In order for an email to end up in a recipient's inbox, you have to go through 4 steps. In the upper part of the Email module interface, you can see which step you are. in This article explains steps 1 and 2.
Resources for next steps Step 3: Testing an EmailStep 4: Sending an Email |
Prerequisites
Templates
It can be useful to create an email template if you consider using the same structure regularly. This will help you save time and effort.
Consents
To use opt-in and communication types in the email, you must have created them. See Setting Up the Consent Centre.
Step 1: Choose a Starting Template
Go to the Email module and click on Create:
Fill in the required information, make your selection and indicate the required information and click on Create:
| Name: Identify the email by naming it for your records. Tag: Assign tags if you want. This can help you find your email in the list. Communication type: Select a communication type with the button Choose. The communication type categorizes the email and manages consents (opt-ins required to receive the message. Start from: Select the starting content for your message. For more information of templates or to learn how to create one, read the article about templates. |
Another option would be to duplicate an existing email in the list:
Step 2: Define the Delivery Information
In the Information step, fill in the required information and click on Save:
| Subject: If you are having a hard time finding a subject for your message, you could use the subject line generator for help. Name: Your official sender's name so your contacts know it's you. Address: The sender email configured in your account. Reply-to-address: If you have added authorized senders to your account, they will appear in the drop-down menu. |
Step 3: Add a Preheader
The preheader is used to generate a preview in the recipient's inbox. The preheader text can be a summary of the message or a call to action (to encourage opening the email).
The preheader includes the first textual elements that appear after the object in the upper left of the message content in the editor. If you put an image in that location and it has an alt text, this text will be included in the preheader.
It is recommended to use about 35 characters if your contacts mainly use a desktop view or between 40 and 50 for mobile.
At the right of the preheader, there is a link to the web version. This link is already configured by default to generate the web version. You can remove it from your email if you want.
Step 4: Configure Additional Options
You can, if you want, modify the additional options (it is not required). These configurations are hidden in the Additional options.
To access these options, click the 3 dots in the upper right:
| Link tracking | Link tracking Check the Log clicks option to get statistics on the clicked links in your message. In the account configuration, it is possible to automate this function so that when a message is saved all links are automatically followed. When a link is followed, its destination in the message is replaced by a tag specific to Dialog Insight. If injection rules have been created for the project and for the type of communication associated with the message, these will be displayed under this section and you will be able to activate them if needed. Note that if you are in a new project or if the related project has no injection rules, a Google Analytics rule will be available by default. Check the links in your message or use the Analyze links button to check if your message contains broken links (identified by a red X). Several functions can be performed on the links:
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| Publication | Publish a web archive of your email to get a link to share it. In order to use the web archive, you must create a preview and web archive profile (Configuration > Contacts > Preview and web archive profiles). |
| Reviews | Check the review notes of people who send or receive a test message or add them to track changes made to the message, or to inform other users on how it was created. You can define the users to be notified in Configuration > Communication Types > select a communication type > Notifications. When a note is added, the recipient can also comment on the message, in particular to indicate whether the test message has been sent or whether it has any anomalies. |
| Communication type | Change the communication type selected when creating the message. The types of communications offered depend on which ones have been configured for the project (see Configuring Communication Type). |
| Versions (HTML editor only) | Create multiple versions of the same HTML message to send a single message to contacts who have slightly different profiles (see Creating a Multi-Version Message). Versions will be sent to the right contact, based on conditions on the recipient's profile. |
| Data source | Use relational data to personalize the message. The query is executed just before the message is sent, as well as the resulting customization. Note that a query execution can affect the contacts who would otherwise be entitled to receive this message. By default, the maximum number of queries that can be activated simultaneously is set to 2. |
| Parameters | Customize the message by adding settings that let you get information outside of the application. The use of parameters is possible when the message is sent via Web services, is used in an marketing automation scenario, or uses a query on relational data. You can also add emojis to the message (see Adding an Emoji to a Message). |
| Administrative | Get information about who created the email and who last modified it or add internal comments or security attributes to the message. |
- To open the link
- To edit the name or URL of the link, or to assign categories
- To exclude links that you do not want to track. If needed, you can include them back by clicking on the 
icon.Step 5: Add Content
To add content, you must use structure blocks in which you will insert content blocks. The editor uses a drag and drop system. For more details on the functioning of the editor, see the article on how to add content. When you edit a block, you can add personalization by clicking the person icon when it is available: 
Additional ressources for content |
Step 6: Fixing Errors
To continue to testing or sending steps, you must fix the errors (e.g., missing delivery information). Make sure your email is valid and has no errors. The errors are displayed in the upper right. By hovering the error icon, you will see details:
You could also see review notes, depending on the additional options you configured.
Step 7: Preview the Email
If you added personalization and want to see the view for each segment or a specific contact, use the Test interface to preview.
For a general view, you can preview the message by clicking the eye in the upper right:
At the left of the eye, you can choose the view for desktop or mobile.
Next Step
Before sending your message to your contacts, it is highly recommended that you make sure it displays as planned (see Sending a Test Message).