Designing emails in the editor

You design every Reach email — broadcasts and automation emails alike — in the email editor. It is a block-based canvas: you drag in text, image, and button blocks, arrange them in sections and columns, and the editor produces email HTML that renders reliably across inboxes.

Blocks

Emails are built from blocks. The core blocks are:

• Text — headings, paragraphs, and lists. Click into a text block to edit it directly.
• Image — upload an image or pick one you have already uploaded. Always set a link if the image is meant to be clicked.
• Button — a call-to-action with a label and a link. Buttons render as real, clickable elements in the inbox, so prefer them over image-based buttons.

Sections and columns

Blocks live inside sections, and sections can be split into columns. Use sections to control the vertical structure of your email — a header section, a body section, a footer section — and columns to place blocks side by side, such as an image next to text.

On small screens, multi-column layouts stack vertically so the email stays readable. Check the result in mobile preview before you send.

Merge tags

Merge tags are placeholders the editor fills in when the email is sent. Two of them belong in every marketing email footer:

• *|UNSUBSCRIBE_URL|* — renders as the unsubscribe link for each recipient. Every marketing email you send must include it. What happens when a contact clicks it is covered in Subscription status and unsubscribes.
• {{ company_address }} — renders as your company's mailing address, pulled from your Brand Kit at /brand-kit. Set the address once there and every email that uses the tag stays up to date.

For the full list of available tags, including contact personalization, see the Merge tags reference.

Using your Brand Kit

Your Brand Kit stores your logo, brand colors, and company address in one place, and the email editor draws on it so your emails match the rest of your brand without manual setup. See Brand Kit and Reach for what the Brand Kit controls and how to fill it in.

Mobile preview

Most recipients read email on a phone, so preview your design on mobile before sending.

1. Switch the editor to mobile preview.
2. Check that headings are readable, columns stack in a sensible order, and buttons are easy to tap.
3. Switch back to desktop preview and confirm the design still holds up at full width.

The preview is a close approximation, but inboxes vary. A real test send to your own phone is still the best final check — see Sending your first broadcast.

Custom fonts

You can use custom fonts in your email designs. Email inboxes, however, only support a limited set of fonts. The editor handles the gap for you:

• If the inbox supports your font, the text renders as normal live text.
• If a font is not supported in email, the editor converts that text to an image at send time, so recipients see your exact typography instead of a fallback font.

The conversion is reversible: your text stays editable text inside the editor, and you can switch back to a supported font at any time — nothing is permanently flattened.

Keep in mind that text rendered as an image cannot be selected or resized by the reader, and it will not display if the recipient has images turned off. Use custom fonts for headings and short accents, and keep body copy in a standard font.

Reusing designs

Once a design works for you, reuse it instead of rebuilding from scratch. Start new broadcasts from an existing design or template and swap out the content.

Tips for designs that perform

• Keep the layout to a single column where you can — it reads well everywhere.
• Lead with your main message and call to action; do not make readers scroll to find the point.
• Use real text rather than images of text wherever possible. It loads faster, works with images off, and is accessible.
• Keep total image weight reasonable so the email loads quickly on mobile connections.

When your design is ready, continue with Sending your first broadcast to pick an audience and send it.