---
title: "Using custom fields with your subscribers"
updated: 2025-12-11
---

# Using custom fields with your subscribers

> **Tech Note**
>
> If you are importing subscribers and wish to add data with custom fields, please refer to [How to import free subscribers and map custom fields or tags](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/article/4412705350679-how-to-import-free-subscribers-and-map-custom-fields-or-tags) for step-by-step instructions.

One of the best ways to ensure that you’re delivering content that resonates with your audience is to personalize your newsletter with subscriber information. To do this, you can create custom fields to store data about your subscribers and then use [merge tags](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/25846316892055) to place those custom fields as personalized content. 

This can be as simple as starting your newsletter off by greeting subscribers with their first name to more sophisticated implementations.

The following custom field types can be added to store data about your subscribers:

-   Text
-   Number
-   True / False
-   Date
-   Date & Time
-   List (Multi-Select)

> **Tech Note**
>
> Custom fields, including those used for merge tags, are case-sensitive. For example, if your custom field is ‘First Name,’ using ‘first name’ will not work.

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## How to create custom fields

1.  From the left panel dashboard, go to **Audience > Subscribers**.  
     
2.  Your Subscribers dashboard will open on the Subscribers tab, switch over to the [**Custom Fields**](https://app.beehiiv.com/subscribers/custom_fields) tab. To add a new one, click on **Create Custom Field**.  
      
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/32299810854679)
3.  A modal will appear for you to create your new custom field. Give the new field a **Name** (required) and then choose the **Data Type**; choose from **Text, Number, True/False, Date, Date & Time,** or **List (Multi-Select)**. Click **Save** to finalize your selections.  
      
    Custom fields can be anything you'd like, for example:

-   first name
-   last name
-   favorite color
-   birthday
-   subscriber rating
-   location  
      
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/32299857715991)  
    You can also choose a preset option to instantly create a custom field using commonly collected subscriber details like First name, Last name, Full name, or Company.  
      
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/32299810857879)
    
    > **Tech Note**
    >
    > If you use the preset options, your selections will automatically be saved, without the need to click on the **Save** button. In addition, if you already have a custom field that is a preset option, that option will not be available to you.
    

4.  Once saved, you’ll be taken back to your Subscribers dashboard where the new custom field will be listed.  
      
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/32299810859159)

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## Importing custom fields

We've made it easy to import any previous custom fields you have created for your subscribers.

When going through the import process, you'll be able to choose from existing custom fields you've already created, or create new ones on the fly.

![](https://media.beehiiv.net/uploads/asset/file/524b7de7-6640-47ab-89f7-4f4666a13aae/custom_import.gif)

This unlocks the ability to import metadata collected on a previous platform, or continue to bulk update additional subscriber data whenever you'd like. For step-by-step instructions, please read [How to import free subscribers and map custom fields or tags](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/article/4412705350679-how-to-import-free-subscribers-and-map-custom-fields-or-tags).

> **Tech Note**
>
> There are select reserved fields that are not able to be used as custom fields, and you can view them in [our list of reserved fields that can't become custom fields](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/7606088263191).

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## How to bulk update custom fields

You can bulk [update custom fields](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/13062438079895) using a CSV file. To do so, import your CSV to your account at **Settings >** [**Subscribers Import**](https://app.beehiiv.com/settings/publication/subscribers_import).

During the import process, when in the **Choose Columns to Import** step, check the option to **Overwrite existing custom field data on import**. Enabling this option will allow you to update the custom field data for your existing subscribers using data from the CSV file. 

> **Reminder**
>
> This action will overwrite the custom fields data in your account, so double check that you want to proceed with this option, before clicking **Import**.

![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/32299857719703)
> **Tech Note**
>
> You can also update custom fields via the [update subscription node](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/article/16681141352343-how-to-use-the-update-subscription-node). You can automate the updates based on user actions, manage subscriber status according to engagement levels, or identify users from specific sources.

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## Using custom fields as merge tags

Once you've set up custom fields in your account, you can use them to personalize your posts or automation emails. Merge tags allow you to dynamically insert this custom data into your content, like greeting each subscriber by their first name. [For instructions on how to use merge tags to customize your posts, refer to this article.](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/25846316892055)

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## Using surveys with custom fields 

One of the many beehiiv platform perks is our fully integrated [surveys](https://app.beehiiv.com/forms) that allow you to create custom surveys and collect information about your subscribers.

For example, if you [create a survey](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/21900901004311) form with the **first\_name** field then it'll set that value as a custom field for each subscriber that fills out the form. 

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