Since writing this article, we have published a YouTube video where I take you through designing from scratch a beautiful, mobile responsive email campaign. So, if you like videos better than reading, please check out the video which runs for just under 40 minutes.
The Enudge Drag and Drop Editor for your email content creation gives you great flexbility by separating the concepts of Settings (which apply to the entire email design), Rows (which can be added, removed, copied, saved, and moved), and Content (individual content blocks: images, text, buttons, etc., which also can be added, removed, copied, and moved).
Settings
Access settings via the 3rd tab in the right-hand panel:
General settings for the design are inherited by Structure and Content blocks. For example, the font family set in the design settings is then used everywhere in your design, except where you use a custom setting.
Settings are very useful to build a coherent email design with a minimum of fuss.
In Settings, you will set the:
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Width of the email.
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Content alignment (left or centred).
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Default Font family.
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Colour of hyperlinked text.
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Background colour i.e. the colour outside the content area of the email.
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Content background colour i.e. the colour behind your email content.
Rows
Clicking on the Rows tab gives you access to different types of rows for inserting into the design.
Rows are structural units that define the horizontal composition of a section of your email design, potentially separated into columns (up to 6 columns is available).
Using more than one column allows you to put different content elements side by side.
By default, you will see a collection of pre-set row templates, starting with a full-width single column.
Choose ‘Default’ from the drop down to get access to pre-build row layouts.
You can save a row of content, for easy re-use in other email campaigns. Once you have saved a row for re-use, you can access it via the ‘Saved Rows’ options in the Rows drop down.
Each row has it’s own structure, as well as background colour, content background colour, borders, alignment, treatment on mobile etc. Therefore, using a row for each main element within your email design gives you the greatest amount of flexibility.
Content
This section includes a series of tiles that represent the different kinds of content you can use in your design.
To use a content type, just drag one into a column / row in your email layout on the left, and it will auto-adjust to the column width.
Every content block has its own settings, such as granular control on padding. Click within the content block, and the right-side panel will automatically switch to a property panel for the selected content element. You will see the impact of your changes in the content on the left.
Inserting a Template
You can also create a new email using one of the supplied mobile responsive templates. To insert a template:
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Click on the top left icon:
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Click on ‘Choose Template’.
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Hover over the desired template, and click on in to Insert Template.
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Edit as desired!
Saving and Testing
Once you have your email content looking fine, and ready to test, click on the Save button in the top right hand corner.
Then from the file drawer navigation in the top left hand corner, choose ‘Return to Campaign’ so that you can send yourself a test.