Delivering personalized and impactful customer experiences hinges on leveraging the right data at the right time. As a premier cross-channel marketing platform, Iterable offers an API that empowers developers and marketers alike to seamlessly integrate, manage, and utilize data for crafting personalized campaigns. This blog post explores the essentials of Iterable’s API, providing an overview and sample payloads to help you maximize your customer communications through an integrated martech stack.
What is an API?
Let’s start with what an API is in general. API stands for “Application Programming Interface.” According to IBM, a web API is “used to enable data and functionality transfer over the internet using HTTP protocol.” Or, in other words, an API gives users programmatic access to a product. They gain a convenient way to manage data or trigger relevant features.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into the key features of Iterable’s API.
What is Iterable’s API?
Iterable’s API is a powerful tool that allows brands to interact programmatically with the Iterable platform. It enables developers to integrate Iterable’s capabilities into their own applications, automate workflows, and ensure real-time data synchronization. By using even just a small subset of Iterable’s API capabilities, businesses can efficiently manage user data, trigger events, and create dynamic, personalized marketing campaigns.
Key Features of Iterable’s API
- Comprehensive Endpoints: Iterable’s API boasts a wide array of endpoints, enabling marketers to manage users, events, campaigns, lists, and more. This extensive coverage ensures that brands have the tools needed to execute any marketing strategy seamlessly.
- REST Protocol: The API implements the REST protocol, making it easy to use with predictable and consistent structures. Each endpoint is accessed via standard HTTP methods, facilitating straightforward integration into any application or workflow.
- Real-Time Data Handling: With Iterable’s API, marketers can handle data in real-time, ensuring marketing campaigns are always up-to-date and relevant. This capability is crucial for delivering timely and personalized messages to customers.
- Secure and Scalable: Security is paramount, and Iterable’s API ensures secure data transactions through HTTPS and robust authentication methods, such as limited-scope API keys. Additionally, the API is designed to handle large volumes of data, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Getting Started with Iterable’s API
To begin using Iterable’s API, the first step is to generate an API key. This key is essential for authenticating requests and ensuring secure access to your Iterable account.
Step-by-Step Guide to Generate an API Key:
- Log in to your Iterable account.
- Navigate to the Integrations section.
- Click on API Keys.
- Generate a new API key, ensuring you grant it the appropriate permissions based on your use case.
- Store the API key securely, as it will be required for all your API requests.
Once you have your API key, you’re ready to start making requests. Let’s explore some common use cases and their corresponding sample payloads.
Common API Use Cases and Sample Payloads
1. Adding a User
To add a new user to your Iterable project, use the /api/users/update endpoint. This endpoint allows you to create or update user data, ensuring your contact list is always current.
Request:
POST /api/users/update
{
"email": "john.doe@example.com",
"dataFields": {
"firstName": "John",
"lastName": "Doe",
"signupDate": "2024-01-01"
},
"preferUserId": false
}
Explanation:
email: The user’s email address.dataFields: A JSON object containing custom data fields for the user.preferUserId: If set to true, the API will prefer the userId over email for identifying users.
2. Triggering a Custom Event
Custom events are essential for tracking user actions and triggering automated workflows. Use the /api/events/track endpoint to record these events.
Request:
json
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POST /api/events/track
{
"email": "john.doe@example.com",
"eventName": "purchase",
"dataFields": {
"itemName": "Smartphone",
"itemPrice": 699,
"purchaseDate": "2024-06-01"
}
}
Explanation:
email: The email of the user associated with the event.eventName: The name of the event you are tracking.dataFields: A JSON object containing additional data relevant to the event.
3. Sending a Transactional Email
Transactional emails are crucial for sending personalized messages based on user actions. Use the /api/email/target endpoint to send these emails.
Request:
json
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POST /api/email/target
{
"recipientEmail": "john.doe@example.com",
"campaignId": 12345,
"dataFields": {
"firstName": "John",
"orderNumber": "987654321",
"orderTotal": "$699.00"
}
}
Explanation:
recipientEmail: The recipient’s email address.campaignId: The ID of the email campaign you want to send.dataFields: Custom data fields to personalize the email content.
4. Creating a List
Managing lists is fundamental for segmenting your audience. Use the /api/lists endpoint to create a new list.
Request:
json
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POST /api/lists
{
"name": "VIP Customers"
}
Explanation:
name: The name of the list you want to create.
5. Adding Users to a List
Once you have your list, add users to it using the /api/lists/subscribe endpoint.
Request:
json
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POST /api/lists/subscribe
{
"listId": 67890,
"subscribers": [
{
"email": "john.doe@example.com"
},
{
"email": "jane.smith@example.com"
}
]
}
Explanation:
listId: The ID of the list you want to add subscribers to.subscribers: An array of subscriber objects, each containing an email address.
Best Practices for Using Iterable’s API
To get the most out of Iterable’s API, consider the following best practices:
- Rate Limiting: Be mindful of API rate limits to avoid hitting thresholds that can disrupt your workflows. Efficiently batch requests where possible.
- Data Validation: Ensure your data is validated before making API requests to prevent errors and ensure data integrity.
- Error Handling: Implement robust error handling in your applications to gracefully manage API errors and retries.
- Security: Keep your API keys secure and rotate them regularly to mitigate security risks.
- Documentation: Regularly consult Iterable’s API documentation for updates and best practices to stay informed about new features and improvements.
Seamlessly Integrate to Personalize Messaging
Iterable’s API is a cornerstone for modern marketing automation, providing the tools you need to manage data, trigger events, and personalize campaigns with precision. By leveraging the comprehensive endpoints and following best practices, you can harness the full potential of Iterable’s platform to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Whether you’re adding users, tracking events, sending transactional emails, or managing lists, Iterable’s API offers the flexibility and power to elevate your marketing strategies to new heights.
Unlock the power of Iterable’s API today and transform your customer engagement like never before—schedule a demo today.
