Customer Targeted Content

The Customer Targeted Content Plug-in (CTC) is designed to segment the website customers, and provide different content for each segment. The following cases illustrate the broad use of the feature:

Client A sells children’s books. Based on customer attributes, the client knows what gender and age groups the customer interacts with (e.g. Boy 4-6; Boy 6-8, Boy 8-10; Girl 4-6; etc) and how (e.g. Teacher, Parent, Grandparent, etc.). Using this data, the client can display content (e.g. new book releases) on their home page that are targeted to the customer’s specific purchasing needs, once the customer logs in. Selection method can be set to First to speed lookup or prioritize certain segments; random to allow customers that fit multiple segments to see varying content.
Client B sells sports equipment. They want to display home page content that is specific to the customers’ sport, but also rotate content within each sport. Client can create multiple segments in the CTC plug-in, with multiple versions of each segment (e.g. Sport = Baseball). Selection Method is set to Random so that any matching segment template may be displayed when the page is loaded.
Client C sells B2B through their website, and wants to hide certain product page content from non-authorized users. Using the CTC plug-in, default users (those not logged in) receive generic content, while sensitive information is hidden. Those with log-ins and the correct customer types receive the sensitive content, and are able to purchase.

The CTC Plug-in is a custom plug-in; SQL must be run on a client’s environment in order to activate the feature.

Step	Action
1	On the first page of the plug-in, the user must first name the plug-in.
2	Next, set the Selection Method to First Match or Random. First Match is best used when customers segment criteria is mutually exclusive, and customers will only fit a single segment. This method is more efficient, in that it selects the first segment that matches the customer’s criteria. Random provides more flexibility. If there is a potential for overlap of customer segments (perhaps Client A above has customers with more than one child), or the intent is to provide differing content for each customer segment (See Client B above), then random is appropriate, albeit somewhat slower.
3	Next, specify the number of segments to be defined. The Default segment will always be rendered as Segment 1. This is the template that will display for customers who are not logged into the website, or whose criteria do not fit any of the defined segments. If the plug-in is reopened and the number of segments increased, new segments will be created at the bottom of the list on page 2. If the plug-in is reopened and the number of segments decreased, excess segments will be removed from the bottom of the list on page 2.
4	Click Save, and page two will be rendered.
5	For each segment, provide a recognizable segment name.
6	For each segment select or create the template to be displayed.
7	For each segment click Create Condition, and provide the criteria specific to that segment. Only customer custom attributes are provided. Click Commit to save the condition.
8	You may click “Delete Segment” if you determine that a certain segment is no longer needed.
9	Click Save when all data is complete.
10	Once the plug-in is configured, it can be added to a template in the place where the content is desired.