Help and support

Introduction to Email Design

Email design is used for crafting personalized email designs and templates, managing contact lists, and setting up workflows for exceptions and verification processes.

In today's digital landscape, crafting effective emails is no longer enough.

Email design is more than just aesthetics; it's about harnessing the power of email to connect with your audience on a deeper level and achieve your marketing objectives. It's about crafting targeted, results-oriented communication that fosters engagement and drives business growth.

Let’s explain it with an example:

Engaging with students and fostering a strong school community goes beyond just sending out announcements. That's where email design comes in. It's about crafting strategic emails that not only inform but also resonate with students, parents, and faculty.

Think of email design as creating a digital bulletin board that's informative, engaging, and reflects your institution's unique brand.

Here's how it can benefit your school:

Targeted Communication: Design personalized email templates for different audiences. Prospective students might receive emails highlighting upcoming open houses and scholarship opportunities, while current students could receive updates about club activities or career fairs tailored to their interests.
Boost Important Announcements: Important deadlines, registration reminders, or updates on school events can be easily communicated through visually compelling emails with clear calls to action. Imagine an email with a "Register Now" button for an upcoming workshop, prompting students to act.
Streamlined Communication: Automated workflows can send welcome emails to new students, birthday greetings, or reminders about upcoming deadlines. This frees up staff time and ensures consistent, timely communication.

For example, your school might be hosting a career fair for graduating seniors. A plain text email listing companies might work, but a well-designed email could showcase logos of participating companies, highlight potential career paths, images etc from a successful alumnus. This creates a more impactful experience and encourages students to attend.

Starting the process of Email Design

To start, let’s delve into the process of email design creation in detail. Begin by clicking the Create email design button in the design tab and then click on Email design button.

Entering the Email Design Details

Email Design Name: Provide a unique name, up to 45 characters, with no spaces or special characters except underscore.

Also, users can not create a name starting with “auto_”

Description: Offer a detailed description of what the email design represents

Email selection criteria: Select from available selection types like email group, Data Series, Data group, Form view, File view, App design, or Table.

Email Sender: Choose a unique email id from the dropdown list.

Now, click on save button to save the email design

Clicking on save, the user should see a modal with options to start email design now or to do it later.

Now, Editing an Email design

Now to edit email design go to the Email Designs section under the design tab. Email design can be refined as understanding evolves.

Now, From the Design tab,

Click on the edit button from the listing: Edit required fields, excluding the email design name itself.

Now, click on the save button to save changes.

Email design creation process with drag-and-drop functionality

Easy Email Design: Build Emails Your Way

Clicking on the email design name from the list will take you directly to a user-friendly interface where you can create custom emails tailored to your exact needs. Here's how it works:

Drag-and-Drop Your Way to Great Emails

Imagine building emails like you would arrange furniture in a room. That's the power of drag-and-drop! Simply grab the elements you want and position them where you need them in your email design.

Available Building Blocks

Text: Add compelling content to your emails by dragging and dropping the text section. Customize your message with options like:

Dimensions: Control the size of your text box to fit perfectly.
Padding: Adjust the spacing around your text for better readability.
Color: Choose a color that complements your brand or message.
Size: Select the ideal font size to ensure your message is easily visible.

Image: Captivate your audience with visuals by adding the image section using drag-and-drop. Fine-tune your images with attributes like:

Width & Height: Resize images to the desired dimensions.
Padding: Add space around your images for a clean layout.
Bottom: Position the image precisely within your content.
Alignment: Choose how your image aligns with other elements (left, right, or center).
Link: Make your image clickable to lead viewers to a relevant website.
Border: Add a border to your images for visual emphasis.

Button: Create clear calls to action with drag-and-drop buttons. Personalize them with attributes including:

Dimensions: Set the button's size and shape accurately.
Color: Choose a color that stands out and grabs attention.
Typography: Select the perfect font for your button's text.
Border: Add a border to enhance the button's visibility.

Workflow Button: Streamline approval processes with drag-and-drop workflow buttons. Users can leverage these buttons to:

Approve: Sign off on workflows associated with email actions on form submissions.
Reject: Send workflows back for revision.
Customize: Modify button text, value, color, and more to match your workflow needs.
Link: Embed hyperlinks seamlessly using the drag-and-drop link section. Tailor your links with options like:
Text: Display the text users will see when they click.
URL: Define the web page the link will lead to.
Font Size & Family: Choose the ideal font for your link display.

Link:

This drag and drop component allows you to easily insert links into your emails. Here's how it works:

Find the component: Locate the "Link" component within the email editor's drag and drop interface. It might be under a section like "Basic Elements" or "Content."
Drag and drop: Click and hold the "Link" component, then drag it to the desired location within your email content. Release the mouse button to drop it into place.
Enter link details: A dialog box or panel will appear, prompting you to enter the following information:
- URL: Paste the full web address (e.g., "https://www.example.com") of the website or page you want to link to.
- Link text: Enter the text that will be displayed in the email for the link (e.g., "Click here to learn more"). This text should be clear and descriptive.
Customize (optional): Some email editors may offer additional customization options, such as:
- Target: Choose whether the link opens in the same window or a new window.
- Styling: Adjust the link's appearance, such as color, font, and underline.
Save and preview: Once you've entered the link details, click "Save" or "OK" to insert the link into your email. Then, use the preview function to ensure the link appears correctly and functions as expected.

Social: Enhance your email's social media presence by dragging and dropping social media icons. Connect with your audience on popular platforms like:

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn
Custom Options: Add icons for other social media networks you use.
Divider: Create visual separation between sections of your email by dragging and dropping divider lines.
Spacer: Control the layout and spacing of your email elements by dragging and dropping spacer sections. Adjust height, padding, and other parameters for a well-organized design.
Hero: Make a bold first impression with a hero image section that can be dragged and dropped. Modify its appearance using available attributes.

Output Form:

Tired of manually editing your web page to add links? Our new drag-and-drop feature makes it easier than ever to create and customize links. Simply drag the link element onto your page and customize it to your liking.

Key Features:

Select Form: Choose a form from our pre-built library to quickly add a link to a specific form. "It should be Published"
Form Link: If you have a custom form, simply select its URL here from the dropdown.
Link Expiration: You should be able to add a expiry time and your form will expire based on the selected time.
Link Text: Customize the text that will appear as the link.
Link Color: Choose a color to make the link stand out.
Additional Attributes: Fine-tune the appearance of your link with options like font family, font size, underline, and even a button-like style.

How it Works:

Drag and Drop: Locate the link element in our toolbox and drag it onto your web page.
Customize: Use the intuitive interface to select a form, enter a URL, choose a color, and adjust other attributes.
Preview: See your changes in real-time and make adjustments as needed.
Save: Once you're satisfied, publish your web page to showcase your new link.

Data Request:

This component simplifies the process of requesting specific data from a PDF design directly within Artificio. It eliminates manual data entry and streamlines communication by allowing you to visually select the data you need and automatically include it in your email request.

Key Features & Benefits:

Visual Data Selection: Drag and drop functionality allows you to intuitively select the data points you require directly from the PDF design. No more manually typing coordinates or descriptions.
Seamless Email Integration: Easily attach the generated data request to an email directly from the dropdown menu, saving you time and effort.
Improved Communication: Clear and concise data requests minimize ambiguity and facilitate faster processing of your requests.
Reduced Errors: Eliminates manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors and improving the overall efficiency of the data extraction process.

Emoji Components:

Core Features:

Drag-and-Drop: Allow users to drag and drop emojis directly into the input field or target area for seamless insertion.
Emoji Listing: Provide a comprehensive list of emojis that can be selected by clicking or tapping on them.
Search Functionality: Implement a search bar to quickly find specific emojis based on keywords or categories.
Categorization: Organize emojis into categories (e.g., smiley faces, symbols, animals) for better organization and navigation.
Recent Emoji Usage: Keep track of recently used emojis and display them prominently for easy access.

Video Component:

Integrates YouTube links: Allows users to embed YouTube videos.
Offers fluid and fixed layouts: Adapts to different screen sizes.
Provides width and height customization: Enables precise control over video dimensions.

Building Your Email Masterpiece

With this extensive collection of drag-and-drop elements at your disposal, you can craft professional-looking emails that resonate with your audience. Simply arrange the elements as needed, customize their attributes, and watch your email come to life!

Additional Tips:

Start with a clear layout plan to ensure your email is organized and easy to read.
Experiment with different colors, fonts, and images to find the perfect combination for your brand.
Use calls to action (CTAs) to encourage recipients to take a desired action (e.g., visit your website, make a purchase).
Test your email on different devices to ensure it displays correctly across platforms.

By harnessing the power of drag-and-drop email design, you'll be creating exceptional emails that deliver results in no time!

Conclusion

Email design isn't just about sending emails; it's about creating connections.

By crafting targeted, visually appealing emails, your school can keep students and parents engaged, boost participation in events, and ultimately, create a more vibrant and informed school community.