Which placeholders can I use in an email template?

Mike

Mike

Last updated on Nov 2, 2026

Placeholders are words inside double curly braces, like {{recipientName}}. When you use a template, each one is replaced with the real value. The easiest way to add one is the {{ }} Variables button in the editor toolbar.

About you

  • {{userName}} is your author name. {{authorName}}, {{user.name}} and {{author.name}} work too. If you send as a pen name, the pen name is used. Otherwise it's the name in your profile in Settings.
  • {{authorEmail}} is your account email address. {{user.email}} works too.

About the reader

  • {{recipientName}} is the reader's name. {{recipient.name}} works too.
  • {{recipientEmail}} is the reader's email address.

About the book

  • {{bookTitle}} is the book title. {{arcBook}} and {{book.title}} work too.
  • {{releaseDate}} is the release date saved for the book in Book Library.
  • Sales links come from the book's links in Book Library. For example: {{amazonLink}}, {{amazonKindleLink}}, {{appleBooksLink}}, {{barnesNobleLink}}, {{koboLink}}, {{goodreadsLink}}, {{googlePlayLink}}, {{bookshopLink}}, {{walmartLink}}, {{scribdLink}}, {{smashwordsLink}}, {{overdriveLink}}, {{hooplaLink}}, {{draft2digitalLink}} and {{ingramSparkLink}}.
  • Shorter versions also work: {{nookLink}}, {{appleLink}}, {{googleLink}}, {{d2dLink}} and {{ingramLink}}.
  • {{otherLinks}} lists any custom sales channels you've added to the book.

If a book doesn't have a link you used, that placeholder is left blank.

Dates and files

  • {{date}} is today's date.
  • {{downloadLink}} is a link to a watermarked file. Pick the file in Download file when you use the template.
  • {{reviewFormLink}} is the reader's personal review link. It only fills in for emails sent by a sequence, and only once the book has a review page. See the ARC Tracker articles on review links.

Legal notices

  • {{isbn}} and {{infringingURL}} (or {{url}}) are asked for when you send. They're used in the built-in DMCA templates.

Your own placeholders

You can make up your own, such as {{giftCode}}. When you use the template, the window asks you to fill it in under This template also needs:.

Placeholders in Default To Email

You can put {{recipientEmail}} in Default To Email. If you put any other placeholder there, the To field starts out blank and you type the address yourself.