Common mistakes when using Mergo

Variables are not replaced (e.g. {{First Name}} remains visible)

Problem:

Your emails were sent, but the recipients see the merge tag code (e.g. {{First Name}} instead of the actual name).

Cause:

This issue occurs because the column header in your Google Sheet includes curly braces (e.g., named {{First Name}}).

Above: Notice the incorrect curly braces in the Google Sheet header (left) vs the correct usage in the Gmail draft (right).

Solution:

• Rename the header in Google Sheets: Change it from {{First Name}} to First Name (remove the braces).
• Check your Gmail draft: Ensure the tag still has the braces: {{First Name}}.
• Verify the match: Make sure the text inside the braces matches the sheet header exactly (Mergo is case and space-sensitive).

• Example: Sheet: First Name matches Draft: {{First Name}}.

• Test: Send yourself a test email to confirm the merge works correctly.

Related Articles:

• More details on Merge Tags
• How to view draft and send test email

Send button is disabled (Emails are "Smart Chips")

Problem:

The Send button in Mergo remains disabled (greyed out), or Mergo indicates "0 recipients found," even though your Email column appears to contain email addresses.

Cause:

This issue happens when email addresses are inserted as Google Sheets "People chips" (the grey, rounded pill-shaped objects), rather than plain text.

Mergo requires standard text strings (e.g., name@domain.com) to detect recipients. It cannot read the data trapped inside a Smart Chip object.

Above: Note the grey rounded "chips" in the column and the disabled Send button.

Solution:

You need to convert the chips back to regular text.

Method 1: The "Paste Special" Trick (Fastest)

1. Select your entire Email column.

   Copy it (Ctrl + C ).

   Paste as Values in the same place:

   • Right-click > Paste special > Values only.
   • Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac).
2. Verify: The cells should now show simple text without the grey rounded background.
3. Refresh: Close and reopen Mergo to update the button status.

Method 2: Remove Smart Chips (Alternative)

1. Select the cells with chips.
2. Right-click and go to Smart chips > Remove smart chip.
3. This will extract the email address as plain text.

Tracking issues or Duplicates (Modified "Merge status")

Problem:

• Tracking stops: Your emails are sent, but the "Merge status" column remains empty or doesn't update to "OPENED".
• Duplicates: Mergo re-sends emails to people who already received them.

Cause:

The Merge status column has been manually modified, moved, or renamed. Mergo relies on hidden technical data stored in Cell Notes (indicated by a small black triangle in the cell corner) to track each row.

• If you rename the header "Merge status" → The link is broken.
• If you delete the cell notes → Mergo "forgets" the email was sent and may send it again.
• If you manually type "SENT" → It does not update the system log.

Solution:

• Do not touch: Never rename, move, or hide the Merge status column while a campaign is active.
• If tracking is broken: You cannot "repair" the tracking for sent emails. You must let the campaign finish.
• To restart cleanly: If you want to re-send to everyone, delete the entire Merge status column. Mergo will recreate a fresh one with new tracking IDs when you launch the next campaign.

False "OPENED" status (Self-opening)

Problem:

• You notice suspicious "OPENED" statuses immediately after sending.
• Your Open Rate is unusually high (sometimes 100%).
• You receive a notification that "Someone opened your email" right after you checked your own "Sent" folder.

Cause:

You triggered the tracking pixel yourself. Mergo tracks opens using a tiny, invisible image (pixel) embedded in the email. This pixel fires whenever the email is displayed.

• If you go to your Sent folder and open the email to check it, the pixel loads.
• If you open a reply that quotes the original message history (with images enabled), the pixel loads.

Mergo records an "Open" because the image was loaded, but it cannot distinguish if it was you or the recipient.

Solution:

• Trust the Sheet: Rely on the "Merge Status" column to check if emails went out. Avoid verifying manually in your Gmail "Sent" folder.
• Don't load images: If you must check a sent email, ensure your email client is set to "Ask before displaying external images".
• Ignore the false positive: If you accidentally opened one, just keep in mind that this specific "OPENED" status is likely you. It does not affect the delivery of the email.