---
title: "Insert Personalizations into HTML Emails and SMS Messages"
slug: "insert-a-personalization"
description: "Insert placeholders and personalization rules into HTML emails and SMS messages in Mapp Engage with drag and drop, right-click, or one click."
status: "update"
updated: 2026-11-04T13:39:34Z
published: 2026-11-04T13:39:34Z
canonical: "docs.mapp.com/insert-a-personalization"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Insert Personalizations into HTML Emails and SMS Messages

## Goal

Insert a placeholder or a personalization rule into an HTML email or an SMS message.

---

## Background Information

You insert personalizations from the personalization expander in the **Content** step of a message. The expander is the same in HTML emails and SMS messages. You can use three methods:

- **Drag & Drop**: Inserts a placeholder or a rule with content at a specific position. With this method, you cannot assign a personalization to a whole paragraph.
- **Right Mouse Click**: You select the personalization first and then apply it to a paragraph or section. You can mark several paragraphs one after another.
- **One click**: You select the position or paragraph first and then click the personalization.

Only personalization rules that consist of a single `InsertIf` block without content can be assigned to a whole paragraph. The paragraph is then only shown to recipients who meet the condition. If you select a placeholder, a rule with content, or a rule with several `InsertIf` or `InsertElse` blocks for a paragraph, the paragraph is replaced by the personalization after a confirmation prompt.

For creating SMS messages, see [Create and Customize SMS Messages](/v1/docs/create-sms-message).

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> Placeholders are replaced with the values of each contact at sendout. The character count in the SMS editor therefore does not show the final length, and the length can differ for each recipient.

For the structure of placeholders, see [Personalization Placeholders](/v1/docs/personalization-tags-for-placeholders). For all elements of the expander, see [Message Creation: Personalization (HTML Email)](/v1/docs/personalization-wizard).

---

## Procedure

### 1 Open the personalization expander

1. Open the message in the **Content** step. To edit a saved draft, click *Messages > Draft Messages* and select the message.
2. Click **Personalisation**.

The personalization expander opens.
3. Search for the personalization you want to insert. To create a new personalization rule, click **New**. See [Create a Personalization Rule](/v1/docs/create-a-personalization-rule).

### 2 Insert the personalization

Use one of the following methods.

#### Drag & Drop

1. In the personalization expander, click the drag icon next to the personalization and hold down the mouse button.
2. Drag the personalization into the message content. The areas where you can drop it are highlighted in green.
3. Move the cursor to the position where the personalization should be inserted.
4. Release the mouse button.

The personalization is inserted at this position.

#### Right Mouse Click

1. In the **Insert Mode** area, select **Right Mouse Click**.
2. Click the icon next to the personalization you want to insert.

A red circle appears on the mouse cursor. Over parts of the message that can be personalized, the circle turns green and these parts are highlighted in green.
3. Move the cursor to the part of the message that should be personalized.
4. Right-click and select **INSERT**.

The personalization is inserted.

If you created a rule in the Personalization Builder and clicked **Use**, you insert it in the same way, starting with step 3.

#### One click

1. In the **Insert Mode** area, select **One click**.
2. Place the cursor where the personalization should be inserted, or select the paragraph that should be personalized.
3. Click the icon next to the personalization.

The personalization is inserted at the cursor position or assigned to the paragraph.

### 3 Preview the message

Preview the message with the values of different contacts to check the personalization. See [Message Preview (Email)](/v1/docs/email-message-preview) or [Message Creation: Preview (SMS)](/v1/docs/sms-message-preview-window).

## Related

- [Message Creation: Personalization (HTML Email)](/personalization-wizard.md)