Preparing newsletter templates

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The content of the e-mails sent by newsletters is based on templates (with the exception of dynamic newsletter issues).

You can manage the templates on the Templates tab of the Newsletters application.

Managing newsletter templates

There are four types of templates:

  • Newsletter issue - define the layout and design of static newsletter issues. Templates of this type typically contain editable regions where newsletter authors can enter the content of individual issues.
  • Double opt-in - template for the e-mail messages where users can confirm their subscription to newsletters that have double opt-in enabled.
  • Subscription confirmation - templates for the confirmation e-mail message sent when users subscribe to newsletters.
  • Unsubscription confirmation - templates for the e-mail message sent when users unsubscribe.

Creating newsletter templates

To add new templates for newsletters:

  1. Open the Newsletters application on the Templates tab.

  2. Click New template.

  3. Type a Display name for the template.

  4. Select the Template type.

  5. Click Save. The system creates the template and opens its General tab.

  6. (Optional) Set the following properties:

    Property

    Description

    Thumbnail

    Only available for Newsletter issue templates.

    Allows you to upload an image that will be displayed as a representation of the template when creating new newsletter issues.

    Subject

    Sets the subject of the e-mails based on this template.

    This field is not available for Newsletter issue templates, since authors enter the e-mail subject when writing individual issues.

  7. Write the opening and closing HTML code of the e-mail message in the Header (HTML) and Footer (HTML) fields (including the <html> element).

    • You can leave the default values unless you need to customize the HTML envelope of the e-mail messages based on the template.

  8. Define the main layout and content of the template inside the Body editor.

    • You can type basic text or add advanced content using the editor toolbar.
      Inserting an editable region into a newsletter

    Adding regions to issue templates

    Newsletter issue templates need to contain editable regions, where the authors of individual newsletter issues can enter content.

    To insert a region:

    1. Type a region name into the Insert editable region box below the main editor.
    2. (Optional) Set the Width and Height of the region.
    3. Click Insert.The body editor adds the region to the current cursor position as an expression in format:
    


 $$regionName:width:height$$

    Adding newsletter fields

    You can insert the following newsletter fields anywhere inside the body of the template:

    • {%ActivationLink%} - only available for Double opt-in templates. Resolves into a link to the subscription approval page, as defined by the Approval page URL property of the given newsletter.
    • {%Email%} - resolves into the e-mail address of the e-mail recipient.
    • {%FirstName%} - resolves into the first name of the recipient.
    • {%LastName%} - resolves into the last name of the recipient.
    • {%UnsubscribeLink%} - resolves into a link to the unsubscription page, as defined by the Unsubscription page URL property of the given newsletter.To add these expressions into the body, click Insert macro () on the editor toolbar and select the appropriate option under the Context specific objects section.

    Note: The newsletter field expressions only work in e-mails sent to actual subscribers. The macros do not resolve correctly when sending draft e-mails for newsletter issues, since the recipients are not linked to subscribers in the system.

    You can also enter any other types of macro expressions into newsletter templates.

  9. (Optional) Use the CSS stylesheet field to define any CSS classes that you want to apply to the e-mails based on this template.

  10. (Optional) Click Attachments to attach files to the newsletter template.

    • The attachments are included when the system sends out e-mails based on the given template.
    • In the case of newsletter issue templates, the authors of specific issues can add attachments as well.
    • For example, if you wish to display a logo image somewhere in the template layout and have it stored directly in the e-mails, you can upload the image as an attachment and then insert it into the body content.

  11. Click Save.

You can now use the template in your newsletters.

Assigning issue templates to newsletters

In addition to the main template configured for static newsletters, you can also add any number of alternative templates.

When editing a Newsletter issue type template, you can assign it to individual newsletters on the Newsletters tab. Alternatively, newsletter-template bindings can be configured from the opposite side of the relationship by editing a static newsletter on its Templates tab.

Once a newsletter has multiple templates allowed, authors of issues can choose which one they wish to use in the first step of the New issue wizard.

Selecting templates when creating a new newsletter issue