👉 This article applies specifically to custom tokens — the tokens you create yourself in the Custom Tokens section of Bookboost.
Introduction
When building campaigns and content blocks in Bookboost, you may want to include clickable links that trigger an action. A common assumption is that you can format a custom token value as a hyperlink using HTML or markdown. This article explains how custom token output works and the correct way to create clickable links in your messages.
Main Concept
Custom tokens always output plain text. When a custom token is rendered in a sent message, it outputs only the raw value stored — nothing more.
This means:
Adding HTML (e.g.
<a href="https://...">Click here</a>) inside a custom token value will not render as a link — it will appear as raw HTML text in the message.Adding markdown (e.g.
[Click here](https://...)) inside a custom token value will not render as a link either — it will appear exactly as typed.
This is expected behaviour across all campaign types and channels. Custom tokens are for inserting text values, not for formatting or rendering links.
Use Cases 🎯
Displaying a plain phone number in a pre-arrival or confirmation email
Including a website URL as readable text in a message
Reusing any text-based contact information across multiple campaigns via custom tokens
Inserting dynamic values such as reservation codes into message content
Configuration and Setup
✅ Correct way — Use a Button or Link component for clickable actions
To include any clickable link in a campaign or content block, use a Button or Link element in the editor — not a custom token inside a text field.
In your campaign or content block editor, add a Button component. To know more about Buttons go here: (LINK)
Set the button label to the text guests will see (e.g. "Visit our website", "Chat with us", "Book now").
Set the button URL to the destination link you want guests to open.
Save. When guests receive the message, clicking the button will open the link directly.
This approach works for any type of link — external websites, booking engines, contact forms, and more.
✅ Using a custom token for the display label only
If you want the button label to be dynamic (e.g. show a value pulled from a custom token), you can insert a custom token into the button label field — but the URL must always be hardcoded. Custom token values cannot be used in URL fields to generate a working link.
Known Issues or Limitations ⚠️
HTML tags inside custom token values are not rendered — they appear as literal text (e.g.
<a href="...">text</a>is displayed as-is).Markdown inside custom token values is not rendered — formatting like
[text](url)appears as raw characters.Custom token values cannot be used in URL fields — there is currently no way for a custom token to output a hyperlink or supply a working link destination. Always use a Button or Link component with a hardcoded URL for any clickable action.
Conclusion ✅
Custom tokens in Bookboost output plain text only — HTML and markdown formatting inside custom token values will not render, and custom token values cannot be used in URL fields. Whenever you need a clickable action in a campaign, always use a Button or Link component in the editor with the destination URL hardcoded. This is the reliable, supported way to give guests a one-tap action in any message.
Support
Please contact us through the 'Talk to Us' option on the left menu in the platform, or through the Bookboost Support email at support@bookboost.io if you have questions or need additional support.