Contact Custom Fields

While many default, system-provided fields are available for storing details about your contacts, Custom Fields allow you to store additional information specific to your company and your needs. Details such as customer number, account number, website URL, and even their comments can be stored in fields you create.

• Net-Results allows an unlimited number of Custom Fields
• Each field may store up to 1024 characters
• Custom Fields support the following data types: Text, Number, Date, Date/Time

Custom Field Types

Text:
The most widely used contact custom field type. This field type is used to collect data that can be used as a description or an identifier and can include both text and numerical field values.

• • Region

• • ID Numbers

• Paragraph Form Answers

Number:
Number contact fields are used to organize any numerical value that can be used to sort contacts. These values will be organized based on less/greater than or equal to values.

• • Number of Employees

• Number of Clients

Date:
The Date contact custom field helps you organize contact data using specific dates pertaining to each contact.

• • Campaign Begin Date

• • Expiration Date

• Registration Date

Date and Time:
Much like the Date Field, Date and Time fields will organize and sort your contact’s data using both dates, but also specific times being tracked.

• • BETA Code Activation

• • Webinar Start

• Campaign Qualification

Lookup:
A lookup field has the ability to look to a custom object being used on the contact or account level. This can be used in instances where you need to connect the revenue value from an account to a newly created Revenue Lookup Custom Field. Any changes to the custom object will automatically be reflected within the lookup custom field.

Website:
While you do have the option of creating a Text Type custom field for a website, it will not check to ensure the URL is valid. Using a Website Custom Field does require a protocol identifier (http, https) to make sure that the URL being used is accurate, thus ensuring accurate data management.

Why You Should Use a Text Type for Some Numerical Values

Earlier in this article we learned that number fields can be used in conditions that are based on greater than, less than or equal to logic. But what if you are dealing with an identification number, like a GoToWebinar Registration Number for instance?

When using numbers for identification purposes, you’ll want to choose the Text Custom Field Type. The reason for this lies in conditions that you will be using in future segments and campaigns. You wouldn’t want to use greater than when looking for individuals in a specific zip code, right? Text fields will allow you to work with identifying numbers in the same way you would a first name, address, or job title!

Mapping Your Custom Field

Once you are done creating your contact custom fields, you’ll need to then complete the mapping process. This is done for three distinct reasons:

• Connect Net-Results to your CRM so that you can transfer data between the two without inconsistencies occurring
• Direct form answers from either Net-Results or your Web Forms back to their corresponding fields in Net-Results
• Tell Net-Results where to store data that has been uploaded from a CSV file during a contact upload

Deleting or Changing Your Custom Fields in Net-Results

Deleting your custom fields within Net-Results will act the same as if you were to remove a folder from a filing cabinet. You’re removing the place for special data to be stored, thus removing the data that would have been in this custom field.

Check out this video to learn more!