Smart Tags

Would you like to personalize your emails and forms with dynamic user information? User Registration & Membership allows you to insert smart tags - dynamic placeholders that automatically populate with real data like usernames, membership details, and site information.

This tutorial will show you how to use smart tags to create personalized email notifications and set default form values.

What Are Smart Tags?

Smart tags are dynamic placeholders that automatically insert real WordPress data into your emails, messages, and forms. Instead of manually entering user information, smart tags pull data like usernames, email addresses, membership plan names, and site details automatically.

Example: Instead of writing "Hello," you can write "Hello {{first_name}}," and each user will see their actual first name.

Before You Begin

Before getting started, make sure you've installed and activated the User Registration & Membership plugin on your WordPress site.

Finding Available Smart Tags

User Registration & Membership provides two ways to view all available smart tags.

Method 1: From the Dashboard

Go to User Registration & Membership → Dashboard

Click the Help tab

Under the Smart Tags section, click View Tags

Click the + sign next to each category to explore available tags

Method 2: In-Context While Editing

When editing emails or messages, look for the Smart Tags button or Insert Smart Tag option. This shows you tags relevant to that specific context.

Adding Smart Tags to Email Notifications

Email notifications are one of the most common places to use smart tags. Here's how to add them to your email templates.

Step 1: Access Email Settings

Navigate to User Registration & Membership → Settings

Click the Emails tab

Choose the appropriate tab based on your recipient:

Step 2: Select an Email Template

Find the email template you want to customize

Click the settings icon under the Configure tab for that email

Step 3: Insert Smart Tags

In the email editor, place your cursor where you want the smart tag to appear

Click the Add Smart Tags link

Select the appropriate smart tag from the list

The tag will be inserted in double curly brace format: {{tag_name}}

Step 4: Save and Preview

Click Save to preserve your changes

Use the Preview option to see how the email will look with sample data

Send a test registration to verify smart tags work correctly

Using Smart Tags for Default Form Field Values

Smart tags can also set default values for registration form fields, saving users time and reducing errors.

Step 1: Open the Form Builder

Go to User Registration & Membership → All Forms

Select the form you want to edit, or create a new one

Step 2: Configure Field Default Value

Drag and drop an input field onto your form

Click on the field to open Field Options

Navigate to Advanced Settings

Find the default value option for the selected field

Step 3: Insert Smart Tags

Click the <> button to see the list of available smart tags

Select the smart tag you want to use

The field will now auto-populate with that data when users view the form

Example: Use {{unique_id}} to automatically generate a unique identifier for each user registration.

Smart Tags for Custom Form Fields

If you've created custom fields in your registration form, you can use their values as smart tags in emails and other forms.

Finding Custom Field Smart Tags

Go to the form builder

Click on the custom field you created

Under Field Options, find the field name or unique key

Copy the unique key

Using Custom Field Smart Tags

Custom field smart tags follow this format:

{{field_name_with_unique_key}}

Example: If your country field has the unique key country_1748242489, the smart tag would be:

{{country_1748242489}}

Adding Custom Field Tags to Emails

Navigate to User Registration → Settings → Emails

Select the email template you want to customize

Insert the custom field smart tag using the format above

Save your changes

Complete Smart Tags Reference

User Registration & Membership provides smart tags organized into several categories. Here's a comprehensive reference of all available tags.

Basic User Information

Website Information

Membership Information

Date and Time

Security and Tracking

Form Information

Smart Tag Best Practices

Follow these guidelines to get the most out of smart tags:

Always Test Before Going Live

Send test registrations to verify that smart tags display correctly in emails and forms. Check both the subject line and email body.

Use Descriptive Context

When using smart tags in emails, provide context so users understand what the dynamic content represents.

Good: "Welcome to {{site_name}}, {{first_name}}! Your username is {{username}}."

Poor: "{{first_name}} {{username}} {{site_name}}"

Preserve Smart Tag Syntax

Smart tags must use the exact double curly brace syntax: {{tag_name}}. Don't modify the tag names or remove the braces.

Combine Smart Tags with Static Text

Mix smart tags with regular text to create natural, personalized messages:

Hi {{first_name}},

Thank you for joining {{site_name}}! Your {{membership_plan}} membership is now active.

You can log in at {{site_url}} using your username: {{username}}

Welcome aboard!

Check Smart Tag Availability

Not all smart tags work in every context. For example, membership-related tags only work when the Membership module is active and the user has a membership plan.

Common Smart Tag Use Cases

Here are practical examples of how to use smart tags effectively.

Personalized Welcome Email

Subject: Welcome to {{site_name}}, {{first_name}}!

Hi {{first_name}},

Thank you for registering at {{site_name}}. Your account has been created successfully.

Username: {{username}}
Email: {{email}}

You can log in at {{site_url}} to access your account.

Best regards,
The {{site_name}} Team

Membership Confirmation Email

Subject: Your {{membership_plan}} Membership is Active

Hello {{first_name}},

Your {{membership_plan}} membership at {{site_name}} is now active!

Membership Details:
- Plan: {{membership_plan}}
- Expiration: {{expiry_date}}

Access your member dashboard at {{site_url}}/my-account

Thank you for your support!

Password Reset Email

Subject: Reset Your Password for {{site_name}}

Hi {{username}},

We received a request to reset your password for {{site_name}}.

Click the link below to create a new password:
{{reset_link}}

If you didn't request this, you can safely ignore this email.

Best regards,
{{site_name}}

Auto-Generated User ID Field

Set the default value of a hidden field to {{unique_id}} to automatically assign each user a unique identifier during registration.

Smart Tags for Other Fields

In a form field, you can add Smart Tags as field values. That means you can also use information from the field you’ve added to your registration form (like dropdowns, text areas, phone numbers, etc.) in your emails.

Format: {{field_name_with_unique_key}}

Example: If you have a country field, it might look like: {{country_1748242489}}

How to Find Your Field Value to Use as a Smart Tag?

Go to your form builder.

Click on the form field you want to use.

Look for the field name or unique key under the Field Options.

Copy the unique key to use later in the Email Templates.

You can now add your field value anywhere in the email content. So, edit the email template like we did in the previous section.

Go to User Registration > Settings > Emails.

Select the email template you want to edit.

Add your field value as a smart tag anywhere in the email content.

In the image below, we have added the field value for the country as Smart Tag in the email template.

Now, you can send a test registration to make sure the smart tags work correctly.

Troubleshooting Smart Tags

If smart tags aren't working as expected, check these common issues:

Smart Tags Display as Plain Text

Problem: Email shows {{username}} instead of the actual username.

Solution: Make sure you're using the exact smart tag syntax with double curly braces. Check that the smart tag name is spelled correctly.

Custom Field Smart Tags Don't Work

Problem: Custom field values don't appear in emails.

Solution: Verify you're using the field's unique key, not just the field label. The unique key can be found in the field options under the form builder.

Membership Smart Tags Are Empty

Problem: Membership-related tags like {{membership_plan}} show nothing.

Solution: Ensure the Membership module is active and the user has an assigned membership plan. These tags only work for users with memberships.

Smart Tags Work in Preview but Not in Actual Emails

Problem: Preview shows correct data, but sent emails don't.

Solution: Send a test registration to verify. If the issue persists, check your email delivery settings and SMTP configuration.

That's It! Now you know how to use smart tags to personalize emails and set default form values in User Registration & Membership. Smart tags save time, reduce errors, and create a more professional experience for your users.

Next, would you like to learn how to customize email templates to match your brand? Be sure to check out our guide on customizing email content for all the details.