Hi,
I’m trying to create a referral workflow. I’ve created a form for the referrer to fill in the referee’s details, which includes a custom field that contains the rererrer’s email address. I’d like to send an email to that address in the custom field in my workflow, but I cannot see how to do it.
To that point, I can’t see a way to send an email to a contact’s “Work email address,” or “Contact Email” either - can you do it? If so, how?
Hi @JOxtoby,
The only field that can be used for email sending is the one default, official Email contact property. Emails cannot be sent custom properties at this stage.
@jackcoldrick recently shared a great article on Linkedin on how to Create a Referral Program with HuBspot using Marketing and Operations Hub, you might find that helpful to build your program.
Also, for your own referral program keep in mind that you need a legal basis to communicate with a contact. The referrer cannot provide this legal basis on behalf of the referee. In most countries an email send to the referee is not compliant with legal data privacy and protection legislation.
Hope this helps!
Hello @JOxtoby ,
HubSpot’s Accpetable Use Policy does not permit use of the markerting email tool for contacts that have not personally opted into your brand, and this includes marketing emails sent via a workflow. A person may not give opt in consent for another individual - consent needs to come from the owner of the email address personally and directly. Referral contacts cannot be used for marketing email sends for this reason.
To avoid any possible deliverability problems or possible suspension of your account’s marketing email capabilities, please be sure all contacts used for marketing email sends align with HubSpot’s minimum requirements for this tool.
If you would like to email engage with contacts who have not yet opted into your brand, a best practice is to send them a personal/1:1 message with a link to a CTA or form where they can choose to opt in if they would like. Contacts who submit on a form on your brand’s website will be eligble for inclusion in marketing emails from that point forward.
Yikes. Noted! Thanks for the information DeliveryByJess. And thank you to Karsten, I will check that article out.
So just saying it is possible to send marketing emails to a “custom properties”
Just have to throw my 2 cents in bc i can’t stand it when no one thinks out of the box/is using workarounds
You are still sending the marketing emails from the “email” field bc thats the only property which hubspot is using.
You just have to implent a workflow which copies the email to a back up property and then replaces it with the custom property.
You also have to check for email duplicates since you can’t have 2 of the same contact with the same email adress.
You can do this all without custom code with just some formatting of properties and one calculate property.
If anyone needs direction just reply to my answer 
(And exclaimer: its not 100% perfect like every workaround there are things which i maybe didn’t go over/ haven’t encountered yet)
Can you elaborate on how you can do this?