Designed and developed a dynamic HubSpot email template that personalizes book recommendations and promotional content based on individual user preferences. The solution combines HubDB, programmable email modules, and contact properties to deliver tailored content at scale without requiring manual email variants.
Role & Scope
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Front-End / Email Developer
Collaborated with an integration developer
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I owned the HubSpot-side architecture, data modeling, and email development. An integration developer handled the external data sync feeding the HubDB table.
The Challenge
The client needed a scalable way to deliver personalized email content driven by user genre preferences—without creating separate email templates or manually curating content for each audience segment. The system needed to support frequent data updates, promotional callouts, and flexible previewing inside HubSpot’s email editor.
The Solution
I implemented a modular email architecture using HubSpot programmable modules powered by HubDB. User preferences stored on contact records determine which content is queried and rendered at send time, allowing each recipient to receive a customized mix of listings and promotions from a single email template.
Contributions
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Designed and built the HubDB schema to support dynamic listings, promotional metadata, and category mapping.
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Created programmable email modules that query HubDB based on user preference properties.
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Built reusable macros to render listings in consistent rows, improving maintainability and layout control.
- Implemented logic to gracefully handle missing preferences using configurable default categories.
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Structured the email to support randomized content while respecting maximum display limits.
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Authored internal documentation outlining data structure, module configuration, and editorial workflows.
Collaboration
An integration developer implemented an external process to push updated listing and promotion data into HubDB. I partnered closely with them to define the field requirements and expected data formats to ensure seamless ingestion and reliable email rendering.
The Outcome
This approach enabled fully personalized email sends from a single HubSpot template, eliminating the need for manual variants or segmented builds. By centralizing content in HubDB and driving display logic through programmable modules, the solution reduced ongoing maintenance while giving marketing and editorial teams flexibility to update listings and promotions without developer involvement. The architecture established a scalable foundation for future personalization initiatives using HubSpot’s CMS and email tooling.