Want to create HTML newsletters that grab the attention of your audience? Excellent. You’ve made a marketing decision that will generate a great return on your investment.
This post will help you get started. Learn about the fundamentals of email design, HTML newsletter coding, and email delivery. 📥
That way, you’ll understand how to create HTML newsletters and the range of software options.
- What is an HTML newsletter?
- What are the advantages of HTML newsletters?
- Why use design software to create HTML newsletters
- How to create HTML newsletters with design software
- How to code HTML newsletters
- How to send HTML newsletters
- Limitations of HTML newsletter design software
What is an HTML newsletter?
In the world of email marketing, there are two types of email: plain text emails and HTML emails. 📧
HTML emails use eye-catching design elements, different blocks and shapes, images, call-to-action (CTA) buttons on top of the copy text to call the attention attention. Most of the industries create HTML newsletters to drive sales. 💰
Further reading: What is a newsletter? Definition, Purpose, and Benefits
What are the advantages of HTML newsletters?
The biggest advantage of creating HTML emails over plain text is the design of the newsletter.
You get to control exactly how email will appear in inboxes. It’s the equivalent of sending a glossy advertising brochure or website straight to an inbox. You can mix and match colors, fonts, and images in a way that captures your brand image.
Keep in mind that in other industries, such as legal and technology, plain text emails can work better. That’s because they convey a degree of seriousness. They also look less like advertising.
That said, for marketing purposes, many brands use HTML even in their transactional emails to reinforce their brand.
Why Use Design Software to Create HTML Newsletters
One of the advantages of using design software to create a newsletter is that you can get comfortable with a particular tool.
Another is the convenience of designing first and then converting your design to code. The learning curve seems less steep.
If you do your creative work better in software, then go ahead and use it. In fact, when it comes to the design part, any photo editor or design tool will do the job.
1. How to Create HTML Newsletters With Design Software
To create HTML newsletters, there are three main steps:
- Design your email. Decide how it should look in your subscribers’ inboxes.
- Encode your design in HTML. Put the design in a programming language that email clients can render.
- Send your email. Make sure it reaches your audience’s inboxes.
Many programs can help with creating newsletters. You can choose a separate program to design, code and send HTML newsletters. Or opt for a single email marketing software.
How to Create HTML Newsletters with Photoshop
Open a new document in Photoshop
To create a HTML email in Photoshop, first open a new document.
The recommended width is 800 pixels. The width should be slightly larger than a regular newsletter. This will allow you to include a background.
There are fewer limits on the length of the newsletter. If you’re not sure where to start, choose a length of 1000 pixels.
In terms of resolution, 72 DPI will suffice for a newsletter. Like all images for the web, you should choose RGB, not CMYK, which is best suited for print.
Next, create a 600px-wide box in your document and center it. This is where your newsletter content will go. Next, choose a background color for the rest of the document. A white or light gray background creates a pleasant, non-distracting reading experience.
Set up your newsletter with a 600px wide box
Now that you have your file set up, you’re ready for a start. It’s time to work on the design from top to bottom.
Step 1: Create the header
Place a mirror link to a web version at the top of your HTML email. If the images don’t display, or if the email client doesn’t display the email correctly, the mirror link allows the user to view it in their browser. For mirror links, most email marketing programs offer a View This Email feature in your browser.
Then add a test image below the link. Follow best practices for newsletter images: use high-quality images in the recommended sizes. You can adjust the size of the image in Photoshop, as well as the text.
Often, the teaser image includes your logo and a recognizable brand image. You can also include a call-to-action (CTA) button in the teaser image. This area represents the space in the top half of the page, which is the first thing readers see when they open the email.
Typically, the length of the header image should be 200-250 pixels. The best way to make sure you have the top area covered is to test it in email marketing software.
Finalize the newsletter body design in Photoshop
Step 2: Layout the body
After the header comes the body of your newsletter or email campaign. Insert a 600px rectangle here and add text and insert images to your liking.
Next, duplicate this block to add newsletter content. Use guides to adjust the blocks and check the distances. Be sure to use enough space for a great reading experience.
To add social media buttons to your email campaign, insert them at the bottom below the body of the email.
Step 3 : Add a Footer
Finally, close with an email footer. You should include company information here.
Add links for users to update their subscription preferences and unsubscribe from the newsletter. It’s fine to use a smaller font as long as it’s readable.
How to Create HTML Newsletters Using InDesign
Create a 600px Wide Document in InDesign
For InDesign , create a new document with a page width of 600 pixels. There are no limitations on the length. Save the page as a custom layout and open it.
Start using the rectangle tool. Create three rectangles one on top of the other that will be the width of the page. This is where you’ll insert the header, body, and footer.
Add an image to the header. Position the image and insert it proportionally. Make sure all the images you use in an InDesign newsletter are hosted online. That way, your subscribers will be able to see them.
Choose the color for the background. Use the text tool to insert text. Finally, add margins so it doesn’t touch the edge of the page.
Just like in Photoshop, the footer is the best place for an unsubscribe link and company details.
How to Create HTML Newsletters Using Illustrator
Illustrator is a great tool for designing images. However, it is not the best option to design a complete newsletter.
Use Illustrator to design your newsletter’s background, logos, or other graphics. Then create HTML emails in another program.
Create Newsletter Backgrounds and Graphics with Illustrator
How to Create HTML Newsletters Using Adobe XD
To Create an HTML Newsletter in Adobe XD, follow the same instructions as for Photoshop.
The highlight of Adobe XD’s functionality is its repeat grid tool. Instead of duplicating a box over and over again, choose the repeating grid option.
The repeating grid feature makes it easy to create HTML templates
Suppose you have a newsletter with 4 content blocks for blog articles. Create a content block. Then hover over the selection and select repeat grid. From there, drag the group until you have 4 blocks of content.
2. How to Code HTML Newsletters
Got your design? Excellent! Now we come to the hard part: how to code your HTML newsletter.
Some design programs have the option of exporting your document to HTML. But unfortunately, this won’t work for HTML email.
That’s because programming HTML for email is not like programming a web page.
If you have design experience of websites but you don’t have HTML coded newsletters, here are some things to consider.
What makes HTML emails different
Email coding is very different from web design. This is because there are more factors that affect how an email will be processed.
When programming for the web, you are faced with factors such as your operating system, browser, and screen size. 💻 When programming for email, you should also think about email clients, image blocking options, and sending services.
And while there are only a few web browsers to consider, there are at least less than 1000 email clients worldwide. . Even if you look at just the top, you’re still dealing with around 50 different email clients.
Also, web-based email applications are just one way to open an email. Remember that your email can be viewed on mobile devices, tablets and more. 📱
The best email marketing services allow you to preview HTML newsletters before sending them. Test your campaign on the web, mobile devices, and popular email clients (Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Yahoo).
Best Practices for Writing HTML Newsletter Code
- Use a simple text editor. To create an HTML newsletter, you can use a simple text HTML editor or a visual tool like Dreamweaver. Dreamweaver works well for coding HTML email templates because it’s been around forever.
- Start with structure. Your HTML template will start with a document type, or first line of code, that tells the email client what to expect. Below the document type, add a header. This is where your media, styling, and animation queries will go. Everything that follows your header counts as the body of the email. Enclose this content with body tags.
- Forget about separate CSS files. Most email clients do not support them. That means you’ll need inline CSS styles. They are recognizable by most email clients and can be used for key newsletter design elements such as background colors and fonts.
- Hug the table. For newsletter layout, use nested HTML tables. Table tags are the way around the fact that email clients do not support either the rowspan attribute or the colspan attribute. You will want to use tables at all times. Add cell padding to improve readability.
- Remember the alt text. Save your images separately and include alt text tags. This improves accessibility and makes it easier for those reading your newsletter in email clients that block images.
- Be specific about your source . Common HTML tags such as H1 and H2 will not display correctly in email clients. You must specify the size and style of the font in the HTML. Discover the best sources for emails here.
Here is an example of a code to use when starting your email campaign. This will render as white text on a black background.
3. How to Send HTML Newsletters
Now for the third and final step: Sending out your HTML newsletters.
Planning on simply entering all your contacts in a BCC field and sending a mass email with Gmail? ? Unfortunately, using a regular free email provider is not enough for HTML emails.
The biggest problem is the extremely low email deliverability. That means most of your emails won’t even make it to the server in your contacts’ inboxes. 📥
Instead of sending newsletters from a private account, try an email marketing tool. Most software has procedures in place to ensure that your emails reach the inbox.
Most tools also allow you to upload the HTML of your email newsletter templates. Once you’ve designed and coded it, you can upload and send it right away.
Limitations of HTML Newsletter Design Software
Now you know how to create HTML emails with design tools. . Although layout tools can offer some benefits, they can make things difficult for you later.
That’s because layout software has limitations, such as:
- Coding experience needed. You can’t just export your design as an HTML email. You’ll have to code it or have someone with professional HTML experience do it.
- Lack of flexibility. If something needs to be changed, you should either edit HTML on the spot in your email sender or go back to the design software and follow all the steps again.
That’s why we suggest one more way. easy .
Create HTML newsletters with Sendinblue
Join Sendinblue and create HTML newsletters in a few clicks. Our all-in-one email marketing platform lets you design beautiful email campaigns.
Use the drag-and-drop email builder to create your campaign from scratch. Or choose from over 40 free HTML newsletter templates, adaptable to all email clients. Preview and test before sending, easy header and footer settings, automatic unsubscribe links – it’s all there. Why waste time switching between tools when you can do it all in one, even on the free plan?
With Sendinblue, there’s no coding needed. That means anyone can create beautiful, professional-looking HTML newsletters that subscribers will love!
Send HTML Newsletters with Sendinblue
Free plan includes access to all Top email features, 300 emails per day, 40+ email templates to suit every occasion, customizable landing pages and signup forms to grow your subscriber list.
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