Step by Step Guide to Building a Klaviyo API Integration in C#

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to supercharge your C# application with some Klaviyo magic? Let's dive right in and build an awesome API integration that'll have your app talking to Klaviyo like they're old friends.

Introduction

Klaviyo's API is a powerhouse for email marketing and customer data platforms. By the end of this guide, you'll be wielding that power in your C# projects like a pro. We're going to cover everything from setup to advanced usage, so buckle up!

Prerequisites

Before we start coding, make sure you've got:

• Your favorite C# development environment (Visual Studio, Rider, or even good ol' VS Code)
• A Klaviyo account with an API key (if you don't have one, go grab it now – I'll wait)
• NuGet package manager (we'll be using it to fetch some goodies)

Setting up the project

First things first, let's get our project off the ground:

1. Fire up your IDE and create a new C# project.
2. Open up your terminal or Package Manager Console and run:

dotnet add package Newtonsoft.Json
dotnet add package RestSharp

These packages will make our lives easier when dealing with JSON and HTTP requests.

Authentication

Alright, let's get you authenticated and ready to roll:

public class KlaviyoClient
{
    private readonly RestClient _client;
    private const string BaseUrl = "https://a.klaviyo.com/api/v2/";

    public KlaviyoClient(string apiKey)
    {
        _client = new RestClient(BaseUrl);
        _client.AddDefaultQueryParameter("api_key", apiKey);
    }

    // We'll add more methods here soon!
}

Implementing core API functionalities

Now for the fun part – let's start talking to Klaviyo!

Lists management

public async Task<string> CreateList(string listName)
{
    var request = new RestRequest("lists", Method.POST);
    request.AddJsonBody(new { list_name = listName });
    var response = await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);
    // Handle response and return list ID
}

public async Task<List<KlaviyoList>> GetLists()
{
    var request = new RestRequest("lists", Method.GET);
    var response = await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);
    // Deserialize and return list of KlaviyoList objects
}

public async Task AddSubscriberToList(string listId, string email)
{
    var request = new RestRequest($"list/{listId}/members", Method.POST);
    request.AddJsonBody(new { profiles = new[] { new { email = email } } });
    await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);
}

Profiles management

public async Task CreateOrUpdateProfile(string email, Dictionary<string, object> properties)
{
    var request = new RestRequest("person/exclusions", Method.POST);
    request.AddJsonBody(new { email = email, properties = properties });
    await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);
}

public async Task<KlaviyoProfile> GetProfile(string email)
{
    var request = new RestRequest("person", Method.GET);
    request.AddQueryParameter("email", email);
    var response = await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);
    // Deserialize and return KlaviyoProfile object
}

Metrics and events

public async Task TrackEvent(string eventName, Dictionary<string, object> properties, string customerProperties)
{
    var request = new RestRequest("track", Method.GET);
    request.AddQueryParameter("event", eventName);
    request.AddQueryParameter("properties", JsonConvert.SerializeObject(properties));
    request.AddQueryParameter("customer_properties", customerProperties);
    await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);
}

public async Task<List<KlaviyoMetric>> GetMetrics()
{
    var request = new RestRequest("metrics", Method.GET);
    var response = await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);
    // Deserialize and return list of KlaviyoMetric objects
}

Error handling and rate limiting

Don't forget to add some retry logic and respect those rate limits:

private async Task<IRestResponse> ExecuteWithRetry(RestRequest request, int maxAttempts = 3)
{
    for (int i = 0; i < maxAttempts; i++)
    {
        var response = await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);
        if (response.IsSuccessful) return response;
        if (response.StatusCode == HttpStatusCode.TooManyRequests)
        {
            await Task.Delay(1000 * (i + 1)); // Exponential backoff
            continue;
        }
        throw new Exception($"API request failed: {response.ErrorMessage}");
    }
    throw new Exception("Max retry attempts reached");
}

Testing the integration

Now that we've got our integration up and running, it's crucial to test it thoroughly. Write unit tests for each method and don't forget to include some integration tests to ensure everything's working smoothly with the actual API.

Best practices and optimization

To make your integration even more robust:

• Implement caching for frequently accessed data
• Use asynchronous operations throughout to keep your app responsive
• Consider implementing a queue system for bulk operations

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid Klaviyo API integration in C#. You're now equipped to handle lists, manage profiles, track events, and more. Remember, this is just the beginning – there's always more to explore in the Klaviyo API.

Sample code repository

Want to see all this code in action? Check out the complete implementation in this GitHub repository.

Now go forth and create some amazing Klaviyo-powered applications! Happy coding!