Email - Getting Started

Once you've created a  Messaging List and set up your audience of Subscribers and Contacts, you're ready to create an Email Message.

Click the "New Email" button to get started.

The "Description" won't appear on the email - it's just an internal label for you. Choose a template to start with. "Responsive" templates will automatically adapt to look good on a computer, tablet or phone. With the majority of email message being opened on phones, these are definitely the best choices.

Subject & Content

The HTML template editor uses cards - which contain blocks - to build and customize your message. Edit the card using the blue toolbar. Click the "gear" icon to change format settings and the "duplicate" icon to add another identical card to your message.

Move your cursor over any block to see it highlighted with a yellow border.

Click anywhere on the block to select and edit it, using the black toolbar.

Click the "gear" icon to change block format settings. The "trash" icon deletes the block and you already know what the "duplicate" icon does.

Click the "plus" icon to add another block - the editor gives you a wide variety to choose from in 1-, 2- and 3-column formats. When the message is viewed on a phone, the columns in the block will rearrange themselves vertically. You can click the "phone" icon to see what your message will look like on a smaller screen.

Edit the content of any "text" in a block by selecting it or clicking on it. Use Ctrl+B (or Cmd-B) to create bold text and Ctrl+I (or Cmd+I) to create italics.

Use merge fields, like "*|FIRST_NAME|*" in the example, to customize your message for each recipient.

Click the "Save" button to edit other settings for the message and send it.

Plain-text content

Why plain-text? Many mail providers treat the lack of a plain-text version as an indicator of a "lazy" spammer. Even if none of your subscribers choose the plain-text version, having it ensures that your message reaches as many of your audience as possible.

You can also use "Merge fields" to personalize Plain-text. To add a merge field, find it in the list on the right, click the "copy" icon beside it and paste it into your message.

Keep in mind that you can include URLs (for sites, files or images) in Plain-text, although they will be text (e.g. <a href="https://www.eadventist/net/newsletter"></a>) rather than links

Attachments - To ensure that your messages are not blocked, eAdventist no longer sends file attachments. When you add a file, it will be hosted on eAdventist and a link is inserted in your message.

Send a test message

Once you save the message, "Preview" will give an idea what it will look like to your audience. However, the best way to check it is to send a "Test email" to yourself, then open on a variety of devices (computer, tablet, phone) and email clients (Outlook, Gmail, Mail).

Send, for real!

When you're ready, click the "Send" button and your message will be queued for delivery. eAdventist will track each person that receives and opens it, as well as any that "bounce".

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