Email Design Best Practices

Below are 10 best practices to consider when creating email designs in Gnosis Communications.

1.  Content area width (under the Settings tab in email editor) no more than 550px. 

While you can make emails as wide as you like, 550 to 600px is generally considered the best width to use to target all types of mail readers.

2.  Use ROWS options to format your content layout (text, images, buttons, dividers, etc.)

It might be helpful to think of Rows as cells within your design layout. Click the Structure On/Off button to view your current row structure. See the dotted lines in the image below for a design example using a number of rows with differing numbers of columns.

3.  Preview your email for general appearance/layout.

• View Desktop and Mobile Previews.
• Check for logical scrolling/order of content in Mobile view especially.
• Use the X to close Preview Mode.  NOTE: This is the "X" next to the desktop/mobile options, not the X at the top of the email editing window which closed your editor.

 

4.  Take advantage of including the personal information of the recipient using the Available Fields.

Examples:

• Dear <<Preferred Name>>
• Hello <<Household Salutation>>

The best way to insert Available Fields into your email is to double-click on the field in the list to copy it and then paste it into the email where you want it to appear.

5.  AutoLoginParams Applications

When linking to the following pages on your Gnosis Portal, add the AutoLoginParams field to the end of the URL:

• Any Donation Page
• Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Site
• Online profile form, ex. Member Info, Volunteer Info, etc.

Adding AutoLoginParams to link text/button URL:

1. Locate this field in the Available Fields Picker > Special Merge Fields.
2. Double-click to copy the content then paste at the very end of your already pasted URL for your linked text/button.

If you are linking to an Event Information Page or a Survey URL using the special purpose fields available for that purpose, the email recipient will automatically be logged in and does not require AutoLoginParams to be added.

6.  Always include an opt-out link

See Email Footer Content Options (Including Unsubscribe Links).

7.  Rely on Auto-Saved Versions

In the event you encounter an internet connection issue or other system error and are concerned about losing your work, you can rely on auto-saved versions of your item. See Restoring Email Auto-Saved Versions.

8.  Image padding

With your image selected, use the padding settings on the right to help size and position images in your layouts.

9.  Keep the Image Library organized

• Create a logical file structure within My Files. Separate folders/images by year, topic, department, or another logical manner.
• Do not drag/drop images into the Image Library; select Upload to select the appropriate file within My Files.
• Do not add more than about 40 images to a folder to keep it manageable and not slow down the image library area.

10.  Always test your emails!

Use the Test button to send yourself a test email. 

Note: Test messages use a random record in the recipient group to generate the test email. All links and fields in the test email will use the data from the random record.

• Your test email address must be set up to complete this type of test:
  • Go to Settings > Preferences & Settings > Communications
  • Locate the Email Address for Test Messages
  • In the last column, with your name at the top, enter your email address.
  • Save & Close

See also,

• Using the Email Editor
• Creating and Editing Recipient Groups
• Creating, Testing and Sending Emails
• Using the Forward to a Friend Email Function