This article picks up where our Create a Custom Email Marketing Template article leaves off and demonstrates how to build the outline and layout of your Email Marketing template from scratch. The same functionality applies for building once-off Email Marketing from scratch or for editing a pre-styled, existing template.
Background & Layout
Template Settings
You can adjust the background colors of each section as well as the padding or space between each in the Settings tab.
Layout Width Style
There are two layout width styles:
(1) Full Width - If your Email Marketing has background colors (discussed further down), they will extend past the border of your Email Marketing to the full extent of the recipient's inbox.
(2) Boxed - If your Email Marketing has background colors (discussed further down), they will end at the border of your Email Marketing content.
Padding Top and Bottom
This is the space between each of your three sections: Header, Body and Footer. You can increase them by adjusting the figures in the Padding fields or by hovering over each section and using the click and drag the arrow to manually increase or decrease them.
If you wanted to strictly adjust the Header of your Email Marketing, and adjust the padding accordingly, I would head over to this article here on Email Marketing Header Dimensions!
Section Background Colours
You can choose background colors for each section of your Email Marketing by using the color finder tool or by pasting in a Hex Code into the Hex Code field.
Template Settings Example
Here's an example of a blank Email Marketing template with Full-Width layout, alternating background colors, and some padding between each section.
Rows & Content Blocks
Email Marketing Sections
There are three sections to an Email Marketing Template:
(1) Header - Typically your Organization's name and logo.
(2) Body - The information and images that make up the content of your message.
(3) Footer - Information needed to ensure you are compliant with Anti-Spam laws such as your contact information and an unsubscribe link.
For more information on the (1) Header of your Email Marketing and what dimensions you would need for the images you upload, head on over to this article on Email Marketing Header Dimensions!
Step 1 - Add Rows
Rows help you define a space for your Content. You can choose from several styles of rows with 1, 2 or 3 columns. Click and drag these rows into each section of your Email Marketing.
Tip: You will need to add Rows to your template before you can add Content.
Step 2 - Add Content Blocks
Content blocks can be used to add text, images and other types of information to your message. Once your Rows are in place, you can click and drag Content Blocks into their empty columns.
Types of Content Blocks
Text
Use the Text or Boxed Text blocks to add text to your message. Use the settings to adjust your font styles, add links, set line spacing and choose a background color.
Important Note about links! Keela gives you the option to open links that you add to your Email Marketing. Before you test a link, make sure you save your changes first! That way when you revert back to the Email Marketing builder, the draft is saved.
Tip: Use Smart Codes to personalize your messages with information stored on your Contacts' profiles, such as "First Name".
Images
Use the Image, Image Card or Image Caption blocks to add images to your message (with or without text). Upload an image from your computer or the web, then add a border and set the alignment. You can also resize your image and adjust margins.
Tip: Keela will automatically compress your image to optimize your Email Marketing delivery. If you would like to avoid this compression, resize your image to be less than 600px wide before uploading.
Websites
Use the Websites block to add icons and links to your websites and social media profiles (such as Facebook and Twitter). Use the settings to adjust the background color, borders, font styles and alignment of these.
Tip: Not sure where to put these? Try the Footer section of your Email Marketing.
Footer
The Footer content block comes prepopulated with your Organization's contact information (from your Organization's Profile) and an unsubscribe link. Use the settings to adjust font styles, line spacing, and background color.
Note: It's important to include an unsubscribe link in all Email Marketing so that your contacts can control their subscription status and opt-out of messages they do not wish to receive.
Divider
Use the Divider block to create a divider line to separate your content areas. Use the settings to adjust padding, border style, and colors.
Tip: Dividers can be a great way to break up the content of your Email Marketing and draw your recipient's eyes to different sections.
Button
Use the Button block to create a button that your contact can click to visit a Keela Form (e.g. to make a donation). You can also create a custom button to link anywhere on the web. Use the settings to adjust the button text, color, border, font styles, padding, alignment, and width.
Note: You will need to Create a Form before linking a button to it. This can be a great way to collect information such as RSVPs, Donations or Contact information for mail outs.
Add a Donation Form Button:
Video
Use the Video block to create a link to a video hosted on the web. Upload a cover image for your video, then add a border and set the alignment. You can also resize your video and adjust margins.
If you add a Youtube or Vimeo link to your video content block, Keela will automatically produce a thumbnail for it provided that the video has Maximum Resolution quality on these respective sites.
Note: Clicking on a video will open the video link in the browser. Videos will not play inside the message, as this is not supported by most major email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo).
Code
Use the Code block to create a custom code area for your own HTML. This code should be self-contained and not refer to any external scripts or files (ie. javascript or CSS). It should be created specifically for this Email Marketing template and cannot come from an external email builder site.
Note: Not all code will render the same in all email systems. If you are using custom code, we recommend testing how your code appears in multiple email systems (e.g. Outlook, Gmail) before sending to your contacts. The code should not contain any iframes as this is not supported by email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo).
Donation Summary
Use the Donation Summary block to add the donation summary for each recipient within a specific time period.
Step 3 - Save and Close!
Once you've finished adding content to your Email Marketing and editing how it looks, click on the Save & Close button.
Tutorial
Want to see this in action? Head over to our Email Marketing Training video here.
Next Steps
Now that you've finished customizing your Email Marketing, why not learn how to send it out!