Direct Update

Direct Update allows you to update a contact's field data and mobile number when they visit a page on your website via an email you send from the application.

You can add or subtract from numerical values, as well as set any field to a specific value. This allows you to easily keep contact data and subscription information up to date without manually importing or updating data.

Direct Update works by specifying a field you want to change, how you want to change it (the operation), and a specific data value. This is accomplished by adding parameters to a URL contained in an image tag in the following format: 
field1=fieldname,operation,value
Warning: If you are using a private domain, Direct Update cookies will be set after a contact clicks a link and before the contact is redirected to your customer site. The following actions should be avoided in order to ensure that Direct Update will work properly:
  • Changing the domain in the Direct Update img tag src attribute.
  • Changing the URL in the Direct Update img tag src attribute to use https if you do not have a https license for your sending domain (Example: mail.company.com). Changing this URL to https will cause Direct Update to no longer work without a SSL certificate. Learn how to work with Bronto to set up a SSL certificate.
Note: In order for Direct Update to work, a cookie needs to have been set in the contact's browser by the application. The cookie is used to identify the contact so the application knows which contact to update. A cookie is set in a contacts browser when:
  • A contact clicks a link in an email you send them from the application.
  • A contact is added to your account via Direct Add and you have the Create Tracking Cookie box checked.
  • A contact is added to your account via an Add Contacts webform and you have the Create Tracking Cookie box checked in the from settings.
The cookie will remain for 20 years, provided the contact does not clear the cookies in their browser.

There are number of ways you can update contact information (the information you store in fields) in your account. An alternative to Direct Update is to use a Manage Preferences webform to let contacts update their information. . For information on using Direct Add and a Manage Preferences webform to add contacts and simultaneously allow them to choose their preferences, see Direct Add.

Warning: When using Direct Update, your URLs should be less than 2,000 characters.