set the Attribute to be only visible and editable to users with the Can view and edit protected data user role. This may be useful if you need to hold sensitive information on your system, such as safeguarding information about young participants.

TIP: Protected Attributes cannot be made visible or editable online so this information cannot be collected from the Customer during their account creation or during the purchase path online.

  • Length: Choose the maximum number of characters that can be entered, or set the exact number of characters which have to be entered to proceed. A Text Field can contain a maximum of 255 characters.

  • Allow users to enter free text for this Attribute: This option is only available for Dropdown List Attributes.

  • Ensure Users enter a unique Value: Check this box if you require a unique value to be entered every time.

  • Send this Attribute Definition to Dotdigital: Check this box to sync this Attribute to Dotdigital as a Data Field.

Once you are happy with the information inputted, click Create Attribute Definition.

 

Attribute Values

If you choose a Dropdown List, you will then need to add in the values. 

Type each of your values for this Attribute on a separate line. Each line appears as a value in this Attribute’s Dropdown List.

    • Select the Attribute you want to edit. 
    • Go to Attribute Values.
    • To add a new Attribute Value click New Attribute Value.
    • You can rearrange the Values by clicking and dragging them from the grey dots on the left.

    • Clicking the grey trash can icon will delete the Attribute value.
    • Click on the name of the Attribute value to edit.

    WARNING: Editing the name of an Attribute Value will replace all existing values with the new value. If your website integration uses this Attribute then this may prevent your website from working properly.

    • Click Update Attribute Value if you are happy to proceed.

 

Customer Attributes in the Sales or Opportunities Interface

Once created, your new Customer Attribute will appear on Customer Records in the Sales Interface > Customers or Opportunities Interface > People.

In this example, you can see the Preferred Name Attribute on the Customer Record.

To apply a Customer Attribute Value to a Customer, fill in the Attribute Value field when creating a new Customer Record.

If you want to fill in an Attribute Value to an existing Customer Record, you can update the Customer Record and save your changes.

TIP: You can add Customer Attribute Values to existing Customers in bulk using a Customer List.

 

Customer Attributes online

Customer Attributes can be made visible to Customers online in API or iframe website integrations. 

The Customer Attribute will be visible to Customers when creating their account or if the customer edits their account online.

In this example you can see the Preferred Name Attribute on the Account Creation page:

 

 

Further Reading

 To continue learning about the Customer Record, take a look at the following articles:

You can find more articles on the Customer Record in the Sell Items and Fulfill Orders section of the Support Centre.